AI Damage1998 Plymouth Breeze: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Plymouth Breeze filed 174 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 174
- involving a crash
- 20
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 39% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 67 complaints (39% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 22 complaints (13% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 18 complaints (10% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 14 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 12 complaints (7% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 174 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 67 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 22 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 18 | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 12 | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
30 mph front end collision and the air bag did not deploy.
The vehicle started shaking violently and uncontrollably. The driver lost control of the vehicle and hit another vehicle head on. The vehicle caught fire. The fire department was called to extinguished the fire. Both frontal air bags did not deploy.
Car totalled all front end damage including hood, bumper knocked off, both fenders, also damage inside engine compartment. Air bags did not deploy. Vehicle is still at my home at this time until insuarance company retrieves it.
While driving on a back road stopped to make a left turn into a corner store, and waiting for oncoming traffic to stop, a ford explorer rear ended consumer's vehicle. The impact pushed vehicle across the opposite side of traffic onto the shoulder of the road.
Built-in carseat: vehicle was involved in minor accident when plastic harness clip for built-in css separated and came loose causing 22 pound child to fly out of css and hit head against console. Chrysler sent investigator and techinican, but claimed no defect.
While driving at approximately 40 mph vehicle was involved in an accident. All damage was done to front end. Also, dual airbags did not deploy, causing injuries.
Passenger's /front control arm was bent. While driving and making a right turn, vehicle hit the curb. Repairs were made--the 2 front tires were replaced, and the one of the older tires was rotated to the left rear wheel.
I am getting no cooperation out of the dealer and they are stalling on fixing my car. They have had it for 2 weeks now. Possibly the tire rod or something caused it to veer out of control.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 2,318 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Breeze has 96 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 174, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Plymouth Breeze?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, steering. Total complaints: 174. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: oil leak or consumption (18%), smoke, burning smell, fire (11%), A/C or heater (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Plymouth Breeze?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Plymouth Breeze from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.