1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager: sudden loss of power

Filed Feb 12, 2011 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 230,000 miles · DC

Van was bought privately in summer of 2008. During the first road trip with the voyager, the transmission went and was replaced with a rebuild transmission. In september of that same year, fuel pump and battery had to be replaced. Two months later, head gasket blew, was repaired but damage to engine was unknown. In winter of 2008, repeated problems with oil & brake fluid leaking out from calipers. Brakes always needed some type of work: pads, drums, bearings, calipers. In 2009, water pump had to be replaced, yet van still felt hotter then what it read. Exhaust started coming through the passenger side vents .it was repaired, but started again. Found hoses getting holes burnt through, and needed to be repaired. In 2010, replaced headlights, but night time illumination was still poor, even with high beams on. Battery needed to be jump started more & more, and an excessive amount of battery acid had to be removed from a terminal. The battery actually looked like it had been burnt. More leaks found caused by holes through hoses. Yet again, the water pump had to be replaced in july. Then in october 2010, things got very scary, the serpentine belt fell off for the first time while driving about 10km, while turning up into the driveway. I couldn't complete the turn due to the loss of power steering and was almost hit head on by oncoming traffic. The belt was put back on. 2 days later the belt fell off again, & again. Mechanic replaced belt and parts, drove around like crazy & thought problem was fixed. 6 weeks after, serpentine belt falls off again while driving at night, during a snow storm, on a canadian rocky mtn highway, with full electrical shut down of van, limited cell phone service, and our 4 small children. This incident was extremely unsafe, dangerous, scary, and expensive! 3 weeks later, head gasket blows again, and the van is done.

Filed Oct 4, 2010 · Engine, Steering · 95,230 miles · MA

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.

Filed Mar 2, 2009 · Steering · 116,000 miles · MI

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.

Filed Jul 23, 2008 · Engine, Steering · 115,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed Mar 15, 2005 · Transmission · 111,181 miles · PA

While driving 40 MPH the vehicle stalled. Driver was not able to restart vehicle, and it was towed to a garage for inspection. Mechanic determined that transmission needed to be replaced. *ak the transmission differential shaft came out and rotated putting a hole in the transfer case, causing oil to leak and vehicle to loss power.

Filed Sep 20, 2001 · Engine · OH

The serpentine belt and tensioner failed while driving in the rain, the driver hit a puddle on the right side of the van and the belt popped off resulting in loss of power steering, the consumer believes the belt should have been replaced under warrenty and the consumer is requesting reimbursement for the repairs. Nlm

Filed Apr 5, 2001 · Transmission · NC

While traveling noticed transmission failure. Consumer lost power. Consumer had vehicle repaired four times. Dealer can't duplicate problem. Please provide further information.