Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 183 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Plymouth Breeze, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 66 | 36% |
| Power train | 18 | 10% |
| Steering | 12 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 6% |
| Air bags | 11 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 3% |
| Suspension | 6 | 3% |
| Equipment | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
VISIBLE WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DAMAGED POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE WAS FOUND AFTER DIAGNOSTIC CARE WAS PROVIDED. CHECKED FOR OTHER KNOWN ISSUES, FOUND RECALL # 06V001000 DESCRIBING MY EXACT ISSUE AN
NHTSA complaint: Steering
ON 11/22/2017 A FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DASHBOARD RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE BURNING TO A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. WAS TOWED AND KEPT BY THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR AFTER WE RELINQUISHED THE TITLE.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK AND WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIA
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME TURNING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND LIKE A "CLICKING NOISE" ANAD FEEL WHEN I AM TURNING TO THE RIGHT. WE JUST DID FRONT END ALIGNMENT, OUTER TIE RODS AND BRAKE SYSTEM. NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE EQUIPPED WITH FALKEN SINCERA (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 195/70/R14 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TOWARDS THE END OF JULY 2014, THE FRONT END STARTED MAKING CRUNCHING NOISES WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, TURNING AND OR COMING TO A STOP. I ALSO NOTICED PLAY IN THE STEERING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR FOR ITS OIL CHANGE ON A
NHTSA complaint: Steering
CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL ON THE BACK SIDE OF HEAD AROUND THE HEAD GASKET FOR YEARS, FOUND OUT THAT MANY HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.... ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN I REMOVE THE NUMBER ONE SPARK PLUG THAT IT HAS OIL ALL OVER IT
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 1 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL BEFORE CATCHING FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1998 Plymouth Breeze. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 HO
Risk: IF THERE IS A SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING, THE DRIVER CAN LOOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
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
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: 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 IMPO
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 S
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 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
Risk: FUEL RESTRICTION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER AND/OR ENGINE STALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 49 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 183 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 66 of them (36%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.