NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Lock
840.0%
Hatchback/Liftgate
525.0%
Support Device/Strut
210.0%
Bumpers
15.0%
Latch
15.0%
Hood
15.0%
Column
15.0%
Exterior
15.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 1995peak 6Mar 2001
NHTSA investigations into the 1984 Plymouth Voyager
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA94005Opened 31 Jan 1994Closed 25 Oct 1995STRUCTURE
LIFTGATE LATCHES
LIFTGATE LATCHES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE FAILED IN LOW AND MODERATE SPEED IMPACTS RESULTING IN OCCUPANT EJECTIONS, INJURIES, AND FATALITIES.THERE ARE TWO FAILURE MODES ASSOCIATED WITH LATCH FAILURE: FORK BOLT-DETENT LEVER BYPASS, AND INERTIAL UNLATCHING.NHTSA ANALYSES OF CHRYSLER AND PEER MINIVANS TOOK THE FORM OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC CRASH TESTING, ENGINEERING EVALUATIONS, COMPLAINT AND FIELD ANALYSES, AND REAL WORLD DATA ANALYSES.A TECHNICAL REPORT DISCUSSING THESE ANALYSES CAN BE FOUND IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TECHNICAL REPORT IN THE PUBLIC VIEWING FILE.CHRYSLER HAS ADVISED NHTSA THAT...
EA91010Opened 10 Dec 1990Closed 31 Dec 1991POWER TRAIN
TRANS PARK SYSTEM FAILURE
EA90030Opened 31 May 1990Closed 24 Sep 1990EQUIPMENT
SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILS
EA90011Opened 23 Feb 1990Closed 28 Feb 1991EXTERIOR LIGHTING
UNDERDASH FIRES
PE90030Opened 9 Jan 1990Closed 31 May 1990EQUIPMENT
SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILURE
PE89170Opened 26 Sep 1989Closed 23 Feb 1990ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
UNDERDASH FIRES
PE88095Opened 22 Aug 1988Closed 15 Feb 1989SEATS
BROKEN DRIVERS SEAT
PE88080Opened 30 Jun 1988Closed 5 Apr 1989SUSPENSION
FRNT COIL SPRNG FRACTURE
Recalls on the 1984 Plymouth Voyager
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1985141755 units in Canada
Label
Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 111 - rearview mirrors.
Recall 198505426,568 units in Canada
Brakes
On certain vehicles, stones could become lodged in the height sensing brake proportioning valve. Inhibited valve function, due to stone intrusion, may result in increased stopping distances during severe braking with light loads.
Recall 19841548,066 units in Canada
THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE FUEL FILTER COULD EXPERIENCE FATIGUE CRACKING AT THE FUEL PUMP END AS THE RESULT OF RESONANT VIBRATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. THIS COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AND PRESENT THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Seattle, WACrash1 injured
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
PASSENGER OUTSIDE DOOR MIRROR WAS NOT INSTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #9000670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FLCrash1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
REAR LIFTGATE OPENED UPON IMPACT; 12 YEAR OLD EJECTED OUT OF VEHICLE ABOUT 15 FT. BEHIND VEHICLE BEFORE FOUND; NOT WEARING SEAT BELT; VEHICLE REARENDED. TT
NHTSA complaint #969118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Auburn, CACrash
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
THE REAR BUMPER EXCESSIVELY MOVED AFTER BUMPING INTO A VEHICLE AT APPROX. 5MPH.
NHTSA complaint #968380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Devner, COCrash
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
VAN WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, HIT BACK AND REAR CAME OPEN. TT
NHTSA complaint #963743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leadington, MICrash1 injured
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
EA-94-005, REAR LATCH LIFTGATE CAME OPEN AFTER HIT AT A 9:00 POSITION SPEED 40 MPH. TT
NHTSA complaint #961213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Falmouth, MACrash1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
WHILE VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 15 MPH IMPACT 2:00 POSITION, THE REAR HATCH LIFT CAME OPEN, EA-94-005. TT
NHTSA complaint #961236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
LA Porte, IN
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AT 55MPH, VERY HARD TO STOP WHEN YOU CANT SEE CAUSE THE HOOD IS ON THE WINDSHIELD, AFTER I GOT IT STOPPED THE HOOD WAS ON THE WINDSHIELD AND THE AREA IMMEDIATELY ABOVE IT WAS DAMAGED, LUCKILY IT DIDNT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT I THINK IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. I WILL NOTIFY PLYMOUTH IF I CAN FIND AN INTERNET SIGHT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?
NHTSA complaint #742004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seattle, WACrash1 injured
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
PASSENGER OUTSIDE DOOR MIRROR WAS NOT INSTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #9000670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stewartsville, NJ
SEATS
THE BOLTS ON THE DRIVER SEAT FRAME BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #843651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cranberry, PA
SEATS
CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH REAR SEAT NOT SECURING PROPERLY TO THE FLOOR, SEAT REMAINED LOOSE WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING USED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND IGNORED CONSUMER'S COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #825384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Franci, CA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
REAR LIFTGATE LATCH DEFECTIVE PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #502032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clyde, OH
STEERING:COLUMN
TILT STEERING WHEEL COMING LOOSE, TIGHTEN THE 4 BOLTS DOWN IN THE STEERING COLUMN. TT
NHTSA complaint #975268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE STRUT THAT HOLDS THE REAR HATCH OPEN-DOES NOT HOLD THE HATCH OPEN IN COLD TEMPERATURES. TT CONSUMER STATES AT TEMPERATURES FROM 20- 40 F STRUTS DO NOT HOLD LATCH FULLY UP, BUT AT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 20F HATCH SLAMS SHUT AT FRIGHTENING SPEEDS, CHRYSLER'S RESPONSE WAS THAT THIS IS A REGULAR MAINTAINENCE ITEM BUT IS NOT LISTED ANYWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, CONSUMER STATES DEALER REPLACED THE LATCH, BUT THE HATCH STRUTS FAIL EVERYTIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40F.
NHTSA complaint #974745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spokane, WA
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
FRONT DOORS ARE ALMOST FALLING OFF DUE TO WEAK WELDING OR LACK OF RESTRAINT ON FRONT DOOR HINGES (OTHER VEHICLE ON 468585).
NHTSA complaint #486925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FLCrash1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
REAR LIFTGATE OPENED UPON IMPACT; 12 YEAR OLD EJECTED OUT OF VEHICLE ABOUT 15 FT. BEHIND VEHICLE BEFORE FOUND; NOT WEARING SEAT BELT; VEHICLE REARENDED. TT
NHTSA complaint #969118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Auburn, CACrash
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
THE REAR BUMPER EXCESSIVELY MOVED AFTER BUMPING INTO A VEHICLE AT APPROX. 5MPH.
NHTSA complaint #968380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Golden Valle, AZ
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
REAR LIFTGATE LATCH FAILURE, REPLACED THE LATCH TWICE. TT
NHTSA complaint #966038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Heron, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
WHEN A BUMP IS HIT, REAR DOOR FLIES OPEN. TT
NHTSA complaint #965056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alton, 00
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
LIFTGATE OPENED WHILE DRIVING AND SHATTERED THE WINDOW ON LIFTGATE AND HYDRAULIC LIFT FAILED PUNCTURING THE DOOR TT
NHTSA complaint #964337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.