1989 Plymouth Voyager Problems
- Complaints
- 165filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 140,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 18 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 16 city / 23 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Plymouth Voyager (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 1989 Plymouth Voyager most often describe rear liftgate and sliding-door latch and hinge problems, along with transmission shifting and failure complaints. Many reports involve high-mileage vans, and several describe doors or liftgates opening while driving or parts of the door hardware separating. Engine oil leaks, seat belt buckle and retractor troubles, and seat back failures also recur in the sampled complaints.
- Body and structure
Rear liftgate and sliding door latches, hinges and struts
- 55 complaints (33%)
- typically at 6.5 yrs old
- 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2001
Complaints describe the rear liftgate or sliding door opening on its own while driving, sometimes letting cargo fall out, and repeated difficulty getting the liftgate to latch shut. Owners also report sliding doors separating from hinges and falling, lift struts that no longer hold the door open, and latch parts tearing loose. Some owners say the dealer replaced latch hardware under a campaign but the door still would not close properly, and others describe waiting months for parts. Reports are spread across older, higher-mileage vans, with no clear mileage pattern in the sample.
What to check: Open and close the liftgate and sliding door several times and check that they latch firmly, that the struts hold the door up, and that hinges and latch anchors are not cracked or loose.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The welds holding gas cylinder struts broke or failed to work properly. This allowed the struts to penetrate the passenger side compartment. Took to dealer & was told it is a body problem.”
NHTSA complaint #822720, filed 1998-04“As result from liftgate popping open while driving, the hydraulic cylinder support rod ripped out and tore off tailgate, prior to recall being done. Service recall 95i001008.”
NHTSA complaint #802384, filed 1996-09 - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission shifting problems and failures
- 17 complaints (10%)
- typically at 7.5 yrs old
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2003
Owners describe transmissions that shudder from a stop, lock in low gear, fail to shift out of first, or jump into another gear at a stoplight. Several report the transmission was replaced, in some cases more than once, and that symptoms returned after a rebuilt unit was installed. Others mention loud noises, loss of drive, or the van lurching forward while parked with the engine running. Reported across a wide range of ages and mileages; several owners describe repeat failures over years of ownership.
What to check: Test drive from cold and warm starts, checking for shudder, delayed or harsh shifts, and any hesitation going into reverse; ask for transmission service records or rebuild paperwork.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I have a 1998 Voyager van and it has already had 2 transmissions (by the original owner) put in it! Was there ever a recall on the transmissions or parts for the transmission for that year? This is not right! Two new trans-sensors were just put on...it seems to be working but not correctly. I have 3 small boys and am on my own. I can't afford this. Thank you so much.”
NHTSA complaint #740550, filed 2001-02“Electronic transmission w/overdrive has failed and been replaced twice--it is down now for the second time. The first one was replaced with a rebuilt transmission. However, it has gone down again. Is this a common problem with the Plymouth Voyager minivans or has any manufacturer recalls available to correct. Or am I stuck with having to purchase yet another transmission?”
NHTSA complaint #705315, filed 1999-04 - Seat belts
Seat belt buckles, retractors and anchor bolts
- 15 complaints (9%)
- typically at 6.7 yrs old
- 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–1999
Complaints describe seat belts that will not unlatch or that lock up and take time to release, belts that stop retracting, and buckles that fail to latch. Some owners report the buckle or belt anchor coming loose from the floor, and others describe belts that did not restrain occupants in a collision. A recall covers fatigue failure of the inboard front buckle strap near its anchor. Reported on used and original-owner vans alike; the sample does not show a clear mileage pattern.
What to check: Pull each belt fully out and let it retract, latch and unlatch every buckle, and check that anchor bolts are tight and the floor mounting area is not corroded; ask whether recall 91V053000 was completed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“When trying to get out of the seat belts on the driver's side and the passager's sides, the seat belts will lock up and won't unlock. It takes time for the seat belts to unlock, and the consumer claims that it is a safety problem.”
NHTSA complaint #831528, filed 1998-12“The passenger side seat belt buckle won't release purchased car used . Tt consumer states passenger and driver seat belts do not retract, sometimes they fail to latch.”
NHTSA complaint #973440, filed 1995-10
Buying note. With a van this old, condition and service history matter more than the model's reputation: check the door and liftgate hardware, test the transmission thoroughly, and confirm whether the seat belt and valve cover gasket recalls were completed.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 54 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 165 consumer complaints for the 1989 Plymouth Voyager. 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 140,000 miles. Of all complaints, 19 involved a crash, 11 a fire, 29 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Body and structure31 19%
- Engine cooling17 10%
- Seat belts15 9.1%
- Seats9 5.5%
- Brakes7 4.2%
- Electrical system6 3.6%
- Other or unknown5 3.0%
Also reported: Vehicle speed control (4), Equipment (3), Fuel system (3), Steering (3), Tires (2), Exterior lighting (1), Suspension (1).
Example complaints
Latches, locks and linkages: “Chrysler has not replaced the rear latch, contacted mfg and was told they would have the parts in the summer, chrysler has taken too long to correct problem.ak”
NHTSA complaint #981223, filed 1996-03Transmission and drivetrain: “Transmission bearings wore out. Gears are not able to shift. Internal repairs cannot be repaired. Engine makes a loud roaring noise. Vehicle moves slow or not at all. Motor could still be racing even after gas pedal is released.”
NHTSA complaint #838268, filed 1999-05Body and structure: “Sliding door failure, door broke from hinges and fell to the ground while vehicle was parked. When opening the door, this resulted in an injury to the individual.”
NHTSA complaint #801381, filed 1996-09Engine cooling: “We are the original owners of a 1998 Plymouth Voyager. For the most part, we have loved this vehicle. Unfortunately, we have a recurring problem with the serpentine belt falling off whenever it rains. We moved to northern california about four years ago, since this move, the belt has fallen off three times. We never had this problem before because we lived in an area that did not receive much rain during the year. We take the car back to the dealer for repair and are told this shouldnt be happening. Of course, we are charged to put the belt back on the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10444701, filed 2012-01, 102,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 102,000 and 200,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1989 Plymouth Voyager version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 18 | 22 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 16 | 23 | 18 | $4,550 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 16 | 20 | 17 | $4,850 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 16 | 20 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,700 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 91V053000Apr 10, 1991Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: Plymouth Voyager 1989–1990, Dodge Caravan 1989–1990, Chrysler Town And Country 1990
Inboard front seat belt buckle assembly straps can suffer fatigue failure of the strap near its anchor position.
- 89V237000Dec 27, 1989Engine and engine cooling › EngineCovers: Plymouth Voyager 1989–1990, Dodge Shadow 1989–1990, Caravan 1989–1990 +12 more
The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket.
Recall details for the 1989 Plymouth Voyager → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 Plymouth Voyager.
Other model years of the Plymouth Voyager
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 168 | 61,500 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 273 | 73,955 | 4 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 323 | 80,000 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 346 | 90,000 | 6 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 756 | 98,000 | 9 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 336 | 106,500 | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 529 | 109,491 | 3 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 615 | 122,000 | 8 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 701 | 123,000 | 9 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 520 | 130,000 | 8 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 226 | 70,000 | 3 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 165 | 140,000 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 91 | — | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 84 | 233,872 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 53 | — | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1985 | 31 | — | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1984 | 22 | — | 3 | — | 21 | — | Stable |
All Plymouth Voyager model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Plymouth Voyager?
Owners of the 1989 Plymouth Voyager most often describe rear liftgate and sliding-door latch and hinge problems, along with transmission shifting and failure complaints. The issues reported most often: Rear liftgate and sliding door latches, hinges and struts; Transmission shifting problems and failures; Seat belt buckles, retractors and anchor bolts.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Plymouth Voyager have?
NHTSA recorded 165 consumer complaints for the 1989 Plymouth Voyager as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Plymouth Voyager is reported most often?
Latches, locks and linkages is named most often, in 43 complaints (26% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 32.
Has the 1989 Plymouth Voyager been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1989 Plymouth Voyager get?
The EPA rates the 1989 Plymouth Voyager (Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1989 Plymouth Voyager reported?
Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 140,000 miles and the middle half falls between 102,000 and 200,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.