PlymouthBreeze19992.5L/plymouth/breeze/1999/2-5l/
JA platform

1999 Plymouth Breeze — 2.5L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 Breeze 2.5L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.5L

The 1999 Plymouth Breeze is a compact passenger car built on Chrysler’s JA platform, powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder engine that defined the model’s utilitarian character. With 124 owner complaints recorded for this model year—primarily concentrated in the engine and cooling system—and seven recalls issued, it reflects a period where reliability concerns were more pronounced than in later iterations. While not the most troubled year in the Breeze’s 1995–2002 production run, its complaint volume still exceeds the near-flawless 2002 model, signaling a midpoint in the nameplate’s gradual improvement rather than a standout for dependability.

Model year1999199819971996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 04105409AE. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP195-70R14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04105409AE
Engine air filter04882141AB discontinued
Fuel filter04764210 discontinued · alt 04897866AA
Spark plug68304149AA alt 68304272AA
BatteryBB75F101AA
Front wiper blades05012357AB discontinued · alt 05018262AA
Serpentine belt04663182AC discontinued · alt 04892479AB
ThermostatP5278144AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length186.2 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height53.9 in
Wheelbase107.9 in
Curb weight3049 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3

Engine torques

Clutch Pressure Plate Bolts70.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts8.0-9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts45.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-2-4

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.25 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeSP-10
Oil Capacity5.00 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test15; Do not allow pressure to exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature192-199 °F
Injector Primary Resistance12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Torque to Knuckle16 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket16 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.354
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.35 in / 0.9 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect)
At 30,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 60,000 miIgnition Timing (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1999 Plymouth Breeze sits at a transitional point in the model's federal record: complaint volume drops to 124 from the 1996-1998 peak of 173-198, and TSBs ease to 63 from a high of 83, suggesting some maturation of the platform, yet investigations climb to 4—the highest of any model year in the dataset—indicating regulators were actively scrutinizing lingering issues. Recalls remain elevated at 7 (on par with 1997-1998), and the 25 fire complaints and 16 crash complaints are material safety signals, even though the data does not specify root causes for either category. The dominant complaint clusters—Engine & Engine Cooling (20), Electrical System (14), Power Train (12), and Steering (11)—are consistent with the kind of powertrain and chassis issues that drive the earlier peak years, implying 1999 buyers inherit the same fundamental risk profile as 1996-1998 owners but with somewhat improved refinement. Compared to the post-2000 decline (38 complaints in 2000, just 1 in 2002), the 1999 year still carries a notably heavier federal footprint. The concrete takeaway: 1999 is a defensible but not standout year to buy—improvement over the troubled 1996-1998 peak is real, but the elevated investigations, seven recalls, and 25 fire complaints warrant a pre-purchase inspection focused on cooling system, electrical integrity, and transmission function.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
63
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
124
Owner complaints
16 involved a crash · 25 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 124 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling20
Electrical System14
Power Train12
Steering11
Air Bags9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic8
Suspension4
Fuel System, Gasoline4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

10E059000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower ArmReported 27/12/2010

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… Remedy: 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…

09E043000EquipmentReported 07/07/2009

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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 63 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
08-049-202020-04-22Electrical SystemCharging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
31005192019-11-20StructureUse of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
31006192019-11-20StructureRepair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Breeze. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1999 Breeze have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.