Minivan; Built in USA, Canada
  • 3-door van
  • 3-door van
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,400 – $3,100*


1996 Plymouth Voyager Rallye


1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager


1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager


1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager


1997 Plymouth Voyager

Pros:
  • Acceleration (3.3-, 3.8-liter)
  • Antilock brakes
  • Passenger and cargo room
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Fuel economy
  • Wind noise

Basically, you can hardly beat a Voyager or its Dodge near-twin in the minivan league. Most families are likely to appreciate that extra sliding door, so it’s worth looking for a Voyager that has that option.

Overview

More aerodynamic in shape than their predecessors, the new Chrysler minivans could be equipped with a sliding door on the driver’s side, and center and rear seats had built-in “Easy Out” rollers. All models had a sliding door on the passenger side, plus a one-piece rear liftgate. The Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country are nearly identical.Minivans came in standard Voyager and long wheelbase Grand Voyager body styles, each holding up to seven occupants. Plymouths came only in base and SE trim. Dual airbags and antilock braking were standard at first, but ABS became an option on base minivans during the 1996 model year. All models were front-drive. Base engine was a new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with dual camshafts. Two V6s were available: 3.0- and 3.3-liter, making 150 and 158 horsepower, respectively.

Yearly Updates

1997 Voyager
Changes were few for 1997.
1998 Voyager
Rear bench seats added grocery bag hooks and an Expresso Decor package was added.
1999 Voyager
Plymouth added a 3.8-liter V6, already available on Caravan and Town & Country, to the Voyager for ’99. Other changes included a small cargo net between the front seats, additional standard equipment, a child-safety seats in second-row buckets.
2000 Voyager
Air conditioning and 7-passenger seating became standard instead of optional. A rear-seat video entertainment system was newly available, dealer-installed on all models. During 2000, Voyagers adopted a Chrysler badge instead of Plymouth.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

Voyagers initially came with any of three engines: a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, or two V6 sizes. A 3-speed automatic transmission had been standard with the 4-cylinder engine and the smallest (3.0-liter) V6. Models with the 3.3-liter engine, and all SE Voyagers, got a 4-speed automatic transmission with an overdrive gear ratio. In ’99 Plymouth added the corporate 3.8-liter V6 to the lineup. It brought 180 horsepower to the game and came only with a 4-speed automatic.

dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.4/148
Engine HP 150
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 167
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
20/25
18/25
ohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/181
Engine HP 150
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 176
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
3-speed automatic

19/24

ohv V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.3/201
Engine HP 158
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 203
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

18/24

16.7

ohv V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.8/231
Engine HP 180
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 240
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

18/24

Road Test

Quieter and even more carlike than before, these minivans handle more like large sedans than vans. Steering is light and precise, and the suspension provides stable cornering with only modest body lean. The suspension easily irons out most smaller rough spots, and the ride is comfortable overall.

Performance with the 3.3-liter engine is quite strong, even in the longer Grand Voyager–provided that it’s not loaded down with people and cargo. Even then, passing power is sufficient, making that engine a wise all-around choice for those who carry heavy loads or a full complement of passengers. The 4-cylinder engine is too weak for a vehicle of this weight, though acceleration is adequate with the smallest (3.0-liter) V6. Fuel economy is about average for a minivan.

Well-designed and roomy inside, Voyager got a new dashboard with larger gauges and revised controls–closer to the driver than before. Occupants ride on supportive chair-height seats, while bigger windows and a lower dashboard improved visibility. Front seat travel also has increased, as has middle-row head room. A wider body also gives extra shoulder and hip space. Entry/exit also is easier, thanks to door sills that are 1.4 inches lower.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1996 Plymouth Voyager SE 3.3-liter

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 4
40%
Fuel Economy - 4
40%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 4
40%
Quietness - 6
60%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Rear - 6
60%
Cargo Room - 7
70%

Other

Value - 8
80%

Total: 57

Specifications

3-door van
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
113.3 186.3 75.6 68.5
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
146.2 20.0 7
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.8 38.1 41.2 35.8
3-door van
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
119.3 199.6 75.6 68.4
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
172.3 20.0 7
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.8 38.5 41.2 39.8
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1999 Voyager 3-door van

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 70
Injury 74
Theft 67

Trouble Spots

Automatic transmission
Description: Transmission may shudder when accelerating from a stop, thump when coasting down to a stop, or slip when shifting. (1996)
Blower motor
Description: Blower motors make a whine in low and second speed. (1996)
Blower motor
Description: Blower motor quits working and a new resistor and wiring repair kit is required. (1996-97)
Brakes
Description: The antilock brakes may activate at speeds under 10 mph due to one or more faulty wheel speed sensors. (1996)
Dashboard lights
Description: The instrument cluster, mini-trip computer and/or compass may show incorrect information or go completely blank due to a bad relay for the heated backlight (window). (1997)
Doors
Description: Sliding door and/or liftgate power locks fail to lock or unlock both manually or electrically. (1996)
Engine fan
Description: The radiator fan may run after the key is turned off, or may not run leading to overheating because the fan relay attaching screws break and the relay overheats. (1996-97)
Engine noise
Description: Engine tapping noise on startup of V6 engines requires updated exhaust valve swivel pads. (1998-04)
Engine temperature
Description: Reprogramming the powertrain control module might correct overheating. (1997-98)
Rough idle
Description: Vehicles equipped with a 3.3-liter or 3.8-liter V6 may lose power and/or buck and miss. Problem can be fixed by disconnecting the knock sensor. (1996-97)
Rough idle
Description: Rough running in 3.3-liter and 3.8-liter V6 might be due to broken pedestals in the cylinder heads. (1996)
Vehicle noise
Description: A thud or thump when accelerating or stopping that comes from the rear is caused by fuel sloshing in the tank. A foam pad and strap kit does not always fix the problem. (1996-97)
Wipers
Description: Windshield wipers come on by themselves or fail to stop when the switch or key is turned off due to a problem with the multifunction switch on the column. (1996)

Recall History

1996 w/bench seats, from Windsor plant (“R” in 11th position of VIN)
Description: Rear-seat bolts can fracture; in accident, seat could break away.
1996
Description: Fuel can leak from tank at interface of fuel pump module attachment.
1996
Description: Tank rollover valve can allow fuel to enter vapor canister, resulting in potential leakage and fire.
1996
Description: Static charge could cause spark as tank is being filled; vapors could ignite.
1996
Description: On a few minivans, bolts holding integrated child seats can break.
1996-97 w/integrated child seats
Description: Shoulder harness restraint on child seat can be difficult to release when latch plate becomes contaminated.
1996-98
Description: The clockspring may have been wound incorrectly, resulting in illumination of airbag warning light and possibly causing the driver’s side airbag to not function. Dealer will insect and replace affected parts on vehicles with 70,000 miles or less.
1997
Description: Certain master cylinder seals will not seal adequately, allowing fluid to be drawn into power-assist reservoir.
1997
Description: A few wheels were damaged during mounting.
1997 w/P215/65R15 Goodyear Conquest tires on steel wheels
Description: Tires were damaged and may lose pressure suddenly.
1997
Description: The D-pillar mastic sound barrier patch could loosen and drop into the seatbelt assembly, rendering it inoperative.
1998 w/integrated child seats
Description: Shoulder harness webbing was incorrectly routed around reinforcement bar; can fail to restrain child properly.
1998-00
Description: Driver’s airbag on some minivans may become disabled due to a failed clockspring in the steering-wheel hub; airbag warning lamp should illuminate.
1999 w/3.3-liter and 3.8-liter engines
Description: O-ring seals can degrade over time, allowing fuel leakage.
1999-00
Description: Some trim material can slip into the rear outboard-seatbelt assembly and render the seatbelt inoperative.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

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