1990 Plymouth Voyager Problems
- Complaints
- 226filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 70,000miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns 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
- 19 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 17 city / 21 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1990 Plymouth Voyager (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe the sliding side door and rear liftgate/latch hardware as the weak points, with doors coming off their tracks, latches releasing on their own, and liftgate struts losing their hold. A repeated second theme is automatic transmission trouble — slipping, dropping out of gear, and repeated replacements — alongside complaints about brake pedal travel and seat belt buckles that will not stay latched. Most sampled complaints do not record mileage, and the ones that do range widely, so the issues read as age-and-use problems rather than a single early-failure pattern.
- Latches, locks and linkages
Rear liftgate latch releases or will not hold
- 39 complaints (17%)
- typically at 5.5 yrs old
- 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–1998
Owners describe the rear hatch latch failing to stay closed, releasing on its own while driving or after an impact, and letting cargo fall out onto the road. Some report the hatch light flashing or the latch disengaging intermittently, and several had the latch repaired or replaced more than once. Complaints also mention difficulty getting the hatch to close or latch at all after adjustment. Reported at various ages and mileages, often noticed while driving, loading, or after a rear impact; no single mileage range stands out in the sample.
What to check: Test the hatch latch several times, including a firm pull with the hatch closed, and ask whether the latch has been replaced; inspect the striker and latch for looseness or missing bolts.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Brought vehicle in, told by dealer that latch was replaced in july. Moved to another state and found recall work was never fixed by dealer in atlanta. Worried that others are being told the same.”
NHTSA complaint #807058, filed 1997-01“While driving, experienced intermittent failure or rear liftgate when suddenly indictor light comes on, acknowledging the latch mechanism has disengaged. Tt”
NHTSA complaint #963641, filed 1995-04 - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission slips, drops out of gear, repeated failures
- 40 complaints (18%)
- typically at 6.1 yrs old
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2001
Complaints describe the automatic transmission slipping, bucking, hesitating when pulling away, and unexpectedly dropping out of gear while driving. Several owners report multiple transmission replacements within the vehicle's life, and some say the problem returned after a rebuild or replacement. Dealers are described as replacing or overhauling the transmission, while some owners report disputes over warranty coverage and charges. Mileage varies widely in the sample, from around 20,000 miles per one report up to about 100,000 miles, so failures appear both early and later in life.
What to check: Test drive at low stop-and-go speeds and on a highway on-ramp, watching for slipping, delayed engagement, harsh downshifts or clunks; ask for transmission service records and any replacement history.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“We purchased this van 3/98. It was not driven from 5/19/98 until 10/15/98 due to my surgery except for driving it to the new house (3 miles away) about 6 times. I really feel this is not acceptable since the transmission was checked out, and it was said to be fine.”
NHTSA complaint #705366, filed 1999-04“This is the third trans. Failure in the 102,700 miles on the vehicle trans. #1 lasted 42,000 miles , trans. #2 lasted 27,000 miles and trans. #3 lasted 29,000 miles I believe that there is something wrong with this picture. My service has been done on the replacement of each of these transmissions at warren chrysler Plymouth and I have paid 1/2 the bill on #2 & #3 and chrysler has paid for the other 1/2 on each. It still costs me approximately $800.00 to $900.00 dollars each time. …”
NHTSA complaint #712600, filed 1999-09 - Body and structure
Sliding door comes off its track or hinges
- 29 complaints (13%)
- typically at 5.5 yrs old
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2001
Complaints describe the sliding side door jumping or falling out of its roller guide, separating from the hinges, or coming completely off the track when opened. Several owners report the problem recurring after repair, and some say the door later would not open or close at all, trapping occupants inside. According to the complaints, dealers often treated the van as out of warranty, and one owner reported being told parts were on back order. Reported across a wide mileage and age range, most often when opening or closing the door rather than while driving.
What to check: Open and close the sliding door several times and watch the roller guide and hinge area for play, binding or metal wear; check that the door latches flush and does not sag.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Sliding side door (electrical) sticks, locks intermittently. Problem hasn't been identified. Occupants climb over other seats to exit. Please describe details.”
NHTSA complaint #961294, filed 1995-03“Owner states that sliding door is falling off, and that there is only a single piece of metal that keeps door on. Owner also notes that door is off its track.”
NHTSA complaint #810778, filed 1997-05 - Seat belts
Seat belt buckles will not stay latched or will not release
- 14 complaints (6%)
- typically at 6.7 yrs old
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–1998
Complaints describe buckles that fail to click into the locked position, that release at the slightest touch, or that stick in the latched position. Some owners report cracked plastic in the buckle assembly and difficulty getting the belt to hold at all. Dealers are described as replacing the buckle assembly in some cases and declining repair in others, with one owner noting that the strap anchor part was not addressed. Reported on vans of varying age and mileage, with no clear mileage pattern in the sample; problems show up during everyday buckling and unbuckling.
What to check: Buckle and unbuckle each belt, tug firmly on the latch to confirm it holds, inspect buckles for cracks, and check whether the front buckle assembly recall was performed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Driver's side seat belt locking mechanism fails to lock properly. Can hear it click sometimes when locking. When pushing belt buckle into locking mechanism, the plastic piece splits & will not lock. Needs to squeeze pieces together just to lock it. Will be taking to dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #823539, filed 1998-05“Chysler denied the repair on broken seat belt. Repaired one side which was not broken . Did not repair broken bar part that attached seat belt to seat on the driver's side # 91v05300 . Please describe .”
NHTSA complaint #802890, filed 1996-09
Buying note. On this model year, the door and latch hardware and the automatic transmission are the areas most worth inspecting closely before purchase, since several complaints describe repeat repairs. Ask for service records on these items, confirm any open recall work was completed, and check braking and seat belt hardware during the test drive.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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 226 consumer complaints for the 1990 Plymouth Voyager. 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 70,000 miles. Of all complaints, 16 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 14 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 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 structure57 25%
- Engine cooling22 9.7%
- Seat belts20 8.8%
- Brakes19 8.4%
- Tires7 3.1%
- Equipment5 2.2%
- Other or unknown5 2.2%
Also reported: Suspension (5), Electrical system (4), Exterior lighting (4), Fuel system (4), Seats (3), Vehicle speed control (2), Steering (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Body and structure: “After automobile was idling for a while in drive, when begun to move she heard noises and stopped the automobile. Got out and there were pieces of things that had fallen from under the automobile dealership indicated axle had exploded. And transmision mounts were bent. Vehicle never been any accident.dealer refuised to return the the original axel*ak.et.”
NHTSA complaint #832216, filed 1998-12Latches, locks and linkages: “Rear latch mechanism failed allowing suit cases and other articles to fall onto road. Rear latch has failed prior to this. Please describe details. Tt”
NHTSA complaint #963090, filed 1995-04Transmission and drivetrain: “At low stop and go speed the motor will run hot and loose gear shifting, you have to turn off the van and restart the van. I have replaced the radiator, water pump,all sensores, temp.gauges,this did not correct the problem. Could the problem be in the computer board? When you turn off the van and restart the van it will shift ok until you stop again, and do it all over. This has cause problems in traffic. Would like to know a corrective action for this. This is my second minivan no trouble with the frist one.”
NHTSA complaint #750315, filed 2001-08Engine cooling: “Engine stalled intermittently during high tempature of 90 degree or more. Vehicle been in dealer shop on two occasions, and at an independent repair shop on five occasions, and no one could locate the cause. Please feel free to provide any further details.”
NHTSA complaint #871650, filed 2000-09Mileage when problems were reported
50% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,000 and 135,000 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 1990 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 | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 18 | 22 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 17 | 21 | 19 | $4,350 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 16 | 24 | 19 | $4,350 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD | 3.3L 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.
- 90V145000Aug 10, 1990Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Differential proportional valveCovers: Plymouth Voyager 1990, Dodge Caravan 1990
Incorrect screws may have been used in installing the load sensing brake proportioning valve to its bracket causing the clamping load to be less than intended.
- 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 1990 Plymouth Voyager → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1990 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 1990 Plymouth Voyager?
Owners of this model year most often describe the sliding side door and rear liftgate/latch hardware as the weak points, with doors coming off their tracks, latches releasing on their own, and liftgate struts losing their hold. The issues reported most often: Rear liftgate latch releases or will not hold; Transmission slips, drops out of gear, repeated failures; Sliding door comes off its track or hinges.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1990 Plymouth Voyager have?
NHTSA recorded 226 consumer complaints for the 1990 Plymouth Voyager as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1990 Plymouth Voyager is reported most often?
Body and structure is named most often, in 57 complaints (25% of the total), followed by latches, locks and linkages with 46.
Has the 1990 Plymouth Voyager been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1990 Plymouth Voyager get?
The EPA rates the 1990 Plymouth Voyager (Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1990 Plymouth Voyager reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 70,000 miles and the middle half falls between 5,000 and 135,000 miles; 50% 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.