1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager reliability: common problems

Owners of the 1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager filed 42 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 42

What fails most often

1 Powertrain 38% of all complaints
2 Fuel system 21% of all complaints
3 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
4 Structure 10% of all complaints
5 Seat belts 7% of all complaints
6 Tires 7% of all complaints
7 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
8 Equipment 5% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Powertrain: 16 complaints (38% of all).
Fuel system: 9 complaints (21% of all).
Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (17% of all).
Structure: 4 complaints (10% of all).
Seat belts: 3 complaints (7% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 42 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

fuel system, fuel smell3 · 7%
seat belts3 · 7%
transmission slipping3 · 7%
loss of power / limp mode2 · 5%
jerking, harsh shifts1 · 2%
knocking, grinding or other noise1 · 2%
overheating, coolant loss1 · 2%
smoke, burning smell, fire1 · 2%
steering or power steering problems1 · 2%
tires: bulges, blowouts1 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Powertrain	16	0	0
Fuel system	9	0	0
Engine and cooling	7	0	0
Structure	4	0	0
Seat belts	3	0	0
Tires	3	0	0
Electrical system	2	0	0
Equipment	2	0	0
Service brakes	2	0	0
Steering	2	0	0
Latches, locks, linkages	1	0	0
Seats	1	0	0
Other	2	0	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

It feels like it jerks inside but I cannot tell if it jerks on outside. It does not happen ever time driving. It has been looked at and no problems have been found by the auto mechanic. They have even driven the van and have felt the problem. It started doing this about 2 to 3 years ago.
Fuel system · 2004-01-06 · NHTSA complaint #10052503
While driving, the left tire experienced tread separation. The consumer did not hit anything. There was no warning. Rode king courier (dayton) t195 - 75r 14 ms, dot#v6karc1, 17608 11r.
Tires · 2003-07-03 · NHTSA complaint #10026559
I have a 1990 grand voyager minivan that that has developed a fuel leak on the 3.3 liter v6. The leak is from the seal on the fuel rail crossover tube that goes from the front head to the rear head of the engine. I discovered it leaking fuel at a rate of several drops per second.
Fuel system · 2003-01-13 · NHTSA complaint #10002620
Failures of transmission and fuel pump created hazardous conditions due to unplanned stopping in unaccommodating traffic.
Powertrain · 2002-03-07 · NHTSA complaint #758894
I have had seven (7) blowouts with these tires. All failed the same way, sidewall failure. All tires were replaced at no additional cost by the seller of the tires (sears)( dot number: tire size: 205/15 )
Tires · 2000-09-14 · NHTSA complaint #730633
Reclining seat control failed, causing driver to almost lose control of car. Seat fell back.
Seats · 2000-05-31 · NHTSA complaint #723168
The consumer received a recall letter in 1997 for liftgate. Liftgate it willnot close. Consumer has tape on the liftgate.
Latches, locks, linkages · 2000-04-17 · NHTSA complaint #860453
The first transmission failed while I and my family were on the ny state thruway. We were going on vacation and we had to return home in limp mode for approximately 100 miles. The second transmission failed while we were travelling on local streets near our home. I had to pay for the second transmission and computer.
Powertrain · 1999-10-08 · NHTSA complaint #713010

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19961
19974
19987
199913
20006
20012
20023
20033
20043

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 5,630 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Grand Voyager has 128 complaints (19 years in the data). This year has 42, below average.

What to check before buying

Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, fuel system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 42. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (7%), seat belts (7%), transmission slipping (7%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1990 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.