1997 Plymouth Breeze from North America - Comments

Head gasket replaced at 28,000 after three trips to ask why there were permanent oil leaks. I still have oil leaks, but small ones, and I can't find where they come from.

Two more trips required to refit the exhaust manifold and downpipe properly.

Engine Management computer replaced at 30,000 after the car would start up, rev to around 5,000 RPM and the pointer would swing to 95mph while in park.

Engine management computer replaced again a week later when the same thing happened, but this time with no tach/speedo indications.

Air conditioner drive pulley froze at 35,000 miles (still under warranty!!!), making a noise like a bag of rocks being dragged under the car, and the belt caused enough smoke to trip the check engine light.

Door seals literally fell to pieces and were replaced at 28,000 miles.

Better wear night vision goggles, because Plymouth/Chrysler apparently decided that the Breeze was going to be driven by people who can see in the dark. The headlights are abysmal!

I love the handling, the spaciousness, the huge trunk, the comfort, and the fact that once the wheezy, anemic 2 liter engine makes it to 70mph you could cruise all week on half a tank of gas. However, getting to 70mph takes some time and the first half of that tank of gas, and stopping from 70mph takes even longer.

The air conditioner is great, but the heater is like standing in front of a blast furnace. I'm surprised it doesn't melt the dashboard.

All in all, it's a great value young family car, which is why I traded in my Probe for a 4 door. But whatever you save on the purchase price will be spent on repairs, and gas because the 2.0 is the most fuel hungry of the engines that Chrysler put in this family of vehicles. It's so underpowered that you have to drive it hard to avoid getting run over by the car behind you.

The Breeze is my wife's car, and my daily driver is a 1992 Toyota Paseo. I fill it with gas when it needs it, change the oil every 2,500 miles, and never think twice about it. The Breeze however requires a firm belief in divine intervention every time I put the key in the ignition. I'm terrified about its long term reliability, but quite frankly if I get 5 years out of this car it will have been worth what I paid for it.

I totally agree with this car not having any power. I occasionally drive my dad's girlfriend's 97 Breeze. In order to drive up hills, I have to literally floor it. I'm sometimes afraid that the car is going to fall apart when I drive it. I usually can't pass people unless they're going extremely slow. If I owned this car and drove it all the time, the transmission would probably be needing a rebuilding by now. I went from driving my 1990 Nissan Maxima to driving this, so my opinion is somewhat biased.

I thought it was just me. It's nice to know that I don't have night blindness and that the headlights are just awful. Every Breeze has head gasket problems. My dealer was shocked I made it to 60k without getting a problem, but truthfully, I probably just didn't notice. The last time I took it in the dealer told me I should think about getting a new engine or a new car.

I am writing to say that I agree with many of the comments made here. I have owned a 1997 Plymouth Breeze since June 1997. I have had oil leaks for over 5 years. I have had four different people tell me two different reasons for the leaks. One being a head gasket needing to be replaced, ranging from $700 - $1200 to replace. While the other is that the bolts are known to come loose and they just need to be tightened.

The check engine light has come on several times, have service done on it and then a short time later it comes on again. No one seems to be able to correct this.

I also find the power the car has to be lacking. With this being an automatic, I know that if you put the gas pedal to the floor, it is suppose to go into a passing gear, but this fails to do this.

Overall the car looks nice, but I would not recommend this to anyone if they were looking to buy a used car.

I have owned a 1997 plymouth breeze what a joke in four years. I have replaced an egr valve,head gasket, front brakes, the dealer said where fine until sparks could be seen at night. A cam seal, high idle sensor. The check engine light, is on all the time. (No one knows why?) Three sets of spark plug wires. To correct the engine miss.

A computer module. I'm buying a chevy next good bye plymouth junk!

This is the most horrible car I've ever had the displeasure to ride in, it jerks every time I come to a stop unless I put it in neutral or low, the brake squeal for no reason, it constantly wants to stall, and the cruse control only works when it feels like it.

I have a 97 Breeze that I bought used about a year ago. I have had repeated problems with the brakes, spark plugs and oil leaks. The car makes several different noises ranging from squeeks to thumps. I have noticed that this car has had a lot of recalls. Since it's an older car, and I just bought it a year ago, I'm wondering if anyone else can tell me if I'm still able to take it to a dealer and have all of those recalled items fixed. I'd appreciate any suggestions you might have on how I can get this car running decent enough to last me another year or two, without putting a fortune into it. Thanks! cathy.ruter@53.com 513-358-0022.

98'Plymouth Breeze 175,000 Miles Oh Gee, where to begin? Drum Roll Jonny... New brakes, lower control arms, left front wheel bearing twice, inner & outer tie rods, fuel pump & filter, EGR valve, 2- O2-sensors, engine & tranny mounts, struts, 2 alignments, Timing belt snapped and took 2 intake valves with it($675 to fix), $3500 in it so far and can't get $1,000 trade-in! Car still looks like new, is very under powered, gets so so gas mileage and for some reason I just can't seem to stop dumping money into this pit and get a real car. I just love Mopar!(evil grin) I most definately do not recommend this money pit to any self respecting non wealthy person for any reason!!!

1997 Breeze with 150,000 miles on it, still running strong... has the original clutch and head gasket.. one of a few 5 speeds that were made that year. The only thing that was replaced was 2 sets of rear breaks.. besides the usual upkeep of a car.

For 11,000 brand new in 1997, I got my money's worth out of this car.. basic car for transportation, so what you get for 11,000, you get what you pay for...

I got laid off 2 months ago and used to drive a 2006 GMC Envoy. I turned it in last week because my lease was up. I was given a 1997 Plymouth Breeze from family for free so I can't complain - it's free.

PROS: Good fuel economy, 117,000 miles and it rides like a new car. (It was very well cared for, new brakes, bearings, tune-up, etc), Pretty good sound system for stock.

CONS: 2.0L is slow as molasses, my 4.2L V6 Envoy was like a race car compared to the Breeze.

* I do know an oil seal was just replaced on it before I got it. It does have a bit of a rough idle, but when I put it in neutral it goes away. I am going to put in some Redline fuel system cleaner and check the plugs/throttle body, etc.

Overall rating: 5.5 out of 10. It's a pretty good small car. I wish mine had the 2.4L though.