The 1997 Plymouth Breeze with the 2.0L I4 is a compact sedan from Chrysler's "cloud car" platform that suffers from catastrophic engine failures and transmission cooling system problems. Most survivors have already grenaded their engines or received expensive rebuilds.
Symptoms: Severe rod knock or piston slap on cold starts, Metal shavings in oil during changes, Sudden loss of oil pressure with warning light, Coolant mixing with oil (milky dipstick), Complete seizure or thrown rod through block
Fix: The 2.0L SOHC suffers from soft piston skirts, weak connecting rod bearings, and head gasket failures. Most require complete engine rebuild (pistons, rings, bearings, machine work, gaskets) at 15-20 labor hours, or used/reman engine swap at 10-14 hours. Short blocks alone run 12-16 hours installed.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure and ATF Contamination
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink milkshake in coolant overflow tank (ATF in coolant), Transmission slipping or delayed engagement after cooler failure, Coolant loss with no external leaks, Transmission overheating warning or burnt fluid smell
Fix: The internal transmission cooler in the radiator fails, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. Requires radiator replacement, complete transmission fluid system flush (often multiple times), and frequently transmission rebuild if coolant entered valve body. Cooler line replacement is 2-3 hours, but if transmission is damaged, add 8-12 hours for rebuild.
Estimated cost: $800-3,200
Front Lower Ball Joint Separation (Recall R01-012)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Pulling to one side during braking, Excessive play when checking wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock, Complete steering loss if ball joint separates (rare but catastrophic)
Fix: Lower ball joints were recalled due to separation risk. Even post-recall, replacement joints wear quickly on these cars. Lower control arms with integrated ball joints must be replaced (joints aren't serviceable separately on most aftermarket parts). 2.5-3.5 hours per side for both control arms.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Automatic Transmission Shift Linkage Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Gear selector moves but transmission doesn't shift, Stuck in park or unable to select park, Indicator on dash doesn't match actual gear, Loose or sloppy shifter feel
Fix: Plastic bushings in the floor shift linkage crack and disintegrate. The cable itself can also fray. Linkage bushings are 1.5-2 hours, full cable replacement is 2.5-3 hours. Park/neutral safety switch issues (also recalled) can cause no-start conditions and add another hour.
Estimated cost: $250-500
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Severe clunk when shifting from park to drive/reverse, Vibration at idle that changes when shifting to neutral, Visible engine movement when revving in park, Harsh downshifts or jerky acceleration
Fix: The front transmission mount rubber deteriorates rapidly on these cars, allowing excessive engine movement that damages other mounts and accelerates wear on CV axles and shift linkage. Mount replacement is straightforward at 1.5-2 hours, but often multiple mounts need replacement simultaneously.
Estimated cost: $200-450
Fuel Pump Failure (Recall 97V-138 and 00V-232)
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: No-start with cranking but no fuel pressure, Stalling at operating temperature or under load, Hesitation or stumbling during acceleration, Whining noise from rear seat area fuel tank
Fix: Fuel pumps were recalled twice for electrical connector corrosion and pump module failures. Even replacement pumps fail prematurely. Tank must be dropped for access. Includes fuel filter replacement while tank is down. 2.5-3.5 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $450-750
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles and inspect radiator coolant for any pink tint immediately—catching cooler failure early can save the transmission
Monitor oil consumption religiously; these engines burn oil before catastrophic failure, adding a quart every 500-1000 miles is a red flag
Replace transmission mount at first sign of clunking to prevent cascading damage to shift linkage and CV axles
Budget for a timing belt every 60,000 miles even though it's a non-interference engine—component failures leave you stranded
Hard pass unless free or under $500—most will need a $3,000-4,000 engine rebuild or replacement within 20,000 miles, and transmission cooler failures destroy transmissions regularly.
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.
CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULES, P/NOS. E7089M, E7094M, E7113M, AND E7129M, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006. THESE FUEL PUMP MODULES WERE 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: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX TOLL-FREE AT 1-866-867-3759.
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT · 04V021000
2004-01-13 · EA03011
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH · 98V183000
1998-08-06 · EA98014
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION.
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL JOINT END HOUSING COVER SEAL FOR LEAKAGE WITH A HIGH PRESSURE AIR TESTER AND THE RUBBER BOOT WILL BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF THE COVER SEAL LEAKS OR THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WILL BE REPLACED.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS · 97V095000
1997-06-06
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING CAN DISENGAGE FROM ITS RETENTION HOLE IF THE HOOD IS SLAMMED SHUT.
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PRIMARY LATCH, THE HOOD WOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING WITH A LONGER END HOOK SPRING.
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