1997 Plymouth BREEZE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
114 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
77,725 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 114 complaints (38.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 8.8% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 44 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 4 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 44; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 4; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 88 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 28 |
| 2001 | 30 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 28; 2001: 30; 2002: 14; 2003: 15; 2004: 14; 2005: 7; 2006: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2015: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010789 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
I NOTICED A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY 1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE FROM A MINIMUM SPEED OF 25 MPH AND MORE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A NOISE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE. MY BREEZE ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND THEY FOUND THAT A RETAINING SNAP RING HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION (METAL CONTAMINATION, ETC.). THE COST TO REMOVE AND REINSTALL THE TRANSMISSION, DIAGNOSIS, REPLACING THE TORQUE CONVERTER, AND R…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052877 · 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004)
GOOD EVENING, I WANTED TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST CHRYSLER. I HAVE A 97 PLYMOUTH BREEZE THAT HAS HAD A HEAD AND A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 2 SEPARATE TIMES. THE HEAD WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET AND THE TRANSMISSION AFTER IF OVERHEATED ON HIGHWAY USE (5, 2003), GOT STUCK 200+ MILES AWAY FROM HOME. FINALLY I SENT MY LAST PAYMENT LAST MONTH BUT TO MY SURPRISE MY TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP AGAIN AND THE ONLY SERVICES I GET FROM THE SHOP IS FOR MY TO DRIVE TO THEM (200 MILES AWAY). OTHER ISSUES BRAKES DO N…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047285 · 2003-11-20 (November 20, 2003)
MULTIPLE OIL LEAKS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. BOUGHT CAR WITH 14,000 MILES, REPLACED FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS AT 19,000 MILES, REPLACED CAM SEALS AT 32,000 MILES, HAD NEW BRAKES AGAIN AT 39,000 MILES, AND NOW AT 49,500 HAVING SPARK PLUG SEALS REPLACED. ALL MAJOR ENGINE WORK DONE AT NEWBURGH PARK MOTORS, NEWBURGH NY. THIS CAR HAS COST ME MORE IN MAINTENANCE THAN MY CRAPPY 1979 GMC PICK-UP WITH A BILLION MILES ON IT! THE DEALER JUST SHRUGS IT OFF AND SAYS THIS IS TYPICAL AND IT IS THE CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. I SAY SHAME ON CHRYSLER FOR MANUFACTURI…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018877 · 2003-05-18 (May 18, 2003)
ON THIS SUNDAY AT 12:15 PM MY 1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH NO ONE AROUND IT. MY WIFE NOTICED IT WHEN THE HORN STARTED BLOWING. I WAS ACROSS THE STREET AT A NEIGHBORS. FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE DASH ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL IT SELF AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AREA MELTED AND BLACKENED THE WORSE. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS CALLED IMMEDIATELY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055741 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
THE STRUTS FAILED. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE PART HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. *JB THERE WERE ENGINE PROBLEMS, THE SPARK PLUGS CONTINUED TO GET DIRTY, TWO SETS OF TIRES WERE LOST, THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE AC, THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE MAIN SEAL AND LEFT REAR CORNER OF THE HEAD, THE HEATER FAN ONLY WORKED ON HIGH, THERE WAS A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED THEN GOES AWAY, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEELS, THE FLASH MODULE CAUSE…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 785532 · 2001-07-19 (July 19, 2001)
THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL CAUSING IT TO RUN HOT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATES, THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS OUT WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 785532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8002413 · 2002-01-17 (January 17, 2002)
DRIVER SAYS THERE IS A CONSTANT OIL LEAK. WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A HORRIBLE NOISE THEN A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLES SPEED DECREASED, AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 35 MPH. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8002413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005226 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. 5 DAYS LATER ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. PRIVATE MECHANIC CHECKED OUT WHAT HAPPENED. HE CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FUEL LINE LEAKAGE OR THE WIRING HARNESS
Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072765 · 2004-05-17 (May 17, 2004)
THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. THE BULBS DO NOT NEED REPLACING, I'VE CHECKED. AND AS FOR THE FUSES THEY ALL OK. IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THERE IS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S HAVING THIS PROBLEM, MY FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE(PASSANGER). ON ANOTHER NOTE I GET A SMELL FROM THE HEATER CORE WHEN ITS ON. I HAVE TO KEEP IT ON OTHER WISE THE ENGINE OVER HEATS. I'VE HAD THE THERMOSTATE AND A RADITOR FLUSH TO SEE IF IT WOULD HELP. BUT EVEN WITH ALL THAT'S BEEN DONE FOR REP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072765 at NHTSA ↗