RoadVitals

1979 Plymouth Sport Utility Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 23, 2008
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1979 Plymouth Sport Utility, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Other / unspecified526.3%
  • Electrical421.1%
  • Engine315.8%
  • Airbags210.5%
  • Brakes210.5%
  • Fuel system15.3%
  • Heating & air conditioning15.3%
  • Steering15.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MY 1995 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 4X4 KEEPS STALLING ALL THE TIME. ROUGH IDLE WHEN STARTED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME. ALSO, ALARM IS DEFECTIVE AND FLASHES THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND HONKS THE HORN ANYTIME ANY OF THE DOORS ARE OPENED OR CLOSED AND THE POWER LOCK BUTTON IS PUSHED TO LOCK OR UNLOCK. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOESN'T EVEN SHOW A READING AND THE FACTORY INFINITY GOLD CD RADIO TURNS ON BUT NO SOUND. MY JEEP HAS A WARRANTY ON IT RIGHT NOW AND THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ONGOING SINCE 2/25/06. I'VE HAD MY JEEP TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHERE I GOT IT, WHICH HAS ASE CERTIFIED TECHS, AND ALSO TO TWO AUTHORIZED JEEP DEALERSHIPS WITH NO RESOLUTION TO ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS AND TO DATE HAVE BEEN CHARGED OVER $450.00 BETWEEN THE THREE DEALERSHIPS. I HAVE SENT NOW TWO E-MAILS TO THE CHRYSLER GROUP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THE FIRST E-MAIL I RECEIVED BACK BROUGHT UP TWO RECALLS: #747 DISC BRAKE ROTORS #B02 FLOOR SHIFTER SECONDARY SYSTEM AND THE SECOND E-MAIL I GOT BACK FROM CHRYSLER STILL HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE STALLING AND/OR ROUGH IDLE. THIS IS ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE AS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW BECAUSE OF DANGER TO ME OR OTHERS IF IT WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING, THE FINANCIAL DRAIN AND THE SHEER UNRELIABILITY. I WOULD LIKE A RESOLUTION TO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID 10167625 · filed Sep 8, 2006

VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN TRYING TO BREAK AGAIN. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND TOLD THEY HAD SAFETY NOTICE THAT THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE TO BE REPLACED. NEW MFG ON THE ROTORS, SINCE THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM. BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED WHEN 2 YRS IN SERVICES WITH ABOUT 9K. 3 YRS LATER (29K PER DEALER) ROTORS NEED TO BE CUT DUE TO WARPING AGAIN. IN 2003 WAS TOLD WHEN THEY CHANGED THE METAL ROTORS, I SHOULD NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. NOW THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ROTORS ARE WARPED. *NM

NHTSA ID 10145719 · filed Dec 20, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jul 23, 2008

MY 1995 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 4X4 KEEPS STALLING ALL THE TIME. ROUGH IDLE WHEN STARTED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME. ALSO, ALARM IS DEFECTIVE AND FLASHES THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND HONKS THE HORN ANYTIME ANY OF THE DOORS ARE OPENED OR CLOSED AND THE POWER LOCK BUTTON IS PUSHED TO LOCK OR UNLOCK. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOESN'T EVEN SHOW A READING AND THE FACTORY INFINITY GOLD CD RADIO TURNS ON BUT NO SOUND. MY JEEP HAS A WARRANTY ON IT RIGHT NOW AND THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ONGOING SINCE 2/25/06. I'VE HAD MY JEEP TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHERE I GOT IT, WHICH HAS ASE CERTIFIED TECHS, AND ALSO TO TWO AUTHORIZED JEEP DEALERSHIPS WITH NO RESOLUTION TO ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS AND TO DATE HAVE BEEN CHARGED OVER $450.00 BETWEEN THE THREE DEALERSHIPS. I HAVE SENT NOW TWO E-MAILS TO THE CHRYSLER GROUP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THE FIRST E-MAIL I RECEIVED BACK BROUGHT UP TWO RECALLS: #747 DISC BRAKE ROTORS #B02 FLOOR SHIFTER SECONDARY SYSTEM AND THE SECOND E-MAIL I GOT BACK FROM CHRYSLER STILL HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE STALLING AND/OR ROUGH IDLE. THIS IS ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE AS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW BECAUSE OF DANGER TO ME OR OTHERS IF IT WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING, THE FINANCIAL DRAIN AND THE SHEER UNRELIABILITY. I WOULD LIKE A RESOLUTION TO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID 10167625 · filed Sep 8, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jul 23, 2008

MY 1995 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 4X4 KEEPS STALLING ALL THE TIME. ROUGH IDLE WHEN STARTED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME. ALSO, ALARM IS DEFECTIVE AND FLASHES THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND HONKS THE HORN ANYTIME ANY OF THE DOORS ARE OPENED OR CLOSED AND THE POWER LOCK BUTTON IS PUSHED TO LOCK OR UNLOCK. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOESN'T EVEN SHOW A READING AND THE FACTORY INFINITY GOLD CD RADIO TURNS ON BUT NO SOUND. MY JEEP HAS A WARRANTY ON IT RIGHT NOW AND THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ONGOING SINCE 2/25/06. I'VE HAD MY JEEP TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHERE I GOT IT, WHICH HAS ASE CERTIFIED TECHS, AND ALSO TO TWO AUTHORIZED JEEP DEALERSHIPS WITH NO RESOLUTION TO ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS AND TO DATE HAVE BEEN CHARGED OVER $450.00 BETWEEN THE THREE DEALERSHIPS. I HAVE SENT NOW TWO E-MAILS TO THE CHRYSLER GROUP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THE FIRST E-MAIL I RECEIVED BACK BROUGHT UP TWO RECALLS: #747 DISC BRAKE ROTORS #B02 FLOOR SHIFTER SECONDARY SYSTEM AND THE SECOND E-MAIL I GOT BACK FROM CHRYSLER STILL HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE STALLING AND/OR ROUGH IDLE. THIS IS ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE AS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW BECAUSE OF DANGER TO ME OR OTHERS IF IT WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING, THE FINANCIAL DRAIN AND THE SHEER UNRELIABILITY. I WOULD LIKE A RESOLUTION TO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID 10167625 · filed Sep 8, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AT ITS OWN WILL CAN'T FIND ANYONE TO HELP. *JB

NHTSA ID 10104877 · filed Jan 1, 2005

CAR WAS RECALLED TO CORRECT AIR BAG LIGHT MALFUNCTION, BUT PRESENTLY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON, AND IT SMELLED AS IF SOMETHING ELETRICAL WAS BURNING. MY RADIO WENT OUT, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULDN'T COME ON AND THE CAR SIMPLY WOULDNOT EVEN TURN OVER. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, SITING A FUSE ON 11/23/04. THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER OR SOMETHING ELECTRICAL WAS NOTED , THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT DIM, LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASH, SPEED WAS REDUCED SO RAPIDLY IT FELT AS IF SOMETHING HAS FALLEN FROM THE BOTTOM OF VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL IS SHORTING OUT DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. PLEASE HELP ME.*AK

NHTSA ID 10100918 · filed Dec 2, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN TRYING TO BREAK AGAIN. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND TOLD THEY HAD SAFETY NOTICE THAT THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE TO BE REPLACED. NEW MFG ON THE ROTORS, SINCE THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM. BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED WHEN 2 YRS IN SERVICES WITH ABOUT 9K. 3 YRS LATER (29K PER DEALER) ROTORS NEED TO BE CUT DUE TO WARPING AGAIN. IN 2003 WAS TOLD WHEN THEY CHANGED THE METAL ROTORS, I SHOULD NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. NOW THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ROTORS ARE WARPED. *NM

NHTSA ID 10145719 · filed Dec 20, 2005

JEEP GC 2002-HAD ROTORS, PADS AND CALIPERS REPLACED AT 12,660 MILES BECAUSE OF VIOLENT SHAKING DURING BRAKING ON HIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS OF OVER 40 MPH, HAD TO REPLACE EVERYTHING AGAIN AT 23,989 MILES AND NOW AT MY OWN COST. MANAGER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE "BLUE" AND THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN RIDING ON THE BRAKES ALL THE TIME AND THAT IS WHY THEY ARE WORPED ("BLUE" FROM HIGH TEMPERATURE). THAT IS NOT THE CASE, I DO REGULAR DRIVING IN THE CITY AND ON HIGHWAY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS I HAVE FOUND OTHER JEEP OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES ON THE JEEP INTERNET FORUMS.

NHTSA ID 10051412 · filed Dec 31, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

SMELLED GAS. TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER REPORTS THE GAS TANK IS CRACKED ON THE TOP. *AK

NHTSA ID 10088872 · filed Aug 31, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Heating & air conditioning

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE HORN WILL NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. THE LIGHTS WILL FLASH ON AN OFF ERRATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AFTER BEING TURNED OFF AND PARKED OVERNIGHT LEAVING THE BATTERY DEAD. THE FAN MOTOR HAS FAILED FOR THE DEFROSTER AGAIN. THIS IS THE SECOND REPAIR. IN THE SNOW BELT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED FEATURE. *JB

NHTSA ID 10147204 · filed Jan 8, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jul 23, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .