Plymouth Grand Voyager power steering loss problems

Filed Jan 11, 2019 · Brakes, Fuel system · 205,000 miles · OR

Affected component: body control module the bcm controls the following: wipers, fuel pump, vehicle power and much more. During a rainy day in oregon ciry oregon, the bcm failed. The car was moving into a parking lot at less than 20 MPH. In the parking lot was a police vehicle. When the bcm failed, the vehicle lost fuel pressure and therefore engine power then power braking, power steering and the wiper control went erradic. I managed to get the vehicle stopped, narrowly missing the police vehicle. I had no power brakes, no power steering, and the wipers stopped. The bcm was to blame. Had this occurred at highway speeds, I don't like to think what may have happened!!!

Filed Aug 29, 2015 · Steering, Suspension · 147,000 miles · FL

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.

Filed Jan 27, 2012 · Brakes, Electrical · 140,000 miles · CA

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).

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 Dec 29, 2008 · Steering · 152,000 miles · SC

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.

Filed Jul 24, 2008 · Steering · 115,000 miles · OH

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.