Ten problems related to hydraulic power assist steering system have been reported for the 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Serpentine belt tensioner bolt sheared off, resulting in loss of power steering/ engine cooling/ and alternator function. Very difficult to repair as to limited engine compartment clearance.
Vehicle experienced failure of power assist steering system at low speed. Have been told that mfg. Has this problem on a "star list" but not currently on recall. Cost of repair/replacement significant. Possibility of catastrophic/fatal accident due to steering failure significant. Not a happy customer. Manufacturers customer service number not helpful in resolving problem of major equipment failure at relatively early point in life of vehicle. I intend to raise a fuss.
Rear heater lines and power steering pump rusted out. Unacceptable on a 4 year old car. Chrysler will do nothing about it.
Reported steering problem in Jul 98. Dealer said they were unable to duplicate failure. Dealer was cutter Chrysler Jeep of waipahu. It has been a problem since purchasing the vehicle and seems to be getting worse. Now the steering is locking-up (intermittently) when I go over a speed bump, causing loss of steering control. The windshield wiper problem was corrected by the same dealer on 24 Jul 98 as a malfunctioned switch that was on recall and they replaced it as a goodwill repair because vehicle was out of warranty by mileage only. It once agian is failing intermittently. Both of these I feel are traffic safety concerns that the manufacturer should research and correct immediately. The power distribution center I believe is intermittently shorting out and causing many small electrical problems like radio works, then doesn't, lights go on by themselves, and things like that. Once again I feel that if left uncorrected this may also pose a potential traffic safety issue. All three failures I feel are based on vehicle production line problems that may be affecting many vehicles in the same manner. Please advise on what to do. Thank you for your time and effort on my issues and concerns. Sincerely, louis c. Martinez.
On 3 occasions the steering stopped working. I had no control over the direction of the vehicle. It lasted approx 2seconds. The dealership says a drip from the air conditioner is causing this and that the service bulletin tells them to add an ac spout, and auto tensioner and a belt (serp. ?). This is very dangerous and appears to be in quantities that makes the service people very familiar with this problem.
Engine shuts down repeatedly when decelerating; loss of power steering, brakes; may or may not restart immediately. O2 sensor, battery, ignition cables, belt drive & tensioner, 60k service, 3 service visits: problem still occurs, but less often. Twice, nearly lost control as ps & pbs failed in a turn; engine shuts down particularly while decelerating or braking, as in turns and at traffic lights. Worse when ac was on. Sounds to me as if an ignition controller shuts down under low voltage ("brown-out") conditions.
When driving in the rain or when going over rain puddles steering wheel locks up and makes it hard to contol vehicle. Contacted dealer, and dealer did not remedy problem.
Power steering assist fails when car is operated in rain. Problem occurs during turn and belt gets water on it. Dealer contacted and I was told that this is a design defect and that nothing is being done by Chrysler at this time. Without power assist, the steering is very difficult and could easily result in loss of control if the right set of conditions were present.
Vehicle would momentarily lose power steering during sharp left turns.
The drive belt appears to be defective. If this is the case, the power steering could go out. Occasionally, the power steering has locked up on me. The windshield wipers turn on whenever they want to. Several friends said they have the same problem with the Plymouth truck, voyagers or with the Dodge truck, caravans.