RoadVitals

1997 Plymouth Breeze Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Sep 17, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 155 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Plymouth Breeze submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Sep 17, 2005

RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR CRUNCHING NOISE. 45.000 MILES DUE TO LENGTHY RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS DEFECTS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM OF MANY DAIMLER CHRYSLER VEHICLES. AFTER 27 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH 14 VEHICLES (MOSTLY GM AND FORD) I HAVE NEVER HAD AS MANY DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION/STEERING FAILURES AS WITH THIS PLYMOUTH BREEZE. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT CHRYSLER DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY (FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY) FOR POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DEFECTS. THEY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR AND THEN FIND SUPPLIERS WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. I CONSIDER THE BREEZE UNUSABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SUCH AS ANYTHING OVER 30 MPH. FOR HAVING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN THIS SITUATION IS JUST SAD. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO CHRYSLER AS I AM IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING A SMALL CLAIMS COURT CASE. IF YOU CAN FORWARD THIS TO CHRYSLER PLEASE TELL THEM THAT WE JUST WANT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, NOT HAVING OUR LIVES AT STAKE. YOU SEE - IF YOU HIT A TREE OR SOMETHING SOLID - ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST THEM IS GONE. WAKE UP CONSUMERS - READ THE VEHICLE REPORTS BEFORE YOU BUY. BEAUTY MUST BE MORE THAN SKIN DEEP.*JB

NHTSA ID
10136831
Incident
Aug 19, 2005
Mileage
45,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 4, 2005

POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10106726
Incident
Jun 15, 2004
Heating & air conditioningEngineSteering+3 more
Filed Apr 20, 2004

THE STRUTS FAILED. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE PART HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. *JB THERE WERE ENGINE PROBLEMS, THE SPARK PLUGS CONTINUED TO GET DIRTY, TWO SETS OF TIRES WERE LOST, THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE AC, THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE MAIN SEAL AND LEFT REAR CORNER OF THE HEAD, THE HEATER FAN ONLY WORKED ON HIGH, THERE WAS A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED THEN GOES AWAY, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEELS, THE FLASH MODULE CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE UPSTREAM #2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THE STEERING RACK HAD BROKEN, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE AC BELT WAS CRACKED. *SC THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10055741
Incident
Jan 22, 2004
Mileage
73,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 6, 2004

THE TIE ROD ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BROKE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ROD IS LOOSE.*MR

NHTSA ID
10066652
Mileage
70,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I'VE BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY '97 BREEZE SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN APRIL OF 2002. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DOOR PANELS SHAKE/VIBRATE WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. COME TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A BOLT MISSING OFF OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE OTHERS WERE LOOSE AND THEY GOT FIXED BUT THE CAR STILL HAS THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID
10069170
Incident
Apr 15, 2002
Steering
Filed Aug 28, 2002

VEHICLE WAS REVERSING, HEARD A TOMPING NOISE, INNER TIE ROD BROKE. COULDN'T MOVE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER.THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017403
Incident
Aug 8, 2002
Steering
Filed Jun 5, 2002

LEFT FRONT TIE ROD END BROKE WHILE SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK.*JB

NHTSA ID
8011130
Incident
May 30, 2002
Steering
Filed Nov 9, 2001

CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A HIGHYWAY, STEERING LOCKED UP, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT FROM VEHICLE, BUT FLOORMAT GOT TANGLED UP IN STEERING COLUMN. IT TOOK HER TEN MINUTES TO WORK IT OUT, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
898996
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Steering
Filed Jun 12, 2001

CONSUMER WAS MAKING A SLOW RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD SOMETHING POPPING. SHE PULLED OVER, AND SAW FRONT LEFT TIRE TURNED RIGHT, AND FRONT RIGHT TIRE TURNED LEFT. DEALER REPLACED FRONT TIE ROD. FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR PRIOR TO THIS, CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND EVERY NOW AND THEN WHEN MAKING TURNS. DEALER ASSURED HER AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
890166
Incident
Jun 11, 2001
BrakesEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Mar 4, 2001

THE STEERING GEAR FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED IT BUT INSTALLED IT INCORRECTLY, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX IT. NLM

NHTSA ID
785320
Incident
Dec 17, 1999
EngineSteeringTransmission
Filed Nov 14, 2000

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TIE ROD AND BALL JOINT FAILURES. DEALER HAD REPLACED BOTH TIE ROD AND BALL JOINT THREE TIMES EACH, AND PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE REOCCURRING. DEALERSHIP DENIED RECALL 97V201 STATING THAT ALL PARTS WERE OKAY, THE INITIAL PROBLEM WAS AN ONGOING FRONT END NOISE AND VIBRATION. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCING AN OIL LEAKING PROBLEM, THE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. A CHIPPED DRIVE CHAIN CAUSED MOTOR VIBRATION. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
874932
Incident
Aug 15, 2000
EngineSteering
Filed Oct 30, 2000

WHEELS SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO FALL OFF WHENEVER CONSUMER HIT A BUMP. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS COMING ON, AND CONSUMER WAS CONSTANTLY PUTTING OIL IN VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL AND MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE. LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
874140
Incident
Oct 15, 2000
SteeringSuspension
Filed May 15, 2000

NOISE IN THE FRONT WAS REPORTED TO DEALER ON APRIL 27, 2000. CAR WAS PUT UP ON RACK, BUT NO DEFECT WAS FOUND BY MECHANIC AT THAT TIME. WHILE TURNING ONTO MAIN ROAD FROM SIDE ROAD, TIE ROD BROKE. REPAIRING MECHANIC ( NOT DEALER) NOTED EXCESSIVE WEAR OF TIE RODS, FOR MILEAGE ON VEHICLE, AND REPLACED BOTH SIDES. HAD I BEEN UP TO SPEED I COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DEALER OF VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY DID A SAFETY CHECK BEFORE WE TOOK DELIVERY. *AK

NHTSA ID
722685
Incident
May 12, 2000
Steering
Filed Sep 8, 1999

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN CAR IDLES. *ET

NHTSA ID
782966
Incident
Mar 3, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .