148 of the 3,388 complaints filed about the Plymouth Grand Voyager are about the steering — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.
148
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
8
Crashes
1
Fires
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AT CERTAIN TIMES THE SERPENTINE BELT WILL SLIP OFF OF THE PULLEYS AND QUIT POWERING THE ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, AND POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS CAN BE WORSENED BY RAINY CONDITIONS. CHANGING BELT TENSIONER WORKS FOR A YEAR OR TWO.
NHTSA complaint #10787840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I WAS IN MY WAY TO WORK WHEN IT WAS RAINING EVER TIME IT RAINS THE BELTS COMES OFF THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAD NO POWER STEERING AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPEN WITH MUSCLE I MANAGED TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ONCE WATER HITS THE TENSION WHEEL BELT IT KNOCKS IT OFF WHICH MAKES IT SLIDE OFF EVERY TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10760181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I'VE PURCHASED A 1999 GRAND VOYAGER AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS ROTTING OUT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS STARTING TO RUST AS WELL , BUT NOT TO THE DEGREE AS THE DRIVERS SIDE.. I LOOKED UP AND FOUND NO RECALL THIS SITUATION, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT CHRYSLER ,PLYMOUTH , DODGE , KNEW ABOUT THIS SINCE 1996 BUT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT IT UNTIL 2001. I ENJOY MY VEHICLE BUT THE REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM ARE A BIT TOO MUCH FOR ME AT THIS TIME DUE TO MY DISABILITY ,AND THE FACT THAT I AM ON A VERY LIMITED INCOME. IS THERE ANY ONE THAT CAN ASSIST ME IN GETTING MY VEHICLE REPAIR?
NHTSA complaint #10701562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVING BELT WAS OUT OF THE PULLEY. THE BELT WAS PLACED BACK INTO POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
NHTSA complaint #10680458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SINCE PURCHASING THIS VAN USED LAST YEAR 2011, MY VAN HAS A HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING NOISE. DEALERSHIP (3RD PARTY) STATED IT WAS ONLY A WET BELT AND WOULD STOP ONCE THE BELT DRIED. THIS NOISE NEVER STOPPED. MY TEEN DRIVER WAS ALONE WHEN THE BELT SNAPPED CAUSING HER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. SEEING OTHER POST OF SIMILAR OR WORSE CASE SCENARIOS I AM LOOKING INTO FURTHER ACTION. NEITHER THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP OR ANY OTHER MECHANIC EVER STATED TO ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10472450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SERPENTINE BELT FALLS OFF ALL THE TIME IT PULLS INWARD TOWARD THE ENGINE SLIGHTLY ANY WHEN IT GETS JUST A LITTLE WET IT SLIPS OFF. THE TENSIONER PULLEY LOOKS LIKE IT NEEDED TO BE COCKED UPWARD JUST THE SLIGHTEST LITTLE BIT AND THEN IT DON'T MOVE GATES AFTERMARKET PRODUCT WORKS PERFECT FOR ALL WHO USE IT CHYRSLER SHOULD BE THE ONES PAYING TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED NOT US THIS IS WAY TO COMMON OF A PROBLEM .
NHTSA complaint #10448357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I PURCHASED VEHICLE USED AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A SQUEAKY SERPENTINE BELT. PUT A LITTLE BELT DRESSING ON IT AND THAT WAS AS FAR AS THE ISSUE WENT. THEN ON A DARK RAINY NIGHT, WENT THROUGH A RAIN PUDDLE-VERY SLOWLY, AND INSTANTLY, STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THE WORST PART OF THIS EXPERIENCE THIS NIGHT WAS TRYING TO PUT BELT BACK ON PULLEYS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IN THE DARK AND NO IDEA HOW TO ROUTE IT. THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS A DIAGRAM IN ENGINE. WITH NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES IT WAS QUITE A SURPRISE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, AND READING ALL OF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR!! FATAL ACCIDENTS!! THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN ENOUGH INFO SUBMITTED AND DOCUMENTED TO WARRANT A RECALL AND HAVE THE MANUFACTURER TAKE CARE OF THIS. OH-BUT GUESS WHAT? ANOTHER COMPANY 'GATES" HAS COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT APPARENTLY HAS HAD POSITIVE REVIEWS. MY ORDER IS IN AND I AM AWAITING MY RETROFITTED TENSIONER BELT COMPONENT KIT SO THAT I WILL FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO BE OUT ON THE ROADS AND THAT I WILL NOT BECOME A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WITH ME. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES TO THE AID OF A BIG COMPANY LIKE CHRYSLER (PLYMOUTH) EVEN WHEN IT IS MORE THAN OBVIOUS THAT THEY ARE BUILDING SUBSTANDARD CARS. THIS IS NOT A MAJOR REPAIR, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY A PROBLEM THAT COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES TO MANY PEOPLE FROM JUST ONE INCIDENT! IT HAS NOW BEEN FOURTEEN YEARS SINCE THIS CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. HOW MANY YEARS OF COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE TO GET SOMEONE TO NOTICE AND TAKE ACTION? IS THERE SOMEONE ABOVE YOU THAT WE HAVE TO BEG, PLEASE HELP US! THE LITTLE GUYS. WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO BEG, "PLEASE DON'T LET MY CAR BE THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE."MAKE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE-BE RESPONSIBLE! THANK YOU (I THINK).
NHTSA complaint #10445541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF EVERY TIME I GO THRU WATER. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE VAN ANYTIME IT RAINS OR THE ROADS ARE WET! MY DAUGHTER IN LAW HAS THE SAME VAN AND THE SAME PROBLEM! ONCE THE BELT COMES OFF I LOOSE ALL POWER,STEERING,BRAKES. PUTTING ME AND ANY PASSENGERS IN DANGER!
NHTSA complaint #10439003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SERPENTINE BELT HAS JUMPED OFF TENSIONER 5 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS, ALL UNDER WET CONDITIONS. REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, TENSIONER (2X), PULLEY, AND BELT.
NHTSA complaint #10437673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERATIVE AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE COUNTY AND DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 199,000.
NHTSA complaint #10428368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SERPENTINE BELT ON 1999 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER 3.8L HAS "JUMPED" OFF 4 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. USUALLY HAPPENS UNDER WET CONDITIONS. CAR HAS HAD TO BE TOWED MULTIPLE TIMES. REPAIRS ATTEMPTED INCLUDE REPLACING TENSIONER, BELT AND SIMPLE REASSEMBLING.
NHTSA complaint #10367881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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WHILE DRIVING OUR 1999 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER DURING A RAIN STORM THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD SLIPPED OFF OF THE PULLEY. BELT WAS REPLACED AND VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10359003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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WE OWN A 1998 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER WITH A 3.3 LITER ENGINE. ON FRIDAY,OCTOBER 1,2010, MY WIFE DROVE SLOWLY THROUGH A PUDDLE AND THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER SYSTEM POWERED BY THE SERPENTINE BELT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HER ONCE BEFORE AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. MY WIFE USUALLY ENJOYS DRIVING HER VAN BUT NOW HAS LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN IT. SHE STATES IT'S A VERY SCARY SITUATION, NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS. WITH ALL I HAVE READ IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL TO HAVE THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #10358936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN AND I LOST CONTROL BECAUSE MY STEERING HOSE LET GO, AND AS A RESULT I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10297053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MY 2000 CHRYSLER GRAND VOYAGER (3.0L ENGINE) HAS REPEATED ISSUE WITH LOSING ITS POWER STEERING BELT IN WET CONDITIONS (DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES AS SHALLOW AS 2 INCHES). THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. SINCE THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN ONE WEEK (AND I HAD JUST HAD THE SYSTEM INSPECTED AND A NEW BELT PUT ON BEFORE IT HAPPENED THE 2ND TIME) I CONTACTED SEVERAL LOCAL DEALERS AND ASKED IF THEY WERE AWARE OF AND HAD A SOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE. ONE DEALER TOLD ME "STAY OUT OF PUDDLES." ALL THE DEALERS I CONTACTED SAID THIS WAS A "VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MODEL" AND THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY FIX FOR THE ISSUE. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF VANS FROM THE LATE 90S SHARE THIS DESIGN ISSUE. I ALSO FOUND SOME AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS THAT MAY FIX THE ISSUE. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD FIND A SOLUTION AND PROVIDE THIS SOLUTION AT THEIR DEALERS BEFORE THIS ISSUE CAUSES FURTHER BREAKDOWNS AND ACCIDENTS. IT IS LIKELY THAT MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE ALREADY RESULTED FROM A LOSS OF POWER STEERING RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, BUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN LINKED TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE: SPEEDS TEND TO BE LOWER IN WET CONDITIONS - ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING THROUGH PUDDLES. IF COLLIDING WITH FIXED OBJECT OFTEN DRIVER WOULDN'T REPORT IT TO AVOID TICKET & INSURANCE PREMIUM HIKES. ALSO, IF THE ACCIDENT IS REPORTED THEY MAY BLAME THE COLLISION OR BELT WEAR AS THE CAUSE FOR THE STEERING LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10262362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF AFTER DRIVING THROUGH LARGE HIDDEN PUDDLE. LOST POWER STEERING AND HAD CLOSE CALL NEGOTIATING AROUND IMMEDIATE CURVE AHEAD. INSTALLED AFTERMARKET GATES KIT DESIGNED TO PREVENT BELT SLIPPING OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10260502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AGAIN FOR THE SAME FAILURE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
NHTSA complaint #10253033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I HAVE A 2000 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER...IT WAS RAINING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP...I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THAT CAR AND IT WAS VERY SCARY. THANK GOODNESS I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT ENOUGH TO PULL INTO A WALGREENS, BUT I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND GET THE SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED. THIS WAS AWFUL!
NHTSA complaint #10251266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SAFETY HAZARD!!! SERPENTINE BELT COMES REPEATEDLY OFF OF OUR 1999 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER... WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN, SNOW OR STANDING WATER. THIS RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF STEERING, ENGINE COOLING AND ELECTRICAL CHARGING. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT. IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THIS HAS RESULTED IN PREVIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS, BUT THAT THIS WAS NOT KNOWN BECAUSE AFTER CRASHES HAVE OCCURRED, IT WOULD NOT BE KNOWN THAT THE BELT HAD SLIPPED OFF OF THE PULLEYS PRIOR TO THE CRASHES OCCURRING. TURNS OUT THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THAT 2 COMPANIES HAVE ACTUALLY PRODUCED KITS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, GATES AND GOODYEAR. THE GATES PART # IS 38342K, AND IT IS FOR 1996-2000 CHRYSLER MINI-VANS WITH 3.0 LITER ENGINES. THE WEBSIGHT HTTP://WWW.DODGEFORUM.COM/ARCHIVE/THREADS/SERPENTINE-BELT-591826-1.HTML SHOWS SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE ARE VARIOUS SIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET THAT DESCRIBE THIS SIMILAR SITUATION. WHEN SOMEONE DRIVES THROUGH EVEN A SMALL PUDDLE OR A SMALL SNOWDRIFT, THE SERPENTINE BELT IS HIGHLY PRONE TO SLIP OFF... CAUSING THE LACK OF STEERING. SINCE MANY OF THESE VANS ARE OWNED BY PEOPLE LIKE MY FAMILY, WHO HAVE SMALL CHILDREN WHO COULD EITHER BE INJURED OR KILLED BY SUCH INSTANCES... I BELIEVE IT IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT CHRYSLER ORDER A SAFETY DRIVEN RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES TO INSTALL THE GATES OR GOODYEAR FIX KITS.
NHTSA complaint #10235668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SERPENTINE BELT HAS REPEATEDLY FALLEN OFF OF OUR 1999 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED DRIVING THROUGH VERY SMALL STANDING WATER AND/OR A SNOW DRIFT. THE BELT HAS COME OFF 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR DRIVE AND COOLING SYSTEM. THIS HAS LEFT MY WIFE AND 3 SMALL CHILDREN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VAN. IN FACT, THERE ARE SEVERAL WEB SIGHTS THAT I FOUND WHERE DOZENS OF OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. BOTH GATES AND GOODYEAR HAVE EVEN DESIGNED KITS TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM RECURRING, THAT IS HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS. THIS IS NOT ONLY A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW, BUT IT IS POTENTIALLY A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, AS ALL POWER ACCESSORIES DRIVEN BY THE SERPENTINE BELT INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING - POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL, COOLING - POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FIRE, AND THE ALTERNATOR - RESULTING IN THE EVENTUAL DRAIN OF THE ELECTRIC POWER. CHRYSLER HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ISSUE, AND EVEN HAS A FIX, BUT IN REVIEWING THE WEB SIGHTS THE CHRYSLER FIX DOES NOT WORK. ONLY THE GATES AND GOODYEAR FIXES WORK. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND PUT THE GATES AND GOODYEAR KITS ON THESE PRODUCTS IN THE NAME OF SAFETY, BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED AS A RESULT OF LOSING THERE STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10235565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.