2000 Plymouth Breeze Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2000 Plymouth Breeze, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH WATER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE WIRE HARNESSES, BATTERY, AND POWER STEERING CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,998.
WE HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE THOUGHT IT WAS OIL LEAKING. WE STOPPED AND MY HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. HE DIDN'T FIND ANY OIL BUT THERE WAS SOME POWER STEERING FLUID ON HIS HAND. HE THOUGHT HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WE COULD MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION WHERE HE WOULD TRY TO FIX IT. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION, THE CAR WAS SMOKING SOME. I PARKED IN ONE LOCATION, BUT THEN DECIDED TO PARK IN ANOTHER. AS I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL TO PARK IN THE OTHER LOCATION, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS I COMPLETED PARKING, THE SMOKE GOT HEAVIER AND HEAVIER UNTIL FLAMES BEGAN TO APPEAR BY THE WINDSHIELD FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND YOU COULD SMELL RUBBER BURNING. WE IMMEDIATELY EXISTED THE CAR. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD A LITTLE TO TRY TO STOP THE FIRE FROM SPREADING. EVENTUALLY HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH WATER. MOST OF THE WIRING AND HOSES NEAR THE POWER STEERING AREA WERE BURNT OR DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE UNTIL WE COULD BUY ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE DESTROYED IN THE FIRE.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PARKED THE CAR AND WENT INTO THE POST OFFICE. I HEARD PEOPLE STATING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NEEDED FOR A CAR ON FIRE. I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW THE BREEZE WITH SUBSTANTIAL SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WALKED OUTSIDE AS THE POST OFFICE CALLED 911. HAVING A CLEAR VIEW OF THE CAR, THERE WERE BITS OF MATERIAL WITH FLAMES DROPPING FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHALL INDICATED THE FIRE STARTED AGAINST THE FIRE WALL IN THE CORNER OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE DRIVER SEAT. THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM SITE AND IS CONSIDERED A LOSS. *JS
CAR DIES OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IT WILL RESTART. THIS HAPPENS 4-5 TIMES A WEEK. THERE IS NO SIGNS OF LOSS OF POWER, AND THERE IS NO ENGINE LIGHT ON! *TR
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR OWNER REPORTED FUEL SMELL. WE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD FAILED AT THE AFT MUFFLER EXIT TO PIPE, WELDED JOINT. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO MELT AND LEAK FUEL. THE HEAT SHIELD WAS INSTALLED BUT THE MELTING OCCURRED OVER THE TOP OF THE SHIELD. WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE AVAILABLE. WE WILL PRESERVE THE FUEL TANK FOR ANY INVESTIGATION THROUGH 12/31/2014. IF WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU WE WILL DISCARD IT. *TR
WE HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE THOUGHT IT WAS OIL LEAKING. WE STOPPED AND MY HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. HE DIDN'T FIND ANY OIL BUT THERE WAS SOME POWER STEERING FLUID ON HIS HAND. HE THOUGHT HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WE COULD MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION WHERE HE WOULD TRY TO FIX IT. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION, THE CAR WAS SMOKING SOME. I PARKED IN ONE LOCATION, BUT THEN DECIDED TO PARK IN ANOTHER. AS I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL TO PARK IN THE OTHER LOCATION, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS I COMPLETED PARKING, THE SMOKE GOT HEAVIER AND HEAVIER UNTIL FLAMES BEGAN TO APPEAR BY THE WINDSHIELD FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND YOU COULD SMELL RUBBER BURNING. WE IMMEDIATELY EXISTED THE CAR. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD A LITTLE TO TRY TO STOP THE FIRE FROM SPREADING. EVENTUALLY HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH WATER. MOST OF THE WIRING AND HOSES NEAR THE POWER STEERING AREA WERE BURNT OR DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE UNTIL WE COULD BUY ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE DESTROYED IN THE FIRE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER CAN BE MOVED WITHOUT KEYS IN IGNATION. HAS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE WHILE SITTING AT IDLE.
WHILE WAITING AT A TOLL BOOTH, TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. WOULD CATCH OFF AND ON TO MOVE FORWARD. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM, TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING A WHINING SOUND. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT WHINING NOISE INDICATED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE QUIT WORKING AND EVEN REPLACING THE BRAKE BULBS, LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. *AK
WHEN STOPPING COULD HEAR METAL AGAINST METAL. CONSUMER LOOKED AT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE, PAD WAS BAD. TOOK TO A SPECIALIST, AND THEY SAID CALIPER WAS BAD.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH WATER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE WIRE HARNESSES, BATTERY, AND POWER STEERING CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,998.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SIX HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED, IT ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE HOWEVER INFORMATION WOULD NOT DISCLOSE FROM THE RESPRESENTATIVE. THE MAIN DAMAGE IS LOCATED IN THE DASH AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2000 PLYMOUTH BREEZE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE INSIDE DRIVERS DOOR AFTER BEING PARKED FOR OVER 6 HOURS. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED . THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP 4 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE...... SO FAR I CAN'T GET ANY EXPLANATION FOR THIS FIRE. THE NEW YORK FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS NOT VANDALIZED IT WAS ELECTRICAL.. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY SKIDDED ON THE ROAD AND HIT A DITCH, ROLLING TWICE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .