Plymouth Grand Voyager loss of power problems

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 Oct 3, 2010 · Engine, Steering · 102,000 miles · NY

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.

Filed Mar 18, 2009 · Steering · 212,000 miles · TX

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.

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 Oct 6, 2006 · Engine · 69,000 miles · MD

This 2000 plymouth grand voyager has repeated failure of power steering due to the serpentine belt slipping off (mainly during rainy days). On the first occasion, the shop replaced the belt and splash guard. The second time, the shop replaced the belt tensioner. The third time, the shop replaced the harmonic balancer pulley. The fourth time, the shop put the belt back on the van, but could not find anything else wrong with the belt or pulleys. Loss of power steering is dangerous! (besides, we did not get this car only for driving on sunny days.)

Filed Nov 14, 2005 · Transmission · 48,000 miles · CO

1998 plymouth grand voyager transmission implosion. While driving at highway speed some gears from the 4 speed automatic transmission punched out of the housing causing complete transmission failure and loss of power. Pushed vehicle to side of highway, but was left stranded in middle of night with small children and full term pregnant wife. Although chrysler was aware of this common problem they would not repair it as ~10000 miles out of warranty - $3000 replacement out of pocket cost. Second transmission failed ~38000 miles later, 2000 miles out of warranty and chrysler refused again - $2100 rebuild cost. Besides the massive cost, total mechanical failure is very dangerous in highway traffic and if it leaves you stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Filed Jul 1, 2005 · Engine · 87,247 miles · OH

The serpentine belt comes off this vehicle, leading to a sudden loss of power steering. So far, this has happened while on the entrance ramp to a freeway, while driing in light city traffic, and while idling at a bank (prior to taking a highway trip which had to be cancelled). In all cases the driver was female and had great difficulty controlling the vehicle. In all cases this was during wet weather. After the second case, we had the deale install a guide plate that is supposed to keep the belt on, but it came off anyway. We have now learned that there appears to be a defect in the mounting bracket for the power steering pump, leading this part to bend under normal wear and tear such that the serpentine belt will jump off in wet weather. In our vehicle, there was another with the exact same problem in at the same time, and the replacement part was on backorder with 18 customers waiting. This clearly seems to be a design flaw as this vehicle is becoming notorious for this problem among mechanics, with several discussion theads to be found on the internet. It is only a matter of time before someone loses power steering at a critical time, thereby losing cotrol of the vehicle and leading to a fatal accident. Indeed, I would be surprsied if this hasn't already ahppened. A recall must be issued for this problem.

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.