1999 Plymouth Voyager from North America

Summary:

Basic transportation

Faults:

This past fall my 1999 Voyager minivan (3.0 L V6) started losing its serpentine belt every time it rained or it was driven through a puddle. Initial fixes we tried were new belt and new tensioner, but neither helped. What worked for us was putting a new pulley on the tensioner. It is a flanged pulley that I got at O'Reilly's (part #38012). I used an oil drain plug washer to space the pulley properly. This has completely solved the problem.

General Comments:

Other than the belt problem, it has been a good car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 28th November, 2005

1999 Plymouth Voyager SE 3.3L V6 from North America

Summary:

Good van, 20 MPG in town, 26 MPG highway

Faults:

At 61,000, oxygen sensor replaced.

At 103,000, transmission shudder at idle.

At 118,000, front suspension bushings replaced (rattle).

General Comments:

Still has factory plugs at 121K.

I change the oil at 3K; no leaks or burn yet.

Reliable except for tranny problem, which was misdiagnosed; after a $1,300 rebuilt tranny, it still had shudder; turned out to be a $300 solenoid (tranny shops can't be trusted).

Anyone who owns a Chrysler needs to read ALLPAR.com transmission info, because most repair shops do not use correct fluids and can ruin your tranny. Shops buy the GM-Ford fluids in bulk, and try to use it on Chrysler trannys. I have gone thru the exercise of fighting with the shops to get them to use the right fluid. Their attitude is it's not their problem, and it won't fail for 8 to 15 thousand miles, so you won't be able to blame them. Plus, if it's a rebuild shop, this brings them business!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th May, 2005

1999 Plymouth Voyager from North America

Summary:

It's horrible and unsafe

Faults:

The transmission on this car has been screwed up since the very beginning, but no one could ever find out exactly what was wrong with it so we have had to endure years of the engine racing like crazy and refusing to shift. We finally just had the transmission replaced and it is still having a hard time shifting. I hate this car so much. And it was expensive. More than $22,000 in 1999.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th March, 2005

7th Oct 2005, 17:44

I agree it is the biggest POS replaced 2 trannies in it I hate the damn thing.

7th Oct 2005, 22:46

What kind of fluid do you put in your transmission? Your transmission fluid may have something to do with it...

25th May 2006, 21:22

I own a 3L V6 1999 Grand Voyager and had it for 7.5 years. I put 190,000 km on it (that's 115,00 miles for our American friends to the south). In general, this car is so unreliable that I can't believe it is the most popular minivan sold. The first 3 years while it was under warranty was fine, then every year after, I spend between $2000~$4000 fixing it up. First the turn signal died, then the power door locks, then the hazzard light switch gets stuck in the on position, then the windshield wiper motor, then the oxygen sensor, then the computer, then the blower motor resistor, then a major oil leak as all the bottom seals leaked, then the power window, then the suspension, then the oxygen sensor again, then the windshield wiper motor again. Then there are the little things like the sun visor plastic grip breaks, the driver's seatbelt gets stuck. It's amazing that this car sells. I can't even imagine car being so unreliable. I also own a 1995 Toyota Corolla for 10 years. The only thing I had to replace (besides regular maintenance like brake pads and timing belt) is the starter. With this experience, I have no sympathy for Chrysler - Doug Peng, Toronto Canada.

26th Dec 2006, 12:32

Most US repair shop prey on the fact the majority of car owners know nothing about the complexity of their vehicles so the mechanics can say anything and charge anything they want.

And it's still true that women are more at risk. My friend's widowed mother took her new car to be fixed/maintained by a "friend of the family" who owned a shop. For something like 7 years and 120K miles she did this. Finally the car kept having so many problems she decided to get rid of it. Someone did a check of the car and discovered essentially NOTHING had ever been done EVER to the vehicle. She had paid thousands for oil changes, repairs, and so on. The mechanics saw her coming and just did the minimum work, if that, to make it seem like work was completed.

17th Aug 2009, 23:40

For those of you out there who wrote negative comments about U.S. repair shops and prices charged for repairs/replacements, there are a lot of honest and excellent repair shops. Car owners must take the responsibility to do their homework before making decisions about getting their cars repaired. I am not a mechanic - just a senior citizen on a fixed income and of all the places I could have been and have been scammed, research has provided me with excellent and honest resources for vehicle purchase and repair. Again, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!