Common Causes Of Spark Plug Failure (1995-2000 2.0L Dodge Stratus, Plymouth Breeze)

  • By: Abraham Torres-Arredondo
  • Created: 21 June 2025
  • Updated: 21 June 2025
  • Articl Id: 1822
Common Causes Of Spark Plug Failure (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 2.0L Dodge Stratus, Plymouth Breeze)

It's easy to overlook the spark plugs —they're small, cheap, and simple ignition system components.

But without them firing properly, your Stratus or Breeze's 2.0L engine won't run right —misfires, rough idle, and poor performance are usually right behind.

This guide covers the most common reasons spark plugs fail on these engines —whether from normal wear, carbon buildup, or oil fouling.

You'll also learn how to tell when it's time to replace them, and what to watch for if your engine is burning oil (which can foul new plugs faster than you'd think).

Contents of this tutorial:

APPLIES TO: This tutorial applies to the following vehicles:

  • 2.0L Dodge Stratus: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.
  • 2.0L Plymouth Breeze: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.

CYLINDER MISFIRE DIAGNOSTICS::

Why Spark Plugs Fail On High-Mileage Engines

Every time your 2.0L engine cranks and fires up, the spark plugs take a hit —with each ignition event, a spark jumps between the electrodes, slowly wearing them down. That's normal. Spark plugs are designed to handle this, but after tens of thousands of miles, even the toughest ones start to wear out.

How long do they typically last? If your engine uses original-style copper spark plugs, they usually give you around 50,000 to 60,000 miles of reliable service. If your 2.0L has platinum spark plugs, they can often stretch to 100,000 miles before needing replacement.

But here's what a lot of folks overlook: most spark plug failures on these engines aren't caused by old age —they're caused by carbon buildup.

As these engines rack up miles and begin to burn oil (a common issue on these older 2.0L Stratus and Breeze models), that oil makes its way into the combustion chamber. Once there, it leaves carbon deposits on the spark plugs —especially around the electrode gap.

When enough carbon builds up, the spark can't jump the gap properly. That leads to a dead cylinder —and soon after, misfires, rough idle, and poor performance.

On OBD II-equipped Stratus and Breeze models (1996 and newer), a fouled plug usually triggers the check engine light and sets a misfire code —most commonly P0301 through P0304, depending on which cylinder is misfiring.

When Should I Replace The Spark Plugs?

There's really two ways to know when it's time to change the spark plugs on your 2.0L Stratus or Breeze:

One —follow the recommended change interval from the owner's manual. Two— pay attention to how the engine is running, especially if it's burning oil (which a lot of these engines do as they age).

The factory recommendation assumes the engine is healthy —no oil burning, clean combustion, and the correct spark plugs installed (copper or platinum/iridium). In that case, the manual's service interval is a good guide to follow.

But if your engine is burning oil, all bets are off. The plugs will foul with carbon a lot sooner —sometimes you'll need to replace them every few months just to keep things running right.

Here's when you'll know it's time to swap in fresh plugs on an oil-burning 2.0L:

  • The engine starts idling rough when you stop at lights,
  • Or the check engine light comes on with a misfire code.

Not sure if your engine is burning oil? Watch for these signs:

  • You're adding oil every week to keep it full,
  • You see blue smoke from the exhaust when accelerating,
  • You notice blue smoke at startup —especially after the car has been sitting for a while.

If your 2.0L isn't burning oil, good news —the plugs should last their full service life with no surprises.

Here's what that looks like:

  • Copper spark plugs (OEM type): Replace every 50,000 miles.
  • Platinum or iridium spark plugs: Good for roughly 100,000 miles before needing replacement.

Which Spark Plugs Should I Buy: Champion Or Brand X?

From the factory, the 2.0L Dodge Stratus and Plymouth Breeze came equipped with Champion brand copper spark plugs.

That makes Champion a perfectly solid choice when it's time to replace them —but here's the thing: you're not locked into that brand.

Any quality spark plug that matches the correct specs for your 2.0L engine will work just fine —whether it's Champion, NGK, Autolite, or another reputable brand.

The real decision comes down to the condition of your engine:

  • If your 2.0L is burning oil: Don't waste money on premium plugs. Just run inexpensive copper plugs —even a budget brand will do. Since oil-fouling will ruin them anyway, there's no point in paying more.
  • If your engine is running clean (no oil burning): You can upgrade to platinum tipped plugs for longer life and better performance. No need to stick with Champion —any good platinum plug that matches your engine will serve you well.

Other Things That Can Kill A Spark Plug

When a spark plug stops firing spark, it means one thing —you're going to get a misfire. On OBD II-equipped Stratus and Breeze models, this usually sets off the check engine light, along with a misfire code (typically P0300 through P0304).

So what can cause a plug to fail —besides simple wear? There are really two main types of problems to look out for:

1. Engine problems that foul the spark plug:

  • Oil burning —from worn piston rings or leaking valve seals— coating the plug with carbon and oil.
  • A stuck or leaky fuel injector flooding the cylinder and soaking the plug with raw fuel.
  • Bad spark plug wires —cracked, damaged, or loose connections— cutting off spark delivery.
  • Bad ignition coil pack —with a tower that's stopped generating spark to the plug.
  • Low compression in the cylinder —leading to incomplete combustion and fouling the plug.

2. Mistakes made when installing the spark plugs:

  • Over-tightening the spark plug —which can crack the ceramic insulator.
  • Dropping the plug —which may cause unseen damage that leads to failure later.
  • Accidentally closing the spark gap while handling or installing the plug.
  • Installing the plug with the wrong gap for your engine (easy to miss if you're not careful).
  • Washing a hot engine —which can cause rapid cooling and crack the porcelain insulator.

REAL-WORLD CASE STUDIES:

Over the years, I've run into plenty of misfires caused by simple installation mistakes —and more than a few from low compression or carbon-tracked plugs. Here are a few cases that show just how easy it is for these problems to sneak up on you:

More 2.0L Dodge Stratus And Plymouth Breeze Tutorials

You can find a complete list of tutorials for the 2.0L Stratus and Breeze in this index:

Here's a sample of the tutorials you'll find in the index:

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