AI Damage1996 Plymouth Voyager: common problems
Owners of the 1996 Plymouth Voyager filed 756 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 756
- involving a crash
- 36
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 18% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 18% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 14% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 11% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 136 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 134 complaints (18% of all), 18 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 114 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 108 complaints (14% of all).
- Powertrain: 88 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 756 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 136 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 134 | 18 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 114 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 108 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 88 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 80 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 57 | 7 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 48 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 38 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Child seat | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 24 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
1996 plymouth voyager suddenly accelerated backwards while in reverse resulting in the vehicle hitting a parking meter and a curb sign post.
When hitting a tree at 30 mph with front end the air bag did not deploy. Consumer sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Consumer's four year old child's head hit rear door window, cracking the window in the process. Consumer suffered back injuries. Seat belts were worn but none of the air bags in vehicle deployed.
Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. Since this was prior to chrysler's issuance of safety recall consumer had air bags repaired at her own expense, but wanted reimbursement from chrysler. Chrysler refused to do so.
Consumer was rear-ended by another vehicle while stopped. Other vehicle was traveling approximately 45mph. The collision caused consumer's vehicle to hit another car in front. The front driver and passenger seats collapsed backward.
While backing slowly into a driveway vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing the vehicle to back spin over some private property and into another vehicle that was parked. Dealer has been contacted.
Vehicle was at a stop when it was rearended. Upon impact, both driver's & passenger's seatbacks broke and fell back, causing back injuries. Manufacturer stated it was a safety feature.
Upon impact the seat collapsed. Please provide further deatails.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 388 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 1% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Voyager has 251 complaints (21 years in the data). This year has 756, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
- Voyager 19834 sources
- Voyager 198422 sources
- Voyager 198531 sources
- Voyager 198653 sources
- Voyager 198784 sources
- Voyager 198891 sources
- Voyager 1989165 sources
- Voyager 1990226 sources
- Voyager 1991520 sources
- Voyager 1992701 sources
- Voyager 1993615 sources
- Voyager 1994529 sources
- Voyager 1995336 sources
- Voyager 1997346 sources
- Voyager 1998323 sources
- Voyager 1999273 sources
- Voyager 2000168 sources
- Voyager 999916 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Plymouth Voyager?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 756. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (9%), smoke, burning smell, fire (5%), fuel system, fuel smell (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1996 Plymouth 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 1996 Plymouth 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 1996 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 2026-11-05.