1999 Plymouth Breeze from North America

Summary:

Don't waste your time or your money

Faults:

The brakes were repaired around 66,500 miles; $125.

The speed sensor went out at the same time; $80.

At that time the mechanics discovered there was an oil leak from the head gasket. I was told that was nearly impossible to happen, so I got it looked at by another mechanic who said that most of the oil was coming from the rear main seal, and just barely starting from the head gasket. After consulting a few more mechanics, I got the rear main seal fixed. I haven't seen any new oil in my parking spot since; $750.

The air conditioner went out around 77,000 miles. It cost $150 to make the scraping noise stop. It would cost $350 more to get it working.. but I figured it was not worth it.

I had all the belts replaced except for the timing belt (which will cost me $650) because they were cracking; $150.

General Comments:

All of this in less than a year. I would not recommend this car to anyone. It has been nothing but a headache. My advice: spend more at the beginning and get something that you're going to be able to drive all four weeks of the month. This has been the newest and most expensive (before all my repairs) car I've owned, yet the one that has caused me the most problems, go figure.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 18th September, 2004

14th Feb 2005, 16:37

I just got my license last year and I got my Plymouth Breeze from my great Grandparents. It has 10600 miles on it and the only problem I have had was the brakes went bad. My grandparents have taken care of that car since it was new. Maybe people should take care of their cars instead of blaming the car or the product.

Ryan.

1999 Plymouth Breeze 2.0 from North America

Summary:

A great car before 100,000 miles

Faults:

The car had a slow oil leak starting around 60,000 miles. I avoided a major repair. After the car was paid off, I decided to invest some money to repair the oil leak.

New head gasket was installed at 105,000 miles by an independent garage. $1000.

There was still some leaking after that repair was a faulty cam-lock sensor, which was replaced, free.

No oil leak noticed.

The following might be attributed to floods in NJ. The transmission in/out sensors went bad one morning. Replaced at Chrysler in an hour for $200.

A week later, the ignition switch broke. Replaced. $130.

A week later the ignition switch broke again.

Replaced, and tested by the independent garage. It broke at the shop. The starter is bad; blows out the ignition switch. Replaced $490.

Car is now at 110,000 miles.

Other than the above repairs, I never took it into a shop for PM or repairs. I was able to do everything on a friends lift including replacing the?inner wheel hub?

So, I'm happy with the first 105,000 miles. I would hope American cars could be built to last like foreign cars.

The 2nd independent garage recommended I should have had the head re-machined flat so that the head gasket could have been repaired only once. The mechanic described that Chrysler machined the part poorly. If the car makes it another 45,000 miles, I may do that.

In case you're looking for symptoms.

When the car is stuck in 1st and 2nd gear, your speed sensors are probably bad.

If your car won't start, and a jump doesn't do anything, your ignition switch is broken, which is most likely a result of the starter being bad. Otherwise there is no reason for the ignition switch to break.

If you own this car, you will need to replace the head gasket.

General Comments:

The car was great for the first 105,000 miles. Even though the V6 would've given more power, the pickup with the V4 was acceptable. Quite spacious and comfortable.

Efficiency. A bit over 30 mpg in the car's younger days.

It still is close to 30 mpg.

Fairly comfortable on long trips.

Comfortable for tall rear passengers.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 18th August, 2004

20th Oct 2004, 14:40

I thank you so much for this review. You have just saved me a lot of money. After reading what you wrote about speed sensors, I was able to ask my shop to check that first when my car wouldn't shift gears. The cost of fixing it is $111.10. Another shop I called wanted to go into the motor and charge much more. Again, I thank you.