RoadVitals

1996 Plymouth Voyager Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints 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.
33
Latest Feb 2, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 756 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Plymouth Voyager submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming steering

The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words

AirbagsSteering
Filed Feb 2, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, WHEN MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS A FLAPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CAUSED THE CLOCK SPRING TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID
10949081
Incident
Oct 10, 2016
Mileage
109,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine+2 more
Filed Apr 15, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER VOYAGER. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DEFOGGER FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE DRIVER HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO CLEAN THE WINDOWS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE STEERING WAS REPLACED INCORRECTLY BY A DEALER AND WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKES AND THE HEATING SYSTEM WERE REPLACED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS CHARGED $100 PER VISIT. INVOICES ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. A COMPLAINT WAS ALSO FILED WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE CONTACT IS DISABLED AND AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED IN THE NUMEROUS VEHICLE FAILURES. ON MARCH 27, 2008, THE DEALER REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND CYLINDER. ON APRIL 14, 2008, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS AND WOULD BE WILLING TO DO A BUYOUT. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,995.

NHTSA ID
10225109
Incident
Nov 12, 2004
Mileage
68,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningSteering+1 more
Filed Nov 2, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE SEVERAL SAFETY DEFECTS WITHIN VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM, THE AIR CONDITIONING BELT, HEATER CORE, AND HEATER BLOWER, THEY WERE ALL REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS DID NOT SOLVE THE DEFROSTING PROBLEM. THE STEERING COLUMN SHOOK WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SOURCE OF THE STEERING VIBRATION. THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE BRAKES. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN USE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER INDICATED THE NOISE WOULD END WITH NORMAL USE, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10141538
Incident
Nov 19, 2004
Mileage
63,320 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 20, 2004

THE SEALS ON THE PLYMOUTH VOYAGER AIR COMPRESSOR ERODE DURING ROUTINE USE AND CAN CAUSE THE COMPRESSOR TO SEIZE RESULTING IN THE POWERED STEERING SYSTEM LOCKING UP. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS PROBLEM OR ITS REMEDY IN THE PLYMOUTH MAINTENANCE MANUALS AND IT IS VIRTUALLY UNDETECTABLE BY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE. SERIOUS ACCIDENTS MAY RESULT FROM LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ID
10066559
Incident
Apr 20, 2004
Mileage
33,000 mi
AirbagsEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Feb 13, 2003

THE BELT TENSIONER FAILED, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CLOCK SPRING WHICH HAD BROKEN, THE TRANSAXLE PAN SIDE CONVERTER AND THE STEERING PUMP HAD RUSTED.*SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10006216
Incident
Jun 20, 2001
Mileage
52,046 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 9, 2002

STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOMENTARILY LOCK UP WHEN MAKING TURNS. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8007110
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
EngineSteering
Filed Aug 24, 2001

TENSIONER SNAPS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING AND BELTS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THIS WAS A DIFFICULT PART TO CHECK.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT SERPENTINE BELT AND/OR TENSIONER HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY, THIS IS THE 3RD FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS.*SLC

NHTSA ID
895140
Incident
Aug 21, 2001
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 16, 2001

DUE TO FAILURE OF CLOCK SPRING, UNABLE TO USE HORN AND AIRBAG INOPERATIVE-SAFETY COMPROMISED. THIS PART WAS ON THE NEWS AS A PROBLEM BUT NOT A RECALL YET! COST $345.OO TO FIX. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD NOT FAIL.*AK

NHTSA ID
750581
Incident
Jul 3, 2001
EngineFuel systemSteering+1 more
Filed May 8, 2001

FRONT MOTOR MOUNT VERY BAD AND ENGINE ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AND SOMETIMES JERKS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. HEATER DOESN'T WORK ON ALL SETTING FOR AIR. STEERING BAD, KNOCKS ON ROUGH STREETS AND MAKES BAD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. SMELL FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN PUTTING FUEL IN THE TANK AND SOMETIME SMELL IT WHEN REGUALAR DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
9002494
Heating & air conditioningEngineSteering+2 more
Filed Nov 21, 2000

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH MUDD PUDDLES AT 40 MPH OR IN CAR WASH. TAKEN TO DEALER, BELT HAD COME OFF. REPAIRED IT, BUT HAD NO ANSWER WHY IT HAPPENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED LOTS OF TIMES. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. *AK THE MAIN BELT FAILED. THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING. THE A/C COMPRESSOR WENT OUT BURNING ON FREEWAY. *YH

NHTSA ID
875309
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 27, 2000

FAILURE DISABLED AIRBAG AND HORN. VERY DANGEROUS!! CAN'T BLOW HORN TO AVOID ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID
732650
Incident
Jul 20, 2000
Heating & air conditioningSteering
Filed Aug 18, 2000

AIR CONDITIONING BLEW OUTSIDE OF PANEL, AND TOOK THE BELT OUT. POWER STEERING WAS GONE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED.

NHTSA ID
868159
Incident
Aug 18, 2000
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 25, 2000

OIL IS LEAKING DUE TO ENGINE SEAL FAILURE. YH

NHTSA ID
553192
Incident
Mar 17, 2000
Steering
Filed Feb 17, 2000

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN USE, CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN TURNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
857097
Steering
Filed Jul 7, 1999

POWER STEERING GOES OUT OF VEHICLE SPORADICALLY, MAKING STEERING HARD TO CONTROL. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
841789
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Steering
Filed Feb 5, 1999

FLUID IS LEAKING FROM POWER STEERING, CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME DIFFICULT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
834522
Incident
Jan 14, 1999
Steering
Filed Dec 16, 1998

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY DEALER AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES. ASSEMBLY HAD DEVELOPED A LOUD, MOMENTARY "HONK" OR "GROAN." PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: WHEN MANEUVERING IN PARKING LOTS OR OTHER CLOSE QUARTERS, IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT, A LOUD HONK OR GROAN COULD BE HEARD EMANATING FROM THE STEERING SYSTEM. AT THE SAME TIME, I COULD FEEL A NOTICEABLE DRAG ON THE STEERING COLUMN, SOMETIMES ACCOMPANIED BY A LOW FREQUENCY VIBRATION. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE STEERING SYSTEM AND INFORMED ME THAT THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY HAD A DEFECTIVE VALVE. THE DEALER REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. THIS NEW ASSEMBLY IS NOW BEGINNING TO EXHIBIT THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS, AT APPROXIMATELY 54000 MILES. I SUSPECT THAT THIS ASSEMBLY HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ORIGINAL ASSY WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
701394
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Steering
Filed Dec 1, 1998

CONDENSATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM IS DRIPPING ONTO STEERING BELT, CAUSING THE BELT TO SLIP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ID
831517
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Steering
Filed Nov 20, 1998

REMOTE ALARM FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605067
Steering
Filed Aug 25, 1998

THREE POWER STEERING FAILURES OCCURED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WATER.

NHTSA ID
539328
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
ElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 24, 1998

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR ROAD LOST ALL POWER STEERING CONTROL. IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START, HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIME'S. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL BRAIN IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
827158
Incident
Jan 10, 1998
Steering
Filed Aug 20, 1998

LEFT STEERING IS INTERMITTENTLY IN-OPERABLE, MAKING NOISE, CAR WAS BROUGHT TO TWO INDEPENDENT SHOPS, COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. CAUSED A ONE-CAR ACCIDENT WHITE MAKING A LEFT TURN. CAR WAS DRIVABLE TO HOME. CALLED POLICE FROM HOME, BUT THEY DID NOT COME OUT TO MAKE A REPORT.

NHTSA ID
540167
Incident
Jul 24, 1998
Body & structureElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Jul 1, 1998

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA ID
537273
Steering
Filed Jun 23, 1998

THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE FREELY, AND VEHICLE NOT TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED CLOCK SPRINGS AND A GEAR POWER. *AK

NHTSA ID
824572
Incident
Jun 11, 1998
Steering
Filed Jun 3, 1998

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH, NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN STEERING JUST WENT OUT FOR UNKNOWN REASON. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
823950
Incident
Mar 31, 1998

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .