1997 Plymouth BREEZE: complaints, problems and recalls

THE HEAD GASKET OF MY 1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE HEAD GASKET. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTED EARLIER. WHEN I FIRST TOLD THE DEALER ABOUT IT HE TOLD ME IT WOULD COST @$200. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT HAS CONTINUED AND I WONDERED IF THERE WAS A RECALL DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002688 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM. WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD, WATER PUMPAND HOSES. *TS COOLANT ALSO LEAKED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 45,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003890 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER STATED, WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, THE ENGINE FLUIDS BEGAN TO BUBBLE, AND CAUSED THE OIL TO BOIL OVER INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM. TS SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004845 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A '97 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. SUDDENLY, INEXPLICABLY, THE HEATER WOULD NOT WORK ON THE LOWER FAN SETTINGS--IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE COLDEST WEEKS THIS WINTER! HAD IT CHECKED OUT, IT IS THE BLOWER MOTOR. IT IS DRAWING TOO MUCH POWER AND OVERLOADING THE RESISTOR, WHICH IT NOW ALSO NEEDS. I HAVE BEEN SCOURING THE WEB FOR REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO PLYMOUTH BREEZES OR DODGE STRATUSES (STRASTI?) OR EVEN THE CIRRUS. I HAVE FOUND ABOUT 3 OR SO. NOT ENOUGH TO BE CLEAR EVIDENCE OF A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR OWNERS, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO RECA…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005038 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY 1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE, I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE HEAD GASKET. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF RECALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD FROM THE REPAIR SHOP THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THESE KIND OF VEHICLES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005509 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007238 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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.

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.

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.

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.