1999 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Harsh or delayed 2-3 shift, slipping between gears, Transmission shudder or banging into gear from stop, Limp mode activation, stuck in second gear, Red ATF leaking from cooler lines or case seams

Fix: Requires rebuild or replacement. Transmission oil cooler commonly leaks and contaminates fluid, accelerating failure. Expect 12-16 hours for R&R plus rebuild time. Used units fail quickly; quality rebuild or remanufactured unit necessary. External cooler upgrade recommended during replacement.

Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Rough idle, especially when cold or at operating temperature, Coolant loss with no visible external leaks, White smoke from exhaust on startup, Check engine light with lean or misfire codes

Fix: Lower intake manifold gasket allows coolant into cylinders or oil. Requires upper plenum removal, cleaning mating surfaces, new gaskets for upper and lower manifolds. 4-6 hours labor. Often done with thermostat and coolant flush.

Estimated cost: $600-1,100

Typical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: Overheating, often progressive and recurring, Coolant consumption without visible leaks, White exhaust smoke, sweet smell, Milky oil or oil in coolant reservoir, Compression loss, misfires on multiple cylinders

Fix: 3.3L/3.8L engines blow head gaskets externally and internally. Both heads should be removed, surfaced, and pressure tested. Often find cracked heads requiring replacement. 14-18 hours labor minimum. Timing components, water pump, thermostat, and all coolant hoses should be replaced during job.

Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500

Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Loud knocking or ticking from bottom end, especially cold starts, Low oil pressure warning light, especially at idle when hot, Metal shavings in oil or on drain plug magnet, Sudden catastrophic failure after oil pressure loss

Fix: These engines sludge badly with extended oil changes or Dexcool contamination. Rod and main bearings fail, often spinning. Requires complete teardown: crankshaft journal inspection, bearing replacement, often new oil pump. Realistically needs short block or used engine. 18-24 hours labor for short block swap.

Estimated cost: $3,200-5,500

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from park to drive or reverse, Excessive engine movement visible when accelerating, Vibration at idle in gear, Transmission tunnel heat complaints from passengers

Fix: Upper dogbone-style mount cracks and separates. Simple replacement from top of engine bay. 1.0-1.5 hours labor. OEM or quality aftermarket required; cheap parts fail in under a year.

Estimated cost: $180-320

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: No-start with crank but no fuel pressure, Stalling when hot, restarts after cooling, Hesitation or stumbling under acceleration, Whining noise from rear of vehicle

Fix: In-tank pump fails, often intermittently before total failure. Requires fuel tank drop on this body style. 3-4 hours labor. Replace fuel filter at same time (inline external filter under driver side). NHTSA recall 00V086000 addressed some fuel pump issues but not all units covered.

Estimated cost: $550-850

Typical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Door opens or closes partially then stops, beeps, Door won't latch or unlatch electrically, Grinding or clicking noise during operation, Door operates manually but not with switch

Fix: Cable-driven system with plastic pulleys and weak motors. Cables fray, pulleys crack, motors burn out. Interior trim removal required. 2-4 hours per side depending on component. Used parts from salvage often already worn. Can disable system and operate manually.

Estimated cost: $400-900

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: ABS and brake warning lights illuminated together, Pulsing brake pedal during normal stops (false ABS activation), Extended stopping distances in wet conditions, Grinding noise from ABS pump at startup

Fix: Kelsey-Hayes ABS unit corrodes internally, especially in rust belt. Module and pump integrated, requires replacement as assembly. Bleeding procedure requires scan tool. 2-3 hours labor. Remanufactured units available but quality varies. Some owners disable ABS entirely.

Estimated cost: $800-1,400