1997 Plymouth Breeze Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Breeze years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Plymouth Breeze. That ranks 3rd out of 7 Breeze model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (83 complaints, 54%), typically at around 66,500 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 8 fires, 8 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 155owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Plymouth Breeze problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 83 | 54% | 66,500 | “head gasket” (46%) | $1,250 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 | 11% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 14 | 9% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 14 | 9% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 11 | 7% | 112,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 9 | 6% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 6% | 98,021 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 5% | 72,920 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 | 5% | 132,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 3% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 2% | 61,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Plymouth Breeze recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock may fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock may also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the park position.
Risk: Either circumstance may result in the vehicle rolling away without warning.
Fix: Dealers will install a new load-limiting push rod into the floor shifter lever of the affected vehicles. Owner notification began on june 14, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The adjustment of the cable connecting the console shifter mechanism to the ignition key can cause a trapped key condition which can result in a low force required to depress the shift button. A combination of applying a mis-adjusted release button with a low force attempt to shift out of park with the key in the locked position, can break the connecting pin in the shifter.
Risk: If this happens, the "ignition-park" interlock system will be nonfunctional.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for proper operation of the system. Any vehicles that are not functional after the inspection will have the shift mechanism and cable replaced with a "self-adjusting" design.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower control arm ball joint can separate due to loss of lubrication.
Risk: Separation of the ball joint could cause a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the ball joint end housing cover seal for leakage with a high pressure air tester and the rubber boot will be visually inspected for damage. If the cover seal leaks or the boot is damaged, the lower control arm will be replaced.
Structure:body:hood:hinge and attachments
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The secondary hood latch spring can disengage from its retention hole if the hood is slammed shut.
Risk: If this condition occurs simultaneously without engaging the primary latch, the hood would not be restrained increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch spring with a longer end hook spring.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Auto trans ignition-park interlock (EA03011) — opened Jul 17, 2003, closed Jan 30, 2004, led to recall 04V021000.
- Steering shaft binding (EA99028) — opened Sep 10, 1999, closed Jul 26, 2001, led to recall 01I012000.
- Steering shaft binding (PE99030) — opened May 3, 1999, closed Sep 10, 1999.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
1997 plymouth breeze. Consumer writes in regards to ignition recall and other recall notice issues. *smd
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 plymouth breeze. While driving at various speeds, the contact heard a noise coming from rear wheel drum on the passenger side. While attempting to park, smoke emitted from the rear wheel causing a fire. The failure recurred three times. The fire was extinguished by the…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 plymouth breeze. While placing fuel into the vehicle, the filler tube fell to the ground. Gasoline began leaking out all over the ground. The vehicle has not yet been inspected or diagnosed by a mechanic. The contact believes there was a hole or rust in the gasoline tank…
My automatic transmission shifter easily pops out of drive .there is no lock to hold it in drive. Not sure if it was made this way ????? You can hit if forward and it could go in to reverse im sure. *tr
Upon arriving home from work i backed the vehicle into my driveway and found the vehicle would not move and the passenger side front tire was rubbing against the undercarriage. Investigation after removing the tire found the outer tie rod ball joint had separated and collapsed. Inspection of the…
Other Plymouth Breeze years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 Breeze | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 Breeze | 38 | 5 |
| 1999 Breeze | 117 | 3 |
| 1998 Breeze | 174 | 3 |
| 1997 | 155 | 4 |
| 1996 Breeze | 182 | 6 |
| 1995 Breeze | 0 | 1 |
See all Plymouth Breeze problems by year, every Plymouth model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Plymouth Breeze?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic, steering problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 83 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Plymouth Breeze?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Plymouth Breeze a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Breeze model years, the 1997 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.