1999 Plymouth Voyager Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about a failed clockspring in the steering column, which turns on the air bag light and takes out the horn and cruise control, and about the serpentine belt slipping off in rain or snow, which leaves the van without power steering. Many complaints also describe transmission shifting problems, brake pedal or brake line concerns, and rust around the front strut towers. Most reports arrive between roughly 60,000 and 100,000 miles, though some parts fail much earlier or much later.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Clockspring failure (air bag light, no horn or cruise

   • 54 complaints (20%)
   • median 74,147 mi at 5.5 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2009

   Owners describe the air bag warning light coming on and staying on, often together with a horn that stops working and cruise control that quits. Several say the light appears intermittently, sometimes only while turning the wheel to the left. According to complaints, dealers diagnosed a failed clockspring assembly in the steering column and quoted replacement; some owners were told their van was not covered by the earlier recall for other model years, or that coverage ended past a mileage figure. Reported from roughly 60,000 to 150,000 miles, though a few appear near 60,000 or below.

   Recall 04V480000

   What to check: With the key on, confirm the air bag light goes out after the bulb check, then honk the horn and try cruise control; any of these failing points to the clockspring. Ask whether recall 04V480000 work was done and keep the receipt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at 35 MPH air bag light came on on the dash board. When air bag light illuminated cruise control and horn stopped working. Dealer found that the clock spring needed replacement. A recall for 1996-1998 model year vehicles was issued, but this vehicle was not included due to model year.”

   NHTSA complaint #10064608, filed 2004-03, 69,000 miles

   “At all times air bag light was on. Also, cruise control and horn malfunctioned. Dealer examined the vehicle, and found that the clock spring was the problem. There was a recall for this vehicle, but consumer's vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #10083668, filed 2004-07, 66,500 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting problems and internal failures

   • 23 complaints (8%)
   • median 69,300 mi at 5.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2008

   Owners report the automatic transmission refusing to shift up, slipping, or shifting with a delay and harshness, sometimes with a clanking noise when braking. Several describe a sudden bang followed by loss of drive, and one owner had the transmission replaced more than once. Complaints describe dealers performing services, replacing sensors, seals or the valve body, with mixed results. Mostly between about 30,000 and 90,000 miles, with a few reports past 100,000.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive from cold and note any delayed or harsh upshifts; check transmission fluid level and condition and ask for service records. A service bulletin describes valve body work for overdrive cycling, so ask whether that repair was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My transmission had a huge bang and completely shut down. The mechanic said that the pin blew from the inside out. This is a common occurence with these minivans, but chrystler is not helpful at all. I believe that this is a factory defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #10020788, filed 2003-05, 31,500 miles

   “Vehicle not wanting to switch gears. It goes very slow until finally it switches over. The oil was leaking out of the van. The oil leak was repaired. As for the transmission, it all started off when it would slow by itself. Then it gradually got worse. On 02-12-03 I had taken it in to get checked for a oil leak and the problem with the gears not shifting. I was told I needed transmission service, to replace the valve cover gasket, and to replace the transmission output shaft seal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10078855, filed 2004-06, 69,600 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Front strut tower rust

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report rust found on the driver's side front strut tower area, in some cases flaking metal or holes through the tower into the wheel well while the rest of the body looks sound. Complaints say dealers and independent shops described it as a known issue and quoted a repair cost; two owners reference a Chrysler bulletin on strut tower corrosion. Observed from roughly 78,000 to 150,000 miles, often noticed while parked or during unrelated service.

   What to check: Open the hood and look at the top of both front strut towers for bubbling paint, flaking metal or holes, and check from inside the wheel wells. Ask whether any corrosion repair has been done and have the area inspected before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Failure of drivers side strut tower on 99 Plymouth Voyager....structural failure due to rust....manufacturer release tech service bulletin suspension/body - strut tower corrosion number: 23-044-02 group: body date: oct. 14, 2002 subject: ns strut tower corrosion this a structural issue that could lead to failure and injury/death. This should be a recall item.”

   NHTSA complaint #10334252, filed 2010-06, 110,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 1999 Plymouth Voyager. The vehicle was parked when the contact noticed that the front driver side strut tower was severely rusted and corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where the contact was told that the failure was common. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 93,000. The VIN was unavailable.”

   NHTSA complaint #10393084, filed 2011-03, 93,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal, brake lines and stopping distance

   • 23 complaints (8%)
   • median 44,500 mi at 7.3 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2011

   Owners describe a pedal that feels unresponsive or requires a long push before the van slows, sometimes with a lurch, and some report brake fluid loss with the warning light staying on. Complaints mention corroded brake lines at the rear junctions, a failed booster, and a leaking master cylinder, with repeated shop visits that did not always resolve the concern. Reported from very low mileage up to about 200,000, with many between 30,000 and 90,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the steel brake lines near the rear axle for rust and check for fluid loss at the wheels and master cylinder. Service bulletins address snow and water entering the rear drums, so ask whether that work was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: the contact complained about brake problems. There have been three accidents as a result of the brakes not completely stopping the vehicle. When applying the brakes the vehicle lurched forward. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the brake problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #10140334, filed 2005-10, 1,800 miles

   “I have had the brakes worked on 4 different occasions now. Continual loss of brake fluid. When making a left hand turn brake light will come on. Master cylinder has been replaced all brake shoes have been replace, along with calipers. Two weeks passed and brake light starting to come on again, and there was fluid loss. Took van back in approx 3 weeks ago to be worked on, and brake light is now coming on again, and staying on longer each time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10088428, filed 2004-08, 32,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Serpentine belt slips off in wet weather

   • 14 complaints (5%)
   • median 77,183 mi at 5.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2012

   Owners describe the serpentine belt coming off while driving in heavy rain, snow or through standing water, which immediately makes steering very heavy and stops the alternator from charging. Some had the belt and tensioner replaced, and the problem returned under the same wet conditions. Mechanics quoted in complaints call it common on this van because one belt drives many accessories. Spread from about 49,000 to 130,000 miles, and almost always tied to rain, snow or puddles.

   What to check: Inspect the belt for glazing or fraying and check the tensioner and idler pulleys; ask a mechanic whether the belt and tensioner were replaced, and treat steering that suddenly goes heavy after rain as a sign to stop and check the belt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1999 Plymouth Voyager with a 3.3 l engine. Every time it rains or snow the serpentine belt comes off, making it impossible to steer vehicle. I have 5 children that I take from place to place. The alternator stops charging as well. When this happens I lose all control of the vehicle and I cannot steer the vehicle or control the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10314774, filed 2010-02, 130,000 miles

   “Every time it's really wet out raining or snow my serpentine belt comes off, this is becoming a huge problem cause no one knows how to fix this, well when belt comes off you cant steer it's very hard to turn wheel, nothing has been done to correct failure other then keep spending money on new belts if you lost then while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #10219858, filed 2008-03, 113,867 miles

Buying note. Check the air bag light, horn and cruise control together, look closely at the front strut towers for rust, and have the brake lines and belt condition inspected. Service records for transmission work and recall 04V480000 are worth asking about on this model year.

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.