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 1997 Plymouth Voyager owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Plymouth Voyager. While traveling approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle erupted into flames. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and noticed that the engine was not running. The vehicle would not change gears and was coasted to the side of the road. The contact was able to extinguish the flames with a water hose from a residential home. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was waiting for a response to determine how the failure occurred and if the vehicle could be repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 98V185000 (child seat), 02V076000 (seat belts), and 02V293000 (air bags), but the contact not receive notification of the recalls to receive the repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. …
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 15 MPH there was a smell of fuel and smoke was coming from the air vents. Someone behind the vehicle alerted the driver that the vehicle was on fire. The driver pulled off of the road and exited the vehicle. The vehicle was engulfed in flames and was totaled. The fire department and the police department were notified. The fire department determined the fire originated from the hood and spread throughout the vehicle. Updated 07/03/06.
Driving in the rain/snow causes serp belt to slip off. Over the last 5 years it has slipped numerous times(8+), after careful inspection of the belt and pulleys the belt was reinstalled or replaced. After the belt causing a sensor break, had mechanic troubleshoot and it was deemed the tensioner needed to be replaced and the serp belt replace as well as sensor. After this maintenance, the vehicle continued to lose serp belt. The car has overheated,battery drained and has become very hard to steer or steering appears to lock after losing the belt that controls all accessory functions, alternator, ac, power steering, water pump. Multiple accidents have been avoided due to quick thinking.
Driving in rain causes serp. Belt to slip off has happened 3 times causing steering to go out car to overheat and battery to go dead. There is a TSB out on this problem after the 2 time had the work done as described in the service bulletin on May 18th. On June 5th while driving in the rain it happened again causing steering to go out and van overheated. Had to have the bracket replaced as described in the bulletin and it didn't fix the problem. I contacted chysler but to them it wasn't a big enough safety issue. I am unsure what to do now we followed the service procedure and the problem still is not corrected. The date below is the latest of three dates this problem occurred.
I have a 1997 Plymouth Voyager. The vehicle has been regularly maintained and has approx. 91,000 miles on it. Approx. 10 days ago, the cam broke and the engine (3.3 liter) suddenly quit while I was traveling on the highway. Power steering was lost and fortuantely, I was able to coast and bring the car to a stop without power steering or power brakes. Repair required replacement of the engine. I am concerned because two repair shops that I spoke with indicated they have had several similar failures. This seems to be a widespread problem and should be investigated and a sudden engine failure is obviously unsafe.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 pylmouth Voyager. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000 and the current mileage was 141,321. Updated 10/02/14 the consumer stated the fuel filter leaked and rubber o-ring could cause a fire. The manufacturer did not offer any assistance. Updated 3/9/15
Dt: the contact stated vehicle stalls when idling followed by the engine dying. The vehicle restarts after several attempts. He took the vehicle to an independent repair shop. The repair shop cleaned the throttle body and the fuel injection system. This did not correct the problem. No further repairs have been made at this time.
While driving at 35 MPH vehicle the vehicle overheated and the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who determined that the radiator had sprung a leak. The water and coolant from the radiator leaked into the transmission destroying it.
When driving at approximately 65-70mph the engine cuts off and causes the power steering and the ABS brakes to become inoperable. The dealer cannot duplicate the problem because it happens intermittently. An accident has occurred as a result of this problem, no injuries were sustained.
While driving on the highway consumer heard a slapping noise from the engine. Dealership indicated that the belt broke off the edge, and the belt tensioner needed to be replaced. Also, dealer indicated that this was a common problem with these vehicles.
Engine complaints in other Voyager years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1997 Plymouth Voyager?
NHTSA has 58 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1997 Plymouth Voyager, 17% of the model year's 346 complaints. The component named most often is engine (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Plymouth Voyager engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1997 Plymouth Voyager, though it has 6 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 1997 Plymouth Voyager engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 8 fires and 3 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.