1998 Plymouth Voyager engine problems

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF THE PULLEY, CAUSING THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA complaint #10488994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE BELT SLIPS OFF IN THE RAIN CAUSING POWER FAILURE TO EVERYTHING RUNNING OFF THE BELT. NO POWER STEERING, NO COOLING SYSTEM, NO ELECTRICAL CHARGING, NO A/C, AND I BELIEVE THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10441013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

98 VOYAGER EXPRESSO 3.3 ENGINE. DOORS LOCK AT RANDOM, WHEN PUT IN GEAR, WHEN PUT IN PARK, WHILE KEYS IN CAR, WITH CAR RUNNING, THE 15MPH IS TOTALLY IRRELEVENT IN THIS VAN. IT ALSO OVER HEATS EVEN IN WINTER, AND ALL THE LIGHTS BLINK ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AS WELL AS THE HOUSING FOR AC, DEFROST, REAR WIPER, ETC. HAVE HAD TO LOCAL DEALER WHO CLAIMS THERE ARE NO RECALLS AT ALL ON THIS VAN. I HAVE JUST PRINTED OFF 3 PAGES OF SAFETY ISSUES, AND THE ONES I HAVE LISTED ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON IN EXCESS OF 4 YEARS, AND IT ISNT GETTING ANY BETTER.

NHTSA complaint #10345162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE FIRST COMPONENT OF CONCERN WAS THE BELT TENSIONER WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS OBSERVED TO BE DISMANTLED. THE SECOND COMPONENT WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A MAJOR LEAK COMING FROM THE PUMP SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION. ONCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE, A CRACK WAS OBSERVED IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO REBUILT BECAUSE A TRANSMISSION FOR REPLACEMENT COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A PIN DROP WHICH HAS BEEN COMMON IN VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE THIRD COMPONENT WAS DISCOVERED WHILE THE CONTACT SEARCHED CAR FAX FOR HISTORY ON THE VEHICLE; THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE AIRBAG. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE REMEDY REPAIR, IT WAS NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 70,000 MILES. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE REMEDY REPAIRS WOULD BE ISSUED ONLY IF THE VEHICLE INCURRED THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE RECALL. THE LAST COMPONENT OF CONCERN WAS THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT, WHICH CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS CYLINDER MISFIRE. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTIONED COMPUTER SYSTEM. AFTER A MAJOR TUNE UP TO THE VEHICLE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ONLY ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10160917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

THE SERPENTINE BELT ON MY 1998 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN AUGUST 2004. IT HAS GONE BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE AFTER THAT MAINTENANCE BECAUSE THE BELT SLIPS WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED A MOUNT WHICH IS IN THE RECOMMENDED TSB BY CHRYSLER BUT TO NO AVAIL. TO THIS DATE IT SLIPPED ON ME 3 TIMES ALREADY AND ONCE I WAS IN DALLAS, TEXAS. I BELIVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN AS MUCH YOU LOOSE ALL YOUR CONTROL WHEN THIS BELTS SLIPS.

NHTSA complaint #10141717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT: CALLER GOT RECALL WORK DONE ON CLOCK SPRING, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON BEFORE IT WAS FIXED, AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS OFF , AND THE ABS LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT WERE ON, AND NONE OF GAUGES WORKED. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. DEALER SAID THEY COULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.

NHTSA complaint #10133790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1998 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER ENGINE WENT OUT.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS ENGINE PROBLEM WITH HER VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #10132396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

1998 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 3.3L ENGINE HAS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE METAL BELLOWS ON THE ENGINE CROSSOVER PIPE. THE BELLOWS IS MEANT TO ABSORB ANY THERMAL MOVEMENTS CREATED WHEN THE EXHAUST PIPING HEATS UP MORE THAN THE ENGINE. EITHER ASSEMBLY ISSUES, FATIGUE DESIGN OF THE BELLOWS OR A SUSCEPTIBLE MATERIAL HAS CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FAILURES ON THIS PART. SO MANY SO THAT I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY PROCURING THE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER. UPON FAILURE THE BELLOWS DEVELOPES A CRACK THAT PROPAGATES ALL THE WAY AROUND IT. EXHAUST GASES THEN LEAK OUT AND AT SLOW SPEEDS APPEAR TO BE PULLED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE CAR'S VENT SYSTEM. I'VE TRIED TO PATCH THE REPAIR BUT I'VE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. OUR LOCAL DEALER WON'T PERFORM EXHAUST WORK. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE FAILURE NUMBER IS BASED UPON A NUMBER OF BACKORDERS THAT I WAS TOLD THE MANUFACTURER HAD ON THIS PART.

NHTSA complaint #10114839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL SPILLS FROM UNDER THE CAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK WAS A CRACKED HEAD GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #10115502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL LEAKED ON THE RIGHT REAR CORNER OF THE HEAD GASKET. NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10114446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

GASOLINE ODOR/EXHAUST FUMES WERE COMING INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE HEATING VENT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THIS WAS DUE TO A FLEX CROSS OVER TUBE LOCATED BETWEEN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10101652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS SHOOTING SPARKS FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THEN, THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. MECHANIC HAD TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF BY DISCONNECTING OR TOUCHING A WIRE. *AK THE SES LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE HORN STOPPED WORKING. THE BRAKE LIGHT BECAME STUCK AND THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE REAR DOOR LOCK WOULDN'T WORK WITH THE KEY. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE NOISY. ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES HAD CORD SEPARATION.

NHTSA complaint #10097759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR AN EXAMINATION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10083641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON AND HORN THE WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER STATED THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING HAD FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *JB THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CLAIMED THEY COULDN'T FIND A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO OTHER TECHNICIANS WHO BOTH AGREED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK. THE SERPENTINE BELT CRACKED AT 90000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE CLAMPS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10074192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OIL LEAKING OUT ON DRIVEWAYS.

NHTSA complaint #10069119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

A/C EVAPORATER NO GOOD. THEY REPLACED THEM UP TO 1997. REAR LATCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE & IT DOES NOT WORK AGAIN. HOLE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT JUST BEHIND DRIVER SLIDING DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #10071260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE HEAD GASKET. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE HEAD FASKET KIT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10065412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

I NOW HAVE 100000 MI. ON MY PLYMOUTH VOYGER. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WIDE OR SERPENTINE BELT SIX TIMES. THREE OF THESE TIMES I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TENSION PULLY. EACH TIME, THE BELT STARTS ENRAVELING NEAREST THE OUTER OR PASSENGER SIDE. EACH TIME I AM TOLD THAT THE OTHER TWO NARROWER BELTS NEED TO BE REMOVED SO THEY ARE REPLACED ALSO. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 1999 WITH UNDER TEN THOUSAND MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10056194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

WHILE DRIVING, THE SERPENTINE BELT IN THE ENGINE BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, THE DRIVER SOMEHOW GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10055769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ANTIFREEZE LEAKED FROM VAN SUDDENLY. TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. THEY FIXED IT AT A COST OF $1300.00. IT HAD 84,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS OCCURED A FEW MONTHS AGO. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CRYSLER VANS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #10051039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

1998 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER-SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF PULLEYS WHEN RUN IN WET CONDITIONS. THIS HAS OCCURED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. AFTER FIRST TWO TIMES, THE BELT WAS SIMPLY PUT BACK IN PLACE BY DEALER STATING THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE. ON THE LAST OCCURENCE, DEALER INFORMED ME OF TSB 07-01-99 DEALING WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT AND REPLACING A BRACKET THAT KEEPS THE BELT IN ALIGNMENT. IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $100.00 TO REPLACE. THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES ESPECIALLY SINCE THE BELT CONTROLS POWER STEERING AND COOLING OF THE VEHICLE. AN OBVIOUS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS CAN HAVE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES. NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE PLYMOUTH TO RETROFIT ALL OF THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10050992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FROZE AT EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE (24,000) CREATING FIRE HAZARD BENEATH HOOD DUE TO RUBBING ACTION OF DRIVEBELT.

NHTSA complaint #10033246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DAIMLER/CHRYSLER 2.4 LITER DOHC CYLINDER HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL ON HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10030273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY19 98 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER WITH THE 2.4LTR ENGINE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK AT APPROX. 49,000 MILES. AFTER TEDIOUS SEARCHING, I FOUND THE LEAK WAS CONFINED TO THE HEAD GASKET. WHICH HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX. I ASKED CHRYSLER IF THEY HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD NO. SO THEN I DECIDED TO CHECK THE INTERNET, AND LORDY LORDY THE PLACE WAS OVERFLOWING WITH A MULTITUDE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DESIGN PROBLEM, WHICH GIVES TO A SERIOUS POSSIBILITY OF LOSS OF PROPERTY OR LIFE DUE TO THE OIL LEAKING COULD CATCH FIRE AS IT DRIPS AND MISTS IT'S WAY UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE EXHAUST AND CONVERTER ARE BOTH IN THE PATH OF THE OIL. CHRYSLER SHOULD REIMBURSE ALL MONEYS PAID IN TRYING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10028535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND FAILED TO RESTART. *AK THE VAN WOULD CUT OFF AND WOULDN'T START FOR 2-3 HOURS MAYBE LONGER. THE VAN NO LONGER STARTS. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10027107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

THE VEHICLE WAS IMPROPERLY ALIGNED CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO BREAK. CURRENTLY, THE BELT PRETENSION NEEDS REPLACING.

NHTSA complaint #10026481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL PAN IS MADE OF ALUMINUM WHICH RESULTS IN THE TREAD WEARING OUT AFTER SEVERAL OIL CHANGES. OIL PAN CANNOT BE PLUGGED.

NHTSA complaint #10024002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 42,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10018338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1998 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER LOSES SERPENTINE BELT ,OVER HEATS AND LOSES POWER STEERING WHENEVER IT RAINS. I HAD THE BELT TENSIONER REPLACED TWICE IT HAS NOT HELPED NOW VAN IS AT ANOTHER CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY SAY IT IS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND PULLEY. THEY ARE CHARGING ME $400.00 DOLLARS TO DO THIS WORK AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND ADDRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #10018372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.