Power Steering Fluid Problems of Plymouth Breeze

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.

See all problems of the 2000 Plymouth Breeze 🔎.

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 NHTSA 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: NHTSA campaign id number: 06v001000 NHTSA 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. . Read more...

See all problems of the 1998 Plymouth Breeze 🔎.

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 NHTSA 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 NHTSA action no. Pe05036 or the manufacturer (daimlerchrysler corp) should replace hose determined to be leaking.