1998 Plymouth BREEZE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
150 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
79,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 48 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 150 complaints (26.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 11.3% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.0% |
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 | 39 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 12 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 39; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 12; Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Electrical System: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 6; Steering: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 102 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 | 27 |
| 2001 | 23 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 26 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 27; 2001: 23; 2002: 20; 2003: 19; 2004: 26; 2005: 6; 2006: 8; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 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 10004814 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005905 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
FRONT COLLISION AT 35-40 MPH, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER HIT HER HEAD ON THE DASH, PASSENGER INJURED AS WELL. VEHICLE IS TOTALED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006781 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING OIL DUE TO THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010572 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
I OWN A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. MY HEAD GASKET IS BAD, AND EVERYONE: THE LOCAL DEALER REPAIR SHOP AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS ALL SAY THAT IT WAS A BAD DESIGN IN THE GASKET METAL TYPE. THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OF THESE COME THROUGH THEIR SHOPS, AND NONE ARE CAUSED BY OWNER NEGLECT. IF IT IS A DEIGN ERROR, WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY $600 TO GET IT FIXED? SHOULD DESIGN DESIGN PROBLEMS BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL? *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014677 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017141 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LEAK OIL CONTINUOUSLY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 62,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018254 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A THUMP NOISE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONTROL MODULE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019463 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH ANY IMPACT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019463 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 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 ↗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 ↗99V244000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1999-09-15 (September 15, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP AND WEAR A HOLE IN IT.
Consequence: DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. 843. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE TUBE COULD LEAK, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE-HALF OF THE DIAGONALLY SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEM, AND RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBES FOR VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP. IF THE TUBE SHOWS EVIDENCE OF CONTACT, IT WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO EVIDENCE OF CONTACT EXISTS, THE TUBE WILL BE FASTENED WITH A CLIP.
NHTSA campaign record ↗