Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Plymouth Voyager owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
We have paid numerous times to have these same issues looked at parts replaced. New brain as they said for the car, new computer modules. This over the years has cost me untold amounts of time and money. The dash shuts off completely while driving, even though we have had everything replaced. Wipers do what they choose, if we leave them on they stay off.if we turn them off they go on. We have no dash what so ever, unable to ascertain speed in the middle of driving. Numerous times the vehicle has just shut down when coming to a stop. Radio and cd player works and doesn't at variable times. We have had all of this looked at numerous times and no one knows what to do they just make educated guesses and hope it fixes it. We have spent far too much money on this issue. The door locks work sporadic. On occasions we will lose just part of the instrument panel and have half still. …
Own a 98 Plymouth Voyager expresso that intermittently will not crank or will crank and immediately go dead. All dash lights flicker or go out, no fuel indicator, no speedometer. Has died while driving it once which was very dangerous and scary. Failure occurs periodically and is dangerous and vehicle is no longer dependable. Have had numerous things replaced BCM, starter, wiring harness, sensors etc. Problem continues to come back eventually. Has to be a Chrysler defect. I had one dealership deny awareness of a problem with that year minivan and some say "you can try this for 1,000 dollars but it May only work for awhile. This should fall under the lemon law most repairs made only lasted a few months. No repairs have lasted more than a year. Please help...I love my vehicle otherwise but have no money to make further repairs or to buy a new vehicle. …
Total power shutdown while trying to start. Started 10 minutes later. Various components started failing - door locks, intermittant wiper, rear wiper, rear washer, power mirror. Took to dealer and was told I needed a new BCM. Replaced BCM for $600 and was told that everything had to be repaired! They replace defective BCM 50-60 times a year so that they can tell you your car is not working! What a racket! And apparently the one they replaced had already been replaced before - how many times I don't know. $220 of recommended repairs were not guaranteed to fix the problems either! I reported the details to "customer assistance" and was told they would call back - they didn't. When I called them they said that all assistance was denied! I had to pay $600 so they could tell me what I had already told them! I'll take it to an independent shop where they charge to fix the car.
My headlights and tail lights come on by themselves when the vehicle is turned off. The local dealership said it was a headlight switch, put in a new one, charged me and it did not fix the problem. Then they said it was a computer. I took it to another dealership and they said it was not the computer, but did not know what the problem was. A third vehicle electrical shop simply had no idea what was causing the lights to come on. So for the past two years, I have removed the fuses from the headlights and only drive the vehicle in the day time. As long as the fuses are not in and I do not turn on the headlights, the problem does not happen. Of course having a car you can't drive at night is a bit of a hindrance.
My headlights and tail lights come on by themselves when the vehicle is turned off. The local dealership said it was a headlight switch, put in a new one, charged me and it did not fix the problem. Then they said it was a computer. I took it to another dealership and they said it was not the computer, but did not know what the problem was. A third vehicle electrical shop simply had no idea what was causing the lights to come on. So for the past two years, I have removed the fuses from the headlights and only drive the vehicle in the day time. As long as the fuses are not in and I do not turn on the headlights, the problem does not happen. Of course having a car you can't drive at night is a bit of a hindrance.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Plymouth Voyager. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact stated that the headlights, marker lights, speedometer, fuel gauge, odometer, temperature gauge, wipers, horn and power locks all stopped working. The contact had to drive at night with no lights for three days. When the lights came back on they functioned intermittently and then shut off for several days. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the body control modular was destroyed. The manufacturer stated that the failure was not a safety issue. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000. The current mileage was unknown.
Auto is on cruse 67 MPH, I feel a "slight studder or quick hesitations" I speed to 72 MPH seems o.k, auto returns to cruse speed all is o.k., 5-10 seconds later I lose power, warning lights on dashboard are not lite, I pull off on shoulder and stop at which time I see "white" smoke at left front, I pull the hood release and it don't release the hood, then smell smoke and it's lite gray,I get out to get help? I do have approx 5 min time or more before I see flames appear between the hood and wheelwell.I est 10 min before the air bags? Explode at which time the fire dept from sav ga and pooler ga arrive a 6-8 mile drive from fire station.
Vehicle was shooting sparks from under the dashboard on the driver's side. Then, the brake lights and the dashboard lights could not be turned off. Mechanic had to turn the lights off by disconnecting or touching a wire. The ses light remained illuminated while driving. The horn stopped working. The brake light became stuck and the brakes felt spongy. The interior lights failed intermittently. The rear door lock wouldn't work with the key. The right rear wheel bearings were noisy. One of the front tires had cord separation.
The horn assembly sounded off and on intermittently, which caused a short through the vehicle. While pressing the horn there was one minute communication. At times it stayed on for 30 seconds to a minute. The problem was diagnosed for a cost of $350. When the dealer diagnosed it, the cost went up to $1000. As a result of the problem being in the steering unit which housed the air bag. Dealership disconnected the horn. There was a recall regarding the clock spring which was replaced.
The heat changes from hot to A/C by itself, the rear defrost don't work all the time, the back wipers go on by then self with different delays,,, , stays on defrost, and the strut tower are very poor shape, never saw strut towers rust like this on any other van or car but this one..1998 Plymouth Voyager...also all this stuff wrong with it and the check engine like don't go on...very bad van to have.
NHTSA investigations
Air bag clockspring
There is no summary currently available
Electrical complaints in other Voyager years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Plymouth Voyager?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Plymouth Voyager, 13% of the model year's 323 complaints. The component named most often is horn (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Plymouth Voyager electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1998 Plymouth Voyager, though it has 5 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 Voyager electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 2 injuries to electrical system 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.