The film was originally titled "US 17" after the highway in Georgia where it takes place. Distributors renamed it "Breakdown" for its worldwide premiere at a film festival in Switzerland.
This was Robert Gordon's 3rd and final acting gig. Gordon was better known at the time as an integral performer in the Rockabilly scene and did much of the score for this film.
The film was originally called "Breakdown" but director Kathryn Bigelow didn't like the title, feeling it was too generic.