The 2000 Plymouth Breeze with the 2.0L I4 is a budget-friendly Chrysler Cloud Car platform sedan that suffers from chronic automatic transmission cooling issues and engine oil sludging problems that can lead to catastrophic internal damage if not meticulously maintained.
Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler Failure and Transmission Overheating
Fix: The external transmission oil cooler lines corrode and leak, or the internal radiator cooler fails and cross-contaminates coolant with ATF. External cooler line replacement takes 1.5-2 hours; if the radiator cooler fails and contaminates the transmission, you're looking at radiator replacement (2 hours), transmission fluid flush (1 hour), and often full transmission replacement if coolant got inside (8-12 hours for used unit). Preventive external cooler upgrade is 3-4 hours.
Estimated cost: $300-800 for lines/cooler; $2,500-3,800 for transmission replacement if contaminated
2.0L Engine Oil Sludge and Internal Engine Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: excessive oil consumption (quart every 500-1000 miles), engine ticking or knocking noises, low oil pressure warning, rough idle, eventual rod knock and seizure, blue smoke from exhaust
Fix: The 2.0L SOHC is notorious for oil sludge buildup if oil changes are stretched beyond 3,000 miles. Sludge clogs oil passages, starves bearings, and destroys pistons/rings. Once knocking starts, you need either engine rebuild (20-25 hours labor) with pistons, rings, bearings, and head gasket work, or junkyard engine swap (12-15 hours). No half-measures work reliably.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500 rebuild; $1,800-2,800 used engine swap
Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Separation
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking from front suspension over bumps, steering wander or pull, uneven tire wear, visible grease boot tears on ball joints, in extreme cases, wheel collapse
Fix: The pressed-in lower ball joints wear and can separate catastrophically (NHTSA recall addressed early production). Even post-recall vehicles develop wear. Most shops replace the entire lower control arm assembly rather than pressing new joints. Takes 2-2.5 hours per side, alignment required after (1 hour).
Estimated cost: $400-700 both sides including alignment
Front Transmission Mount Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: heavy clunk when shifting from park to drive or reverse, vibration at idle in gear, excessive engine/transmission movement visible under hood during acceleration, harsh engagement into gear
Fix: The front transmission mount (dog bone mount) deteriorates and tears, allowing excessive powertrain movement. The mount itself is cheap but requires supporting the engine/trans to replace. Takes 1.5-2 hours labor. Often done with engine mounts simultaneously since access is similar.
Estimated cost: $180-320 for trans mount alone; $450-650 if doing all three mounts
Power Steering Hose Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: power steering fluid puddles under vehicle, whining or groaning when turning, heavy steering effort, low fluid warning, visible fluid spray on undercarriage
Fix: High-pressure power steering hoses crack and leak at crimp connections and along rubber sections. The pressure line from pump to rack is the usual culprit. Replacement takes 1.5-2 hours including fluid refill and bleeding. Sometimes triggers rack replacement if rack seals were damaged by running dry.
Estimated cost: $250-450 for hoses; $600-1,200 if rack is damaged
Fuel Pump Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 100,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: no-start condition with crank but no fire, intermittent stalling especially when fuel tank is low, loss of power under acceleration, fuel pump whine from rear of vehicle, long crank times before starting
Fix: The in-tank fuel pump motor fails or the pump sock clogs. Requires dropping the fuel tank to access. Takes 2-2.5 hours labor. Often discover rusty fuel tank straps that need replacement during the job, adding another 0.5 hour and $80-120 in parts.
Estimated cost: $450-700 including pump assembly
Owner tips
Change oil religiously every 3,000 miles with quality oil and filter to prevent the 2.0L sludge death sentence—this engine has ZERO tolerance for extended drain intervals
Install an external transmission cooler if you haven't already and flush ATF every 30,000 miles; the cooling system is inadequate from the factory
Inspect lower ball joints every alignment or tire rotation—they give minimal warning before catastrophic failure
Keep power steering fluid topped off and check hoses annually; small leaks turn into rack-killing dry runs quickly
Only buy if you can verify fanatical oil change history and the transmission has been properly maintained or recently replaced—otherwise you're buying someone else's $3,000+ repair bill.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM · 10E059000
2010-12-27
FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBERS K7425, 10945, FA4510X, K7427, 10946, AND FA4611X, SOLD FOR USE ON VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE BALL STUD TO WEAR THROUGH THE CONTROL ARM HOUSING RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING.
Consequence: IF THERE IS A SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING, THE DRIVER CAN LOOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 1-877-489-6659.
QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE ALLOWING THE BALL STUD TO SEPARATE UNDER IMPACT LOAD. THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS WERE SOLD AS FOUR PART NUMBERS, D10945, D10946, G10945, AND G10946. THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS, D10945 AND D10946, ARE STAMPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE BALL JOINTS: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, AND 116609. THE G10945 AND G10946 ARE THE SAME PART AS THE D10945 AND D10946 RESPECTIVELY. THEY ARE LABELED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER.
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET OF THE BALL JOINT HOUSING WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE AND THE WHEEL TO FOLD IN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE WILL REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-800-493-4128.
EQUIPMENT · 09E043000
2009-07-07
IMPORT PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 30,351 FUEL FILTERS SOLD TO AND BRANDED BY THE AFFINIA GROUP AS CARQUEST P/N 86523, NAPA P/N 3523, AND WIX P/N 33523 FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THESE FILTERS MAY DEVELOP A LEAK IN THE HOSE ASSEMBLY AND/OR CONNECTORS DUE TO IMPROPERLY ADHERED LINE CONNECTORS.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: THE AFFINIA GROUP WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE FILTERS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WIX FILTER RETURN CENTER AT 1-704-869-7411 OR IMPORT PRODUCTS AT 1-508-279-8207.
CERTAIN TIGAS FUEL PUMP MODULES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AND P/NOS. THESE FUEL PUMP MODULES ARE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE IN CERTAIN DAIMLERCHRYSLER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SILICONE MATERIAL USED IN MANUFACTURE OF THE FLAPPER VALVE WAS OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, LEADING TO EXCESS SWELL OF THE FLAPPER VALVE RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.
Consequence: FUEL RESTRICTION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER AND/OR ENGINE STALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE TOLL-FREE AT 1-877-461-1834.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS · 06V001000
2006-01-05 · PE05036
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.4 LITER ENGINES, THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE MAY PREMATURELY HEAT AGE AND DEVELOP A LEAK.
Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CHILD SEAT · 00V366000
2000-11-09
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUALS.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 00V196000
2000-07-17
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INADEQUATE WELD BETWEEN THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE BLOCK AND THE STAND-OFF BRACKET.
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE STAND-OFF BRACKET FROM THE BLOCK COULD CAUSE FATIGUE DAMAGE OF THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE TUBE AND RESULT IN A HALF SYSTEM BRAKE LOSS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BRAKE LINE BRACKET TO THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE TUBE.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 00V066000
2000-03-02
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INCORRECT CHILD LOCK INSTRUCTION LABELS.
Consequence: THE INCORRECT LABELS COULD CAUSE CONFUSION AS TO WHETHER THE CHILDPROOF SAFETY LOCK WAS ACTIVATED.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT LABELS.