1997 Plymouth Breeze from North America - Comments

Two weeks after I bought the Breeze, Third Gear went out, and I had to pay to have the transmission rebuilt. This is more of an issue with the shady dealership, but at 83000 miles, I would think a tranmission would last longer.

There is this knocking noise coming out of the front end whenever I step on the accelerator. After bringing it to three different mechanics and a Chrysler dealer, they said they could find nothing wrong with the front end and that I shouldn't worry about it. It is impossible to get the alignment corrected, I am replacing at least 2 tires every 2 months. The brakes have been replaced twice, in 7 months. I do not know why this car chews up brake pads. The check engine light keeps going on and off, and no one can seem to figure out why. I've been told the gas cap, the mass air flow sensor, and something in the emissions system. Yet all check out fine. Overall, the engine has given me no problems, I'm very pleased with the engine, though it feels like it's going to shatter like glass when I turn the air conditioning on around town. On the highway, the air conditioning is all right, as long as you are level or downhill, any climbing, even when the freeway inclines to go over a city street, it has to downshift to maintain 70mph. Otherwise, the engine is fully capable.

I'm very torn about this car. I love how roomy, and comfortable it is, I like even with my 45 miles a day commute, I still get about 320-340 miles to a tank. The gas mileage is spectacular on long trips, I got 385 miles of all interstate driving when I drove to Las Vegas!! But I have to say that I would rather have this car in a stick shift, and I don't think I will buy another Chrysler vehicle again. I'm not saying this is a definite, but the way this car breaks down, I'm not too confident about their products. On the other hand, Plymouth's are no longer built, so I guess they recognized their weakness and discontinued it.

I am thankful the Plymouth line has been discontinued as well. I owned a 1997 2.0L automatic Breeze, and what a death-trap that was! During it's lifetime (I finally got rid of it in 2000) the brakes went 3 times, it overheated more times than I can count, massive oil leaks, A/C trouble, etc. etc.

I couldn't make it up hills with the A/C on, and sometimes if I came to a stop with it on, the car would stall out and refuse to restart.

The Chrysler dealer told me they couldn't find the source of the oil leak (it was still under warranty at this point)...but they "magically" found the leak as soon as the warranty ran out. However, oil had been leaking into radiator the whole time, which mixed together with antifreeze. This glue-like substance went all through the hoses--lets just say I had to have just about everything under the hood replaced because of this.

At 80,000 miles the transmission went, thus ending it's life. I strongly urge anyone considering buying a used Plymouth to let this and the other posts to marinate in your brain...

I bought my 1998 Breeze in 2001 from a dealership. It had been a government car with a mere 7800 miles on it. Had it for two months and it developed an oil leak-about a quart every week. I've had to replace brake pads every 6 months. Tires seem to wear unusually fast also. Now at 43,000 miles the transmission is slipping really bad. Other than the above problems, it has been a reliable and comfortable car to drive around town and in the mountains.

This is the original author of this review on the 97 Breeze. As an update, it is now May of 2004, I ditched the Breeze back in November of 03, because the transmission was once again, falling apart, the engine mounts were shot, the front end was in shambles and ready to fall out from under the car, and it had 114000 miles on it, and it was about to die. I now own a 2003 Hyundai Elantra and couldn't be happier to be rid of that demon Plymouth.

Well I can only say you guys ware out of luck, i own 98 breeze and no problems at all, did on it 180,000 miles, yes 180,000, well a water pump went out that's it and there was a little knocking from engine after fresh start after night. but nothing major, brakes are fine and no leaks.