Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-66
I purchased a 1996 Grand Voyager with 96,000 miles about 11 months ago. Unfortunately I talked to 3 people that owned this van, but not until after I bought mine. All 3 said I would regret my decision and they all turned out to be right! In 11 months here are the problems: Front stabilizer
pins and tie rods, replace the starter, replace the clock spring, replace power steering rack, replace passenger side window motor, rebuild transmission and the entire air conditioner system (condenser and evaporator) need to be replaced. With the A/C included, that amounts to almost $3500.00 in less than one year. This doesn't include all the other noises it makes along with the interior trim and rubber gasket around the doors that is falling off. Last, but not least, every time I drive through a puddle, it stops running and won't restart for at least 2 hours. I have a 1995 Grand Prix with 155,000 miles on it and all it takes is normal maintenance and runs great. I will never buy another Chrysler product again!!
I am nervous by what I have read about the 96 Voyager! I bought a used one in 1998, with about 36,000 miles on it. It now has 85,000+ miles on it, and I haven't had any huge problems; mostly regular maintenance costs. After reading the other comments, I feel extremely blessed. I have always had the "Phantom Wiper" problem, but they usually only go a few times, then stop. And it's more likely to happen when I have used the turn signal, but not always. I found that turning the wipers on and off again usually interrupts and stops it. There are a couple of mystery rattles in the body/doors, but they have come with age and mileage, and don't surprise me. My body has a couple of them, too!
I have a 1996 grand voyager. The engine blew at 85,000 miles and the transmission went out about 6 months later and then the A/C went out on me and the brakes constantly need to be replaced. And now just yesterday I found out that my compressor is bad again. This van is the worst investment anyone could make. Please do not purchase from Chrysler this company will not stand by its product I received no help form the dealerships or the manufacturer I have written letters of complaints to them to no avail.
Not a very reliable automobile.
Hello Everyone,
I've had many problems also. I bought a used 1996 Grand Voyager SE with 104,000 miles. I now have 119,000. Between that time, the fuel pump and fuel filter had to be replaced. The Cooling Fan Relay module had to be replaced. I also have the mysterious ghost that likes to turn the wipers on and off. For some reason the car stops on me, and no one can tell me why. This van has been very needful and selfish. I also had to replace the hub bearing assembly. I checked today and there is a recall on the clock spring and a recall on the Cooling Fan Relay. If you have this van call the Dealership and give them the last 9 digits of your VIN # and they will tell you about the recalls for your van. Please post your comments and problems so that all of us can look at different areas that may be problem areas in the near future. Thanks for your comments and the information you have provided.
Sincerely.
Disgruntled Owner.
I also have a Plymouth Grand Voyager (1996) that has extremely quirky behavior. Weird codes have posted on the Malfunction indicator light and everytime we have taken it to the dealer they clear the codes and everything is fine for a while and then they come back. Phantom Windshield wiper problem exists on my van as well - replaced starter, water pump - I have about 130,000 miles on this one so far and my wife called me today (from out of town no less) to tell me the van would not start. Burn in hell Chrysler. I've dealt with too many Chrysler products that exhibit this shoddy workmanship and your company shows little to no accountability to the customers that actually pay your checks. I will NEVER buy another Chrysler product nor will I recommend one. This is the most unreliable piece of crap automobile I have ever owned.
And I thought I was the only one out there with the 96 Grand Voyager that was a piece of crap! I bought mine used in 98 with about 60k on it, and within six months I had to rebuild the entire motor, replace CV joints, tie rod, rack and pinion, the transmission and a long list of numerous other problems. My radiator just cracked, the transmission went out again and is now leaking, my A/C compressor just went out, which by the way has been leaking for a year, 1 can every two days. I too have the "phantom" windshield wiper problem when I use the turn signal. (I thought it was just my eyes) :~) I have major road noise no matter how expensive or well rated the tires are. This is the first "non-Chevy" vehicle we have ever owned, and nothing but problems with it, I will stick with my Chevy's and throw the Plymouth over the mountain (there are plenty here in Hawaii).
We bought a 1993 Plymouth Grand Voyager about 5 months ago and just like the '96 it is JUNK!!! It has been in the shop for the past 3. We first had to replace the transmission less than 3 weeks after we purchased it. Then the brakes went, the throttle body, the AC and now to say the least the engine has shot a piston through it! I can say I'm glad we didn't buy the '96 but this one has proven to be right up there in quality. The dealer we bought it from and the company has been no help. When we purchased the van the dealer said the transmission was replaced and that is the only known problem. Well how I wish I would have found this site sooner! And just like all of the others I wouldn't mind driving it off a cliff, but we still have to finish paying it off!!
October 10/03
I bough my 96 Grand Voyager Le in the summer of 98 with 50k on it. Now I am regretted so much for did not take the advice from the Lemon Aid book. For the 5 years ownership of this van with 30 k I put on, I spent over $4000 on repair like transmission, water pump twice, starter and so on and on. The last van a Toyota Le. I drove it for 3 years, put on 40k and only spent $500 on repair. Should keep my Toyota and still have lots of money left in the bank. Still have to make payment for this Grand Crap till next May with $450 a month. Plymouth customer service even worse then the stuff they build. They denied about the transmission problem and said they never heard off it before. Never again I will by any Chrysler product.
I have a few friends with Chrysler minivans and they all have had the same problem with the transmissions. I had to once pull one out of a driveway with my s10 pickup because the tranny was seized up no neutral. The tranny would sound like all the gears were shattered when we finally got the tires to turn. Good luck with your vehicles and stick with ford or gm next time!!!
I purchased a 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager new. Electronics are a joke, all types of weird occurrences with lights etc., including the magical wipers. Previous comments are all valid and well understood by this consumer.
Clear coat paint peeled in 1.5 yrs. Chrysler claimed I had it repainted and basically said that I was a liar. They said for $2000+ I could get a new van. Horrible manufacturer rep. Company does not seem to care about customer after car is sold.
All kinds of noises, paint condition all over the car is horrible. Weather stripping around doors peeled off.
Transmission has gone out twice, once under warranty, plus vehicle had 2 or 3 recalls.
Sad part is, is that I really like the features, the ride and the comfortable seats of the Chrysler vans. Have Ford & GM beat by a mile. Still cannot bring myself to buy a Toyota or Nissan. Maybe some day I will wake up. (I also have a 2001 T&C Limited, which I currently still like.) I think that I am part of the problem since I still buy Chrysler products. One problem with the 2001 and I am history to Chrysler.
No wonder Chrysler is in financial trouble. Maybe if they listened to their customer complaints and worked on solving the problems their quality and hence reputation would improve. The people in charge of transmission/drive train design and painting should be fired. These areas are not new developments in the automobile world, they are proven concepts.
As a former owner of a '93 Grand Voyager, my heart goes out to all of you. But even in the newer models (2000 & up) Chrysler STILL have'nt fixed the transmission problems!My neighbour, who owns a 2000,recently had tranny problems & he also told me of,at least,3 other newer Voyager owners who had tranny problems!So newer isn't always better!
I bought a used 2000 voyager with 37k on it.
Shortly after, well about 2000 miles the tranny blew.
The shaft went right threw the casing or core.
These tranny problems seem to never end with mopar products.
Thanks for reading, brian.
I bought a '96 used with 110,000 miles. It now has 120,000, as well as:
A completely new engine, which suffered some blockage in an oil passage resulting in the bearings getting spun and all heck breaking free (literally) within the engine.
A new transmission. 3rd was slipping and it began to leak.
A new cooling assembly. first the controllers, then BOTH fan motors died.
Brakes. For the second time, after only 10k!!!
Half shafts; both CV joints were shot.
2 power door locking mechanisms. Can't even lock the doors manually.
Headlight assemblies that are so fogged over that it is a wonder any light escapes at all.
Short in the inside console lights, so sometimes I have certain interior switches lit, other times I don't.
"Pinging" sound even on high octane gas. Dealer shop says they can't hear it...
Terrible gas mileage. Much worse than the EPA numbers.
The other stuff is normal maintainance...
Oh, and I am quite good about maintaining my vehicles. (I also have a 15 y/o Toyota with 230,000 miles which has never had any problems.)
I also have a 1996 voyager and I've had the problems I read about in here: transmission, air conditioning, brakes, radio etc, etc, etc, I've spent over $4.000 fixing this car and the problems keep on coming back, it is a big piece of crap. I will never buy another chrysler and strongly DO not recomend it. This car should be recalled and people should be compensated for all the problems and all the pain they have caused. How come this company has not done anything about this. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR.