1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE Suspension Problems

UPON ARRIVING HOME FROM WORK I BACKED THE VEHICLE INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND FOUND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE UNDERCARRIAGE. INVESTIGATION AFTER REMOVING THE TIRE FOUND THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT HAD SEPARATED AND COLLAPSED. INSPECTION OF THE PART FOUND NO APPARENT LUBRICATION AND RUST APPEARED ON THE BALL SECTION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANICS SHOP AND THE PART REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW UNIT. I ASKED IF THE DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD WAS ALSO IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT BUT INSPECTION BY MY MECHANIC APPARENTLY FOUND THE UNIT TO BE INTACT. THE REMOVED PART WAS DISCARDED UNFORTUNATELY BUT THE MECHANIC INDICATED HE'S SEEN THE SAME FAILURE ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MANUFACTURER [CHRYSLER CORP] *JB

Mileage: 82,450

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

Mileage: 73,000

ENGINE: CANSHAFT OIL SEAL FELL OUT, RUINED ENGINE, REQUIRED REBUILDING ENGINE. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO PAY. I FOUND A TSB THAT PROVIDES A RETAINER TO KEEP OIL SEAL FROM FALLING OUT. ENGINE HAS SEVERE VIBRATION AT IDLE. CAN NOT FIND CAUSE. FRONT SUSPENSION: LOUD CLUNK NEAR DRIVERS FOOTWELL, MANY RATTLES. FOUND FAILED FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR BUSHING. WHILE REPAIRING ALSO FOUND BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WORN AND LEFT SIDE INNER TIE ROD END WORN. SWAY BAR LINK WAS ALSO WORN. NO HELP FROM CHRYSLER AT ALL. REAR WHEEL BEARING LOOSE. TIGHTENED RETAINER NUT TO SPECIFIED 185 FT LBS. WHICH CORRECTED PROBLEM.

Mileage: 56,010

97 V 201 000/WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

LOWER BALL JOINT DISCONNECTED WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS FAILED, CONSUMER HAS HAD TIRES ALIGNED 4 TIMES, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS FRONT END PROBLEMS. NLM

LOWER CONTROL ARM IS MAKING A POPPING SOUND. ALSO, HEADGASKET BLEW. *AK

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

RECALL 97V201000/LOWER CONTROL ARM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNBALE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT TO REPAIR VEHICLE. SEEKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

DURING WARM WEATHER, FRONT END NOISE AS YOU GO OVER ANY BUMP IN ROAD SIMILAR TO A SPRING NEEDING OIL. WAS TOLD SWAY BAR PROBLEM WITH NATIONAL BACKORDER AND UNAVAILABLE. DURING COLD WEATHER, GRINDING NOISE WHEN NEGOTIATING LEFT TURN- NOISE AT FRONT END. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS VIBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THEY GO HALFWAY TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND CRACK IN HALF FROM OVERHEATING. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS GETTING RUSTY. *AK

CONSUMER HAD BOUGHT USED VEHICLE ON 6-30-98. SHE THEN RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR LOWER CONTROL ARM THAT WAS ISSUED IN 11-97. CHRYSLER TOLD CONSUMER THAT DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED OF RECALL ON 12-97. DEALERSHIP SOLD USED VEHICLE TO CONSUMER WITHOUT DOING RECALL REPAIRS. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS ILLEGAL. *AK

RECALL WORK DENIED, DEALER DENIED SERVICE BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED AT LOCATION.(LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT).

THERE IS VIBRATION AT IDLE SEAT THROUGH STEERING WHEEL, THE DEALER HAS TEST DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THE VIBRATION. AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOTHING THE DEALER CAN DO TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB