2000 Plymouth Voyager Problems

What owners report

Owners of this minivan year most often describe a serpentine belt that slips off in rain or standing water, taking power steering and charging with it, and transmission problems ranging from slipping and harsh shifting to complete failure. Many complaints also describe rusted front strut towers, air bag, horn and cruise control trouble tied to the steering wheel clockspring, and air conditioning problems. Mileage at the time of complaint varies widely, from a few thousand miles to well over 100,000.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh shifting or failure

   • 19 complaints (11%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2006

   Owners report sluggish or slipping shifts, hesitation then lurching when accelerating, fluid leaks, and in some cases total loss of drive with the van needing a tow and a rebuild or replacement. Several describe a whining noise before shifting trouble appeared. Dealers are reported to have replaced torque converters, seals, lines and filter assemblies, and some owners say the work was repeated or that no fault was found while under warranty. Appears from about 30,000 to 130,000 miles, with several failures reported between roughly 40,000 and 60,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check transmission fluid level, color and smell, look for leaks underneath, and test drive from a cold start through stop-and-go traffic to feel for slipping or harsh shifts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My van started emitting a whisling sound after the warranty of 30,000 miles ran out at 40,000 miles and eventually the transmission doesn't want to shift. I took it to the dealer and the owner said that he will eat the cost but I found out that they had sold my wife an extended warranty. Now at 103,000, its doing the same thing of not shifting. The dealer said that we need to pay for the replacement.”

   NHTSA complaint #10083078, filed 2004-08, 103,000 miles

   “I was driving 35 MPH when the engine made a loud noise. It acted like it was in neutral, and would not go anywhere,it then jumped forward and seemed to be fine, then it did it again and would not move. I had it towed over by aaa to hall the next day.they informed me that the transmission was gone at 50,800 miles and the warrenty only covered 3/36,000 mile. I was less than three years since I purchased the van. They had to replace the transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10007654, filed 2003-02, 50,818 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Serpentine belt slips off in rain or standing water

   • 24 complaints (14%)
   • median 75,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2020

   Owners describe the serpentine belt coming off its pulleys when driving through puddles, standing water or heavy rain, sometimes repeatedly. The immediate result is loss of power steering and no charging, and in some accounts no water pump circulation, requiring a tow or a roadside belt replacement. Dealers and mechanics replaced belts and tensioners; some owners say they were told water makes the belt hydroplane, and one report says a shield that would have prevented it had been removed. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low mileage up to about 140,000 miles, and consistently linked to wet roads or standing water.

   What to check: Ask whether the belt has ever come off in rain, inspect the belt and tensioner for wear and alignment, and check for underbody splash shields.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2000 chrysler mini van and my serpentine belt keeps coming off when it rains. This has happened 4 times in one year. They have replaced the belt and fixed the tensioner its in the shop right now and waiting for a belt kit to fix the problem (gates system kit). Why isn't there a recall on this problem?”

   NHTSA complaint #10252955, filed 2008-12, 130,000 miles

   “During a very heavy rain, I hit a big puddle which caused the serpentine belt to come off the pulleys. My mechanic said it is a common problem with this vehicle. The result is no power steering, no alternator to charge the battery and no water pump to cool the engine. I drove it until the temp gauge showed hot and then shut it down. No major damage resulted. Mechanic put belt back on for $15.00. 135k miles on vehicle and is very dependable.”

   NHTSA complaint #10292511, filed 2009-11, 135,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Horn, cruise control and air bag light issues

   • 20 complaints (12%)
   • median 54,855 mi at 5.4 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2014

   Owners report the air bag warning light coming on together with a dead horn and inoperative cruise control, often after adjusting the steering wheel. Several complaints tie this to the steering wheel clockspring, and some report being told the recall did not cover their vehicle; others describe problems continuing after recall work. A few complaints describe air bags deploying without an impact or failing to deploy in a crash. Reported from about 13,000 to 130,000 miles, often after steering wheel adjustment.

   Recall 04V480000

   What to check: Switch the ignition on and confirm the air bag light goes out, test the horn and cruise control, and ask whether the clockspring recall work was completed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving 60 MPH frontal air bag on the passenger side inadvertently deployed. Consumer sustained injuries, but was not transported to the local hospital. Vehicle was not inspected at this time. The consumer received clockspring recall. It's unclear if the recall was received before or after the air bag deployed inadvertently.”

   NHTSA complaint #10115260, filed 2005-04, 160,000 miles

   “- the contact called regarding the 2000 Plymouth Voyager. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a recall for the clock spring. After the recall repair was done the horn stopped working, and the vehicle did not have power when accelerating. The contact took the vehicle back to daimler chrysler ,where the recall work was done, and the dealer refused to diagnose the vehicle. The dealer stated they performed the required recall repairs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10182623, filed 2007-02, 50,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Rusted front strut towers

   • 11 complaints (7%)
   • median 88,770 mi at 8.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2013

   Owners describe the front strut tower sheet metal, especially on the driver side, rusting through or crumbling, in some cases with the passenger side unaffected. Several say the corrosion was found during routine service or after a front-end noise, and repairs ranged from rewelding to quoted replacement costs of $1,000 to $3,000. Owners report being told by shops that the vehicle may not be safe to drive in that condition. Mostly reported between about 44,000 and 165,000 miles, with several cases under 90,000 miles, and often noticed on older vehicles in areas with road salt and winter weather.

   What to check: Open the hood and inspect both front strut towers and the surrounding sheet metal for bubbling paint, flaking or holes, and look underneath for perforation before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The strut towers of 2000 chrysler Voyager are completely rusted out. If they break apart it will likely break through the hood or windshield causing serious accident and or injuries we were told by bloomington chrysler (the dealership where we purchased the vehicle) it would be $1000.00 to repair. They told me they have repaired over 30 similar vehicles just this summer 2009 with same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10289823, filed 2009-10, 165,000 miles

   “Just informed from mechanic that my front strut towers are rusted through. Driver side is completed rotted away and passenger side should happen after this winter. My 2000 Plymouth Voyager has under 60,000mile and has only 2 owners. I have researched that this is way too frequent in voyagers from 1996 to at least 2000 for their not be a mandate recall on this. The repair cost can cost up to $3000 which most people cannot afford. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10247232, filed 2008-10, 58,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Air conditioning odor and compressor problems

   • 10 complaints (6%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2005

   Owners describe a strong odor coming from the air conditioning and heating vents along with poor cooling, and were told the evaporator was leaking. Others report the air conditioning compressor clutch or coil failing, the compressor cycling on and off, and repairs that did not resolve the problem. Mostly reported between about 39,000 and 65,000 miles.

   What to check: Run the air conditioning and heater through all vent settings, note any odor or weak cooling, and ask whether the evaporator or compressor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We purchased the vehicle because it only had 21,486 at three years old and they called it certified. When the air conditioning went out they refused to even reimburse us part of it because we did not have the extended warranty. We have the powertrain a this point until 70,000 miles. We have had engine knocking, which our mechanic added an additive to and seemed to go away but now at the end of august seems to be returning. The tires were terrible at what seemed to us to be low mileage. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10069951, filed 2004-01, 39,000 miles

   “A noise was heard within the engine compartment. The noise was caused by the air conditioner compressor clutch and coil burning out. Air conditioner compressor assembly was replaced, but the problem recurred.”

   NHTSA complaint #10053669, filed 2004-01, 57,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focusing on the front strut towers, the serpentine belt and tensioner, and transmission operation is worthwhile on this model year. Ask for records of transmission work and the air bag clockspring recall, and test the horn and cruise control.

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.