Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Driving to store. Weather was clear ~ 85 degrees f, road was clear, no rain, time approximately 10 pm. While driving, I moved into the center lane (major road, three lanes both ways) for a turn to the store, during my turn to the left, I noticed that my power steering was not functioning and very hard to control/steer the vehicle. After struggling to straighten out my van (1998 Plymouth, Grand Voyager se) I noticed that my engine temperature had gone off scale / over heating. At this point I stopped the van in the middle of traffic.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering failed without warning and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road. When the hood was opened, the contact discovered that the driving belt was out of the pulley. The belt was placed back into position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 154,000.
At certain times the serpentine belt will slip off of the pulleys and quit powering the alternator, water pump, and power steering pump. This can be worsened by rainy conditions. Changing belt tensioner works for a year or two.
The serpentine belt comes off this vehicle, leading to a sudden loss of power steering. So far, this has happened while on the entrance ramp to a freeway, while driing in light city traffic, and while idling at a bank (prior to taking a highway trip which had to be cancelled). In all cases the driver was female and had great difficulty controlling the vehicle. In all cases this was during wet weather. After the second case, we had the deale install a guide plate that is supposed to keep the belt on, but it came off anyway. We have now learned that there appears to be a defect in the mounting bracket for the power steering pump, leading this part to bend under normal wear and tear such that the serpentine belt will jump off in wet weather. …
The service engine light comes on constantly in my 1998 Plymouth Voyager. This vechicle has broken down on me 6 times in the past 3 months and has cost me a fortune in repairs. Each time, the problem is traced to the engine cooling system/fan relay. The fan relay part has been replaced 3 times, but the "service engine" light came on again within days of the repair and the engine overheated each time. The 5th time this happened, the car was towed to the dealer. They said the problem this time was the fan relay "connector" and they replaced this part which I had to pay for in full. Today, 20 days after this latest repair, the "service engine" light is back on and the fan is again, not running, causing the engine to overheat. I am now arranging to have the vechicle towed to the dealer again. …
We own a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager se, for the past year we have had continual problems with the serpentine belt coming off and have replaced it so many time it impossible to count that high. T belt is especially subject to come off when it rains or there is water on the road. I know for a fact that many complaints have been filed regarding this issue and yet Chrysler will not fix the problem. This is a very serious safety issue as when the belt comes off the vehicle lose the power steering, brakes & electrical system. You people are suppose to make the road ways safe and our tax dollars bailed Chrysler out when they were going under. Theirs no telling how many people have to die due to the negligence of Chrysler and this design flaw and the NHTSA compliance in this matter. …
We purchased our Grand Voyager with about 14,000 miles on it. It now has about 67,000 miles on it and we have been through approximately 6 serpentine belts and 4 belt tensioners. We have been through 1 belt per year at least since we bought the vehicle. The dealership never acknowledged that there was a defect in the engine that kept causing the belt to become mis-aligned, start squeaking, and eventually rip apart. The problem is more severe in hot weather and we have about 5 months of 90 degree weather where we are. Our own mechanic has started shimming the belt tensioner, which seems to prolong belt replacement time but does not solve the problem. He believes the problem is that the hole that was drilled to install the tensioner and/or pulley is drilled at the wrong angle or not lined up correctly. Our only consolation is that the squeaking gives us warning about the state of the belt.
We own a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager with a 3.3 liter engine. On Friday,October 1,2010, my wife drove slowly through a puddle and the serpentine belt came off causing a loss of power steering and other system powered by the serpentine belt. This has happened to her once before and from what I have read on the internet is a very common problem with these vehicles. My wife usually enjoys driving her van but now has lost all confidence in it. She states it's a very scary situation, not to mention dangerous. With all I have read it is almost impossible to believe there has not been a recall to have this very dangerous situation corrected.
The info I just provided was the most recent.I bought the van used with 22,000 miles and since then I have lost 6 serpentine belts and nobody will help me with the problem.I have spent over 1,000$ in the attempts to get the problem fixed and this last time I just did it myself is why the cost is so low.I have been told by two top mechanics in my area that the belt is not lined up right and there is no adjusting it.the problem is from the factory they tell me.nobody will help me though because it is not a recall. Maybe this will help the next guy.
Consumer noticed liquid dripping on the garage floor and placed a rag under the vehicle, when backing out of the garage the rag attached to the axel and consumer noticed that he did not have brakes and was notified by passers-by that his car was on fire, comments from the adjuster is engine wiring harness damaged heavily and brake sensor wire burned up, no signs of a rag or anything (claim # 42-1330-502).
Engine complaints in other Grand Voyager years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager?
NHTSA has 68 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager, 25% of the model year's 276 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (25 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 11 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.