1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager Steering Problems

I'VE PURCHASED A 1999 GRAND VOYAGER AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS ROTTING OUT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS STARTING TO RUST AS WELL , BUT NOT TO THE DEGREE AS THE DRIVERS SIDE.. I LOOKED UP AND FOUND NO RECALL THIS SITUATION, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT CHRYSLER ,PLYMOUTH , DODGE , KNEW ABOUT THIS SINCE 1996 BUT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT IT UNTIL 2001. I ENJOY MY VEHICLE BUT THE REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM ARE A BIT TOO MUCH FOR ME AT THIS TIME DUE TO MY DISABILITY ,AND THE FACT THAT I AM ON A VERY LIMITED INCOME. IS THERE ANY ONE THAT CAN ASSIST ME IN GETTING MY VEHICLE REPAIR? *TR

NHTSA ID

10701562

Incident

Mar 25, 2015

Mileage

118,000 mi

SERPENTINE BELT HAS JUMPED OFF TENSIONER 5 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS, ALL UNDER WET CONDITIONS. REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, TENSIONER (2X), PULLEY, AND BELT. *KB

NHTSA ID

10437673

Incident

Aug 20, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERATIVE AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE COUNTY AND DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 199,000.

NHTSA ID

10428368

Incident

Sep 10, 2011

Mileage

199,000 mi

SERPENTINE BELT ON 1999 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER 3.8L HAS "JUMPED" OFF 4 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. USUALLY HAPPENS UNDER WET CONDITIONS. CAR HAS HAD TO BE TOWED MULTIPLE TIMES. REPAIRS ATTEMPTED INCLUDE REPLACING TENSIONER, BELT AND SIMPLE REASSEMBLING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10367881

Incident

Nov 13, 2010

Mileage

152,521 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359003

Incident

Sep 29, 2010

Mileage

95,230 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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10260502

Incident

Feb 1, 2009

Mileage

116,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10253033

Incident

Nov 14, 2008

Mileage

152,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235668

Incident

Jul 12, 2008

Mileage

115,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235565

Incident

Jul 12, 2008

THIS MODEL CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING, WHEN I NOTIFIED THE DEALER HE INFORMED ME THAT THE DEFECT DID NOT INCLUDE MY PARTICULAR CAR,YET I HAD THE PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX THIS DEFECT. I ALSO CONTACTED DAMLER CHRYSLER AND THEY ALSO REFUSED TO HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068367

Incident

Apr 26, 2004

WE JUST PURCHASED THE PREOWNED VAN ON APRIL 8, 2003 IT HAS 41600 MILES ON IT ONE TIME OWNER PREVIOUSLY 1. PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE. THE DEALER IS GOING TO GET US TOUCH UP PAINT TO FIX. 2. THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS CUT WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT. THE DEALER HAD THE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND THOUGHT MAYBE THE HOSE GOT CAUGHT IN THE FAN BELT AND CUT IT. THE DEALER REPAIRED IT AND SAID NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS DONE. THIS TIME THEY TIDE DOWN THE HOSE AWAY FROM THE BELT.

NHTSA ID

10068749

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

Mileage

41,600 mi

UPON RESTARTING THE VAN THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION HAD LOCKED UP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10051963

Incident

Dec 16, 2003

Mileage

67,000 mi

STEERING COLUMN-CLOCKSPRING. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041739

Incident

Jul 20, 2003

Mileage

76,000 mi

WHILE TURNING TO PULL INTO THE GARAGE, THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED STEERING. COULD NOT STEER LEFT OR RIGHT. WHOLE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10000266

Incident

Sep 15, 2002

Mileage

55,000 mi

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID

769891

Incident

Sep 15, 2002

WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8011283

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

WHILE STEERING INTO A PARKING PLACE AT A LOCAL SUPERMARKET, STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSIBLE FOR LEFT TURNS. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS FAILING TO TURN VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. REPLACING RACK COMPONENT ($549.00) WAS DIFFICULT AS CHRYSLER WOULD NOT RELEASE THE PART FOR SEVEN DAYS AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE RELEASING THE PART. IT WOULD SEEM THAT CHRYLER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART BUT IS NOT RELEASING INFORMATION ABOUT ITS TENDENCY TO FAIL WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

760679

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

COMSUMER HAS A HARD TIME TURNING KEY IN IGNITION. DRIVER SAYS ANOTHER TIME KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8001962

Incident

Jan 9, 2002

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SWITCH FROM 1ST GEAR. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER,AND DEALER INSTALLED OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

893894

Incident

Aug 5, 2001

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN AREA WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SIX OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER STATES STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, BEARING AND STEERING RACK HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED, BUT STEERING COLUMN STILL MAKES A POPPING NOISE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *JB

NHTSA ID

888505

Incident

Aug 15, 1999

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN MAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

888156

Incident

Oct 17, 2000

PRETTY NEW FOR THE RACK & PINION TO BE GOING OUT. NO NEW PART AVAILABLE-3 MONTH WAITING LIST TO ORDER PER MECHANIC. DEALER WILL NOT INQUIRE WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER ON RECALL STATUS SINCE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON STEERING GEAR FOR THIS YEAR,MAKE & MODEL FOUND ON INTERNET. MORE INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED BY SOMEONE. FORCED TO GET USED PART AT SALVAGE YARD (WHICH COULD ALSO BE DEFECTIVE) SINCE UNABLE TO DRIVE VAN UNTIL FIXED AND NEW PART CANNOT BE LOCATED ANYWHERE IN U.S. AT THIS TIME (PER MECHANIC).*AK

NHTSA ID

739000

Incident

Dec 15, 2000

RACK AND PINION FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO EXPERIENCE CONTROL PROBLEMS, DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE TENSIONER PULLEY. *SLC

NHTSA ID

877169

Incident

Dec 23, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

724266

Incident

Jun 15, 2000

POWER STEERING PUMP AND POWER STEERING RACK FAILED CAUSING POWER STEERING LOSS. NLM

NHTSA ID

551017

Incident

Feb 3, 2000