NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
75,778 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Plymouth Voyager electrical problems

electrical problem

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1998 Plymouth Voyager Owner Comments

problem #11

Jul 312009

Voyager

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I own a 1998 Plymouth Voyager. At the time of the first incident the vehicle had approximately 80,000 miles on it. While driving I noticed that a number of warning lights suddenly appeared and that all of the gauges were not operating on the dash. The vehicle was brought to scap Jeep/Plymouth/Dodge dealership in fairfield ct. The technician said that he had no clue what it was and that he would have to trace each wire and it would include numerous man hours. He also suggested replacing the main computer. If I wanted to have them fix it I would have to make another appointment. I found that the vehicle operated just fine, just could not tell mph, mileage, auto door locks failed and airbag, anti lock brakes, in addition to all other gauges. Three days later all returned to normal for a few weeks and then a repeat. The problem continued with no pattern for the next few years. Dealership claimed it was computers. In speaking with my local mechanic, he had another customer with same type vehicle and same problem. This customer spent in excess of $2000 at the dealership and problem still persisted. The local mechanic opened the dash and immediately found a wire that was partially broken free from a harness. He pushed the wire completely into receiver and problem solved. Due to wire being frayed, he went to local junk yard to get a used harness end and replaced said piece. Same problem was found with our vehicle. Wire was fixed and the entire job was less than 1 hour of labor. Have had no problems since. Plymouth has issued no recalls or even any alerts of the problem to its dealerships. In phone calls to customer service they claim that there is no problem. I do not believe that two vehicles in the same town are the only ones to experience this problem and hope that you look into this issue and order any recalls necessary.

- Shelton, CT, USA

problem #10

Oct 102009

Voyager

  • 68,000 miles
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.

- Neenah, WI, USA

problem #9

Mar 302010

Voyager

  • 168,000 miles
The 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.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #8

Oct 012006

Voyager

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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. For example we have lost speed odometer and gas and kept he rest. This car is a lemon and a pending death trap. There is never any kind of warning to owners, I am told to replace the main computer over and over. Being as its the main computer for the vehicle it also over sees many other operations of the vehicle and can cause numerous other things to happen which we may never know of until said conditions require that action and it is not present.

- Pittston, PA, USA

problem #7

Oct 022008

Voyager

  • 126,989 miles
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. I started having this problem in October of 2006 and have been dealing with this off and on ever since. My van will not crank now and I have only had the latest BCM since October 2008.

- Locust Grove, GA, USA

problem #6

Sep 152004

Voyager

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,569 miles
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.

- Decatur, IL, USA

problem #5

Oct 222004

Voyager 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 109,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #4

May 012002

Voyager 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles
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.

- Yuma, AZ, USA

problem #3

May 012002

Voyager 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles
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.

- Yuma, AZ, USA

problem #2

Oct 022002

Voyager 6-cyl

  • miles
The interior lights did not come on, the dash board lights flickered, the driver's window stopped working, and there was a crunchy noise coming from the steering column, it was determined the power steering lines leaked, the front struts and suspension were replaced, at times the horn did not work, and later the consumer received a recall notice regarding the clock spring assembly needed to be replaced. This is a courtesy copy to NHTSA (cc) the letter is addressed to daimler Chrysler. Also the valve cover gaskets were replaced.

- Conifer, CO, USA

problem #1

Dec 302002

(reported on)

Voyager

  • miles
While driving vehicle at any speed, some times the speedometer goes out, can't tell how fast vehicle is going. The horn stops blowing and head lights come on and off without warning. Consumer feels there may be an electrical problem.

- Hillsburo, OH, USA

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