Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Plymouth Breeze problems
Owners filed 38 complaints about the 2000 Plymouth Breeze with NHTSA between Oct 2000 and Oct 2014. The most-cited component is steering (16).
Complaints
38
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
22
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering16
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Electrical system4
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Power train3
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Engine1
- Fuel system, other1
- Exterior lighting1
- Air bags1
- Other / unknown2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
2
2
2
1
4
6
10
4
0
0
1
1
1
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Steering
16 reports14 fires1 related recall
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
7 reports3 fires
“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, AND SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. I CHECKED EVERY THING AND EVERYTHING IT WAS OK, WATER AND OIL. AND COUPLE MONTH BEFORE THIS HAPPEN I RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER SAYING SOME THING WAS WRONG WITH THOSE TYPE OF CARS. *TR”
Electrical system
4 reports4 fires
“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.”
Fuel system, gasoline
3 reports1 fire2 related recalls
“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.”
Power train
3 reports
“AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER CAN BE MOVED WITHOUT KEYS IN IGNATION. HAS MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE WHILE SITTING AT IDLE.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
2 reports1 related recall
“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”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.