1996 Plymouth BREEZE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
103 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
72,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 103 complaints (38.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 12.6% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 9.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.9% |
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 | 40 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 4 |
| Suspension:Front | 4 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 40; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 4; Suspension:Front: 4; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 90 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 45 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1996: 2; 2000: 45; 2001: 21; 2002: 8; 2003: 11; 2004: 8; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002561 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE HEAD GASKET START LEAKING GASOLINE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003661 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE HOOD LATCH POPPED, WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO POP UP. RECEIVED TSB. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006748 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009992 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #96 V 07 500, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT I INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017189 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
THE VEHICLES HEAD GASKET CRACKED WHICH RESULTED IN AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM THE VEHICLES HEAD GASKET CRACKED WHICH RESULTED IN AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. OIL LEAK STARTED BEFORE AUG 2002 BUT OTHER COMPONENTS WERE DIAGNOSED AS PROBLEM. ULTIMATELY, THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE HEAD GASKET AND FOUND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE PART REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED. *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 72,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019486 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT RECALLS/WARRANTIES OR OTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 72,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019486 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021989 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
LTR FM LAURA FEINSTEIN (WA) RE THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET...*MR THE HEAD GASKET HAD TORN. OIL LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR MONETARY ASSISTANCE WHICH WAS DISCUSSED WITH A FEW CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVES AND THE REQUEST WAS DENIED. THE CONSUMERS MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED A FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COST. SCC *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 72,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022626 · 2003-06-20 (June 20, 2003)
LTR FWD FM M. BALWIN/NHTSA REGION X FM LAURA FEINSTEIN(WA) RE THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. TORN HEAD GASKET CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK OUT ON TO THE GROUND.*MR *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 72,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022626 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V021000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift
Reported: 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
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.
Consequence: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V074000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 1996-05-02 (May 2, 1996)
CORROSION OF THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN CAUSE THE SOLENOID VALVES TO STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION.
Consequence: IF EITHER FRONT WHEEL VALVE STICKS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWERVE FROM A STRAIGHT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLATE AND SILICONE GREASE INJECTED INTO THE SOLENOID CAVITY TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS CONDITION.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 1996-05-03 (May 3, 1996)
THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAN LEAK BRAKE FLUID DUE TO A DAMAGED DOUBLE LIP REAR PISTON SEAL.
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN DIMINISHED EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE HALF OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT(S) WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT PRIOR TO PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDR PISTON ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V095000 · Structure:Body:Hood:Hinge And Attachments
Reported: 1997-06-06 (June 6, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING CAN DISENGAGE FROM ITS RETENTION HOLE IF THE HOOD IS SLAMMED SHUT.
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PRIMARY LATCH, THE HOOD WOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING WITH A LONGER END HOOK SPRING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V201000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 1997-11-13 (November 13, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION.
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V183000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Reported: 1998-08-06 (August 6, 1998)
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.
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗