1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager Transmission Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2002 FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING, ALTERNATOR, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, COOLING SYSTEM. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IS NEEDED FOR GROSS POLLUTION. THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED UNDER FAIR WEATHER CONDITIONS THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURES OF THE FAN, RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN HOT, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO BLOW OUT. SERVICE FOR THESE COMPONENTS WERE PERFORMED AT AN INDEPENDANT AUTO SHOP.

NHTSA ID

10160769

Incident

Jan 25, 2002

STARTED WHEN I WOULD TAKE OFF IN FIRST GEAR, IT WOULD VIBRATE REALLY HARD, LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMITION DOES WHEN IT NEEDS TO DOWN SHIFT. THEN I WAS ALMOST IN A COLLISION, WHEN I WAS STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF A HILL, AND WENT TO PULL OVER, AND TO MY SURPRISE I ROLLED BACKWARDS, AS IF IN NUTRAL. MY TRASMISSION WAS GONE. AFTER A VERY LARGE TOW BILL, AND 1500 REBUILT TRANSMISSION, MY DIM LIGHTS ONLY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO, THE PASSENGER WINDOW IS TO THE POINT WHERE IT ALMOST WONT GO UP.....THERE'S ALMOST TOO MUCH MORE TO GO ON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10086902

Incident

Jun 17, 2004

AUTO TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS WE SHIFTING FROM 1 TO 2 AND 2 TO THIRD GEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10038741

Incident

Sep 10, 2003

Mileage

72,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE @ 55865 MILES WHILE ON VACATION IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WAITED 5 1/2 FOR TOW, GOT TO DODGE DEALER, TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP, WARRANTY IS ONLY FOR 36000, BUT TRANSMISSION REPAIR IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST DODGE, CHRYSLER, PLYMOUTH VANS ACCORDING TO "INSIDE SERVICE CONSULTANTS" WHO HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES. WAS EVEN TOLD IF THE "PUBLIC" KNEW ABOUT IT, SALES WOULD TANK!*AK

NHTSA ID

10029241

Incident

Jun 26, 2003

Mileage

55,865 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026715

Incident

Apr 5, 2003

I JUST HAD MY THIRD MOPAR REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED TWO WEEKS AGO IN MY 97 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER--3 SPEED AUTOMATIC--3.0 LITRE. I BOUGHT THIS 97 PLY GRAND VOYAGER WITH 30K MILES FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. THIS ORIGINAL TRANS WENT AT 75K. I THEN HAD THE FIRST MOPAR REBUILT INSTALLED AND REPLACED WITHIN 3,000 MILES DUE TO A FLATLY TORQUE CONVERTER. THE SECOND, AND THIRD WERE REPLACED, AT 85K AND 97K, RESPECTFULLY, DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TORQUE CONVERTER, "SHUTTERING", PROBLEM IS THE MAIN SYMPTOM. MOPAR HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSIONS, PARTS AND LABOR, WITHOUT DELAY. MY QUESTION---WHY IS THIS HAPPENING SOOOOOOO OFTEN? THE WARRANTY IS GOOD OF 36/36,000 MILES, WHICH EXPIRES AT 111,000. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE TO THIS SITUATION? IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS? WAYNE EFFERSON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10005112

Incident

May 3, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION BLEW. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10004776

Incident

Jan 22, 2003

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED VEHICLE JUMPS AND HESITATES. DEALER STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013180

Incident

Jun 29, 2002

MANUFACTURER SAYS NOT UNCOMMON FOR TRANSMISSION TO FAIL 80,000 TO 100,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

762940

Incident

Jun 11, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER WAS BYPASSED WHILE A NEW COOLER WAS ON ORDER, FIRE SUSPECTED TO HAVE STARTED IN THIS AREA (CLAIM # 22-V361-586). *YD

NHTSA ID

6901025

Incident

Jul 17, 2000

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AT 6:30 ONE MORNING ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY, DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PARK. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, STARTED THE VAN AGAIN, AND TRIED TO PROCEED. THE VAN WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I PULLED OFF AGAIN AND CALLED MY HUSBAND. HE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT "SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM" AND IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME IN "LIMP" MODE. THE VAN IS STILL IN THE SHOP. WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM HAS NOW TURNED INTO A MAJOR PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT SOME GEARS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS $1500.00 OR HIGHER. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT HE HAS NOT SEEN A PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION PLACES THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. SEVERAL SITES ON THE WEB ALSO LIST CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THIS VAN HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY SO I THINK IT IS UNREASONABLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL LIKE IT DID. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS AT ALL. WHAT UPSETS ME IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT IN A CASE LIKE THIS. WHAT IF I HAD BEEN PASSING SOMEONE, SOMEONE HAD BEEN TAILGATING ME, ETC.? I ALSO WONDER HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT REPORT IT? WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN BE DONE? MM. *AK

NHTSA ID

756332

Incident

Dec 27, 2001

VEHICLE WASN'T GOING IN GEAR. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

897827

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING, EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT ENGAGED. SUDDENLY VEHICLE WENT BACKWARD, CAME TO STOP WHEN IT HITTING A CEMENT POST. NO INJURIES, DAMAGE $700-900. *AK

NHTSA ID

895193

Incident

Aug 13, 2001

I WAS DRIVING MY PLY. GRAND VOYAGER SE HOME ON WED JULY 18TH AT APPX 6 PM. I STOPPED AT A LIGHT ( I WAS THE FIRST CAR AT THE INTERSECTION ) AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR MADE AN AWFUL GRINDING NOISE. THE PERSON BEHIND ME ASSUMED THAT I WAS MOVING AND CAME WITHIN INCHES OF CRASHING INTO ME. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. AS I STEPPED OUT (INTO TRAFFIC) I DID NOT SEE ANY DEBRIS OR LEAKAGE UNDERNEATH. I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE AND AAA TO TOW ME TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH MY REPAIRS AND HAD NO PRIOR HISTORY OF SLIPPAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT A PIN BECAME LOOSE AND THAT THE GEARS SIMPLY FELL OUT OF PLACE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING! THIS SCARED ME DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE A FAMILY AND MY LIFE WAS IN JEOPARDY WHILE DRIVING WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A SAFE FAMILY VEHICLE. I COULD UNDERSTAND IF I HAD PRIOR WARNING SIGNS OF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, BUT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING IS ALARMING. I HOPE THAT THIS IS NOT A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER. I HAVE OWNED 5 CARS IN MY LIFETIME. THEY HAVE ALL LASTED WELL INTO THE 100,000 MILE RANGE WITHOUT ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS DUE TO MY DILIGENT MAINTENANCE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE IN WORKMANSHIP THAT CAN CAUSE A POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC END TO A DRIVER OR A FAMILY(IES). I HOPE THAT THIS ISSUE BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR

NHTSA ID

750293

Incident

Jul 18, 2001

TRANSMISSION - SHUDDERS/VIBRATES/HESITATES WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM 1-2 GEARS. A/C COMPRESSOR, STARTER AND/OR IGNITION, AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE HAVING PROBLEMS OR QUIT WORKING ALL AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME

NHTSA ID

747331

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN ENGINE RACES, BUT TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION ONLY FUNCTIONS PROPERLY WHEN IT IS IN REVERSE OR FIRST GEAR. DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION FIVE TIMES, WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM. *AK FRONT BRAKES FAILED TWICE. *YH

NHTSA ID

890944

Incident

Apr 7, 1999

ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO GEAR WITHOUT HAVING FOOT ON BRAKE.*AK

NHTSA ID

744839

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WAS NOT CHANGING GEARS . TECHNICIAN STATED THAT COOLENT WAS LEAKING INTO RADATOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON.*AK

NHTSA ID

886855

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

886199

TRANSMISSON FAILED SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY. REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

742199

Incident

Mar 2, 2001

TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. THE SAME REPAIR SHOP FIXED SAME PROBLEM, SAME VEHICLE TYPE/YEAR 2 WEEKS PRIOR. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****740103

NHTSA ID

10006388

Incident

Jan 22, 2001

Mileage

52,899 mi

DIFFERENTIAL BLEW APART, CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE, CONSUMER STATES IT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOT GUT BEING SHOT AND THEN THE VEHICLE JUST QUIT, DEALER FOUND A HOLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASING. *SLC

NHTSA ID

879072

Incident

Jan 17, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

735712

Incident

Jul 21, 2000

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. I BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

NHTSA ID

735361

Incident

Oct 17, 2000

WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION RELACED ON APRIL 8, 1998, OCTOBER13, 2000, OCTOBER 25, 2000, AND WHEN WE PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ON OCTOBER 25, 2000 NOT 2 HOURS LATER WE WERE BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

735156

Incident

Apr 8, 1998