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 and falling under similar model of car, however my car "does not qualify for that recall" and all recalls have been completed on the vehicle.
Plymouth Breeze fire or smoke problems
53 of the 667 owner complaints about the Plymouth Breeze describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 2000 model year.
- owner complaints
- 53
- worst model year
- 2000
- typical mileage
- 107,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
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.
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.
I have noticed that a white smoke has been coming from under the hood, noticeably when the car is turned off, or when I am stopped. I have looked under the hood, and it seems to be coming from behind the engine, on the drivers side. I did replace the valve cover casket, and I thought that was the issue, and cleaned the engine. However, it is still occurring... I notice saturation on the two lines running behind the engines, but not sure if it a crack in the cylinder head. However, I am not loosing oil nor antifreeze. Also, they are not mixing in the engine. It is just happening there. I did find on forums and on the federal safety agency that there was a recall for the 1999-2000 model year for the stratus/breeze/cirrus with a 2.4 ltr engine, and that it is most likely the high pressure return line for the power steering. I have not yet checked the fluid level in the p/s. I have heard that other cars have caught fire, and that p/s fluid is highly flammable... I called daimlerchrysler and they said that with my VIN its not covered under said recall, and the 2 recalls on the car have already been addressed. 1998 plymouth breeze, base sdn 2.4l 4cyl engine VIN: [xxx] owner(self): [xxx] please note what I've found: the federal safety agency campaign id number: 06v001000 the federal safety agency action number: pe05036 summary: on certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.4 liter engines, the high pressure power steering hose may prematurely heat age and develop a leak. Also, found on http://www.arfc.org/complaints/1998/plymouth/breeze/10228283.aspx smoke coming from engine compartment. Source of smoke determined to be from power steering fluid leaking from high pressure hose onto exhaust manifold. Defect has been identified in the federal safety agency action no. Pe05036 for this model of car (1998 plymouth breeze, 2.4l engine), however, the resulting recall (06v001000) did not include this year model. The recall should be expanded to additional year models identified in the federal safety agency action no. Pe05036 or the manufacturer.... Information redacted pursuant to the freedo
1998 plymouth breeze, was exiting ohio turnpike when it caught on fire. Bf (ohio traffic report # 10-0637-91)*jb updated 12/10/10
Drove for approximately two miles, engine caught on fire, I put it out.
1999 plymouth breeze (2.4 engine) caught fire when I parked the car in front of my house.
My 1999 plymouth breeze (2.4 engine) caught fire in front of my house as soon as I parked the car.
I drove my car for about half an hour to a interview for a job, it took me maybe 20 minutes to get there and 20 minutes to get back home. I parked my car in the driveway went in to the house 5 to 7 minutes after I returned home the car was on fire. Thank god I wasn't in it when it caught fire. I called the fire department they put the fire out. I called the manufacturing company that made the car and they sent someone out to the location where the car was left burnt to a crisp. A week later I received a letter from them telling me it wasn't there fault. About a month later I got a recall notification in the mail telling me the car was on recall for the very same reason it caught on fire. Ii am still being told that they are not going to do anything about this problem because they don't have to. This is the reason why this country is in the shape we are in now because big company's such as chrysler can sell anything they want to the consumer and get away with a slap on the wrist. They don't have to replace my car or help to replace it. It is not right or is it fair to the consumer when you trust these companies with your life and buy this garbage they throw together and we unknowingly buy it thinking it safe to drive. What happened to for the people, I guess as long as you are rich you can do whatever you want as long as it doesn't affect the wrong people. Who is looking out for the little people when they don't know who to trust. I hope that what I experienced was not what the fiber of this country stands by. Instead of receiving big bonuses they should have made sure that there product was safe for their customers.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Plymouth Breeze fire or smoke
Which Plymouth Breeze years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2000 (18 complaints), 1999 (15 complaints) and 1998 (10 complaints).
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