1996 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER Complaints

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS GAS FUEMS IN THE CAB OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE CAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX PROBLEM WITH OUT CHARGING CONSUMER. CONSUMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER NOT RESPONDING. MR

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH MY WIFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW AND 2 DAUGHTERS, MORGAN 9 YEARS OLD AND MADISON, 5 YEARS OLD, WERE PASSENGERS. THEY WERE TRAVELING WEST ON INTERSTATE 78 IN NEW JERSEY JUST PAST EXIT 11 WHEN THEY SMELLED A SLIGHT UNUSUAL ODOR. AT THIS LOCATION ON THE INTERSTATE IS A MOUNTAIN, KNOWN AS "JUGTOWN MOUNTAIN." MY WIFE PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, CONCERNED ABOUT THE ODOR AND FOUND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. TRAVELING DOWNHILL AND GAINING SPEED SHE PANICKED BRIEFLY, BUT MANAGED TO GET TO THE RIGHT LANE AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND LOWER GEARS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. AS THE INTERSTATE LEVELED OUT SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND CONTACTED MYSELF AND AAA FOR TOWING SERVICE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO CLINTON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE IN CLINTON, NJ. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAPPENS OFTEN TO MANY VEHICLES. HE WAS VERY COURTEOUS AND HELPFUL, BUT I QUESTIONED HIS RESPONSE AS I THOUGHT IT WAS UNUSUAL THAT A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION WAS SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED "OFTEN TO MANY VEHICLES." HE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT MATERIAL CAN BUILD UP IN THE CALIPERS AND HEAT THE BRAKES UP, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID EVAPORATING. HE ASKED HOW LONG IT WAS SINCE MY LAST BRAKE WORK AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE TWO PREVIOUS ROUTINE BRAKE JOBS AND WHEN THE OCCURRED. HE STATED THAT MORE THAN LIKELY I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BRAKE PADS AND/OR SHOES AGAIN AND THEY WOULD CHECK THE MASTER CYLINDER. WITH THIS BEING THE EXTENT OF MY KNOWLEDGE OF BRAKES I ASKED FOR A PRICE QUOTE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE.*AK

WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE WAS BEYOND EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, CRUISE CONTROL/HORN NOT WORKING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

STEERING COLUMN CLOCKSPRING FAILED RENDERED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND HORN NON-OPERATIONAL. - SAFETY COMPONENTS FAILED. THIS IS ACOMMON OCCURRENCE FOR 1996 TO 2000 CHRYSLER MINIVANS. PLEASE REQUIRE A SAFETY RECALL.*AK

CLOCKSPRING FAILURE CAUSED REPEATED FAILURES OF AIRBAG, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL. *AK

RUST FAILURE OF THE RT. FRONT STRUT TOWER WITH MISALIGNMENT AND TIRE FAILURE.*AK

I BOUGHT MY 1996 USED TWO WINTERS AGO AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE AC WORKED (AND IT DID BLOW COLD AIR AT THE TIEM, IT WAS ONLY 6: C OUTSIDE!!)ALONG CAME A HOT DAY IN JUNE AND NO AC. I TOOK IT INTO A SHOP WHO PRESSURE TESTED IT, SAID IT WAS OK AND RECHARGED IT. IT LASTED 3 HOURS INTO OUR VACATION. ON MY RETURN THEY CHECKED IT OUT AGAIN AND SAID THESE VANS WERE KNOWN TO HAVE DEFECTED AND LEAKY AC SYSTEMS. THEY FOUND A FEW SMALL HOLES IN THE CONDENSER. SUMMER WAS OVER SO I LET IT SIT UNTIL THIS SUMMER WHERE I REPLACED THE CONDENSER AND TOOK IT BACK FOR ANOTHER $150 PRESSURE TEST AND REFILL. THIS TIME IT LASTED 3 WEEKS AND AGAIN DIED ON OUR VACATION. ON MY RETURN HE FOUND MORE LEAKS AROUND THE COMPRESSOR AND SAID THAT THE EVAPORATOR IS ALSO PROBABLY LEAKING BECAUSE THEY DO JUST THAT QUITE OFTEN ON THIS TYPE OF VAN.SO FAR I'VE INVESTED $500 AND HAVE NO AC. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRIPLE THAT BUT I FOUND A RECONDITIONED CONDENSER AND DID THE REPLACEMENT MYSELF. NOW I'M TOLD THE COMPRESSER ($600 PART AND $200 LABOUR) AND THE EVAPORATOR ($500 PART AND $500 LABOUR) NEED TO BE REPLACED, PLUS ANOTHER $150 TEST AND REFILL. THAT PUTS ME AT ALMOST $2500 TO FIX AN AC SYSTEM THAT EVERY MECHANIC I TALK TO SAYS IS DEFECTIVE.WHAT CAN I DO???*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING, ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN ARE INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *NLM

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE PUMP IN TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AND VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO GEAR. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK