PlainCars

PLYMOUTH VOYAGER · model year

1987 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER

99 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1987PLYMOUTHVOYAGER carries 99 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 4 fires, 22 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 VOYAGER is latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock with 14 filings, followed by structure:body:hatchback/liftgate (10) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 1987 VOYAGER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

99
Complaints
20
Crashes
4
Fires
22
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

99 filings

Crashes Reported

20 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK14
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE10
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY7
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM3
SEATS3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS2
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK2

Recent Complaints

20080404TIRES

DOUGLAS X-TRAC TIRES 205/70R14S. *TR

Mileage: 233,872

20020820ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MAJOR ENGINE DEFECTS. *SLC

20010716LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD FLEW OPEN, BREAKING WINDSHIELD. NO ACCIDENT.*AK

20010530FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE TRAVELING IN CENTRAL OREGON, WE PULLED INTO A REST STOP AND ON RETURNING TO THE CAR IT WAS ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENTIRE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ALL BURNED UP. WE HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE THERE AND FIND TRANSPORTATION HOME. *AK

20001115SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I BELEIVE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SALVAGED AND RESOLD TO ME WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

20001115POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I BELEIVE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SALVAGED AND RESOLD TO ME WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

20000824UNKNOWN OR OTHER

BOTH OF THESE FAILURES ARE SAFETY ISSUES. PEELING PAINT CAN CAUSE WINDSHIELD FAILURE. DELAMINATING HEADLINER IS A DRIVING DISTRACTION. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

19990304FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GAS SMELL WITHIN THE VEHICLE.

19990217CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXMATELY 20-30 MPH WHEN HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT.ELECTRONIC SEAT WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO LOCK UP OR STOP ON ANY TYPE OF IMPACT WAS INOPERATIVE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO GO FORWARD. CONSUMER HIT DASH BOARD/CHEST. HIT STEERING WHEEL. SEAT DID NOT MAINTAIN POSITION ON IMPACT. ELECTRONIC SEAT DID NOT HOLD. *AK

19980826TIRES

WINSTON (20570R14) TIRE BLEW OUT.

19980727ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

ENGINE HAS A DEFECTIVE EXHAUST VALVE GUIDE, CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND SMOKE IN EXHAUST IN IDLE POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

19980722CrashLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER. UPON IMPACT, THE HOOD LATCH BOLT SEPARATED FROM THE HOOD, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK

19980309VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

ACCIDENTAL FIRE, UNSPECIFIED FUEL LEAK IN EITHER THE CARBURETOR OR GASOLINE SUPPLY HOSE.

19970926ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND HESITATES.

19970926FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL PUMP LEAKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

19970926SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED.

19970926POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

GEAR SHIFT PROBLEM, SOMETIMES HAVE TO YANK OUT OF PARK.

19970804VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING AT 65MPH W/SPEED CONTROL ON; HAD STARTED APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN; SPEED CONTROL LOCKED UP; WAS EXITING FREEWAY & STILL SPEED CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE; BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW VEHICLE DOWN; HAD TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL TO SLOW DOWN WITHOUT TURNING VEHICLE OFF. *AK

19970528CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

OWNER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HARNESS DID NOT HOLD. OWNER FURTHER NOTES THAT INVESTIGATOR DID LOOK AT SEAT BELTS AND DETERMINED THAT THEY DID NOT RETRTACT, ALSO THEY DID NOT LOCK. *AK

19970528CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

OWNER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HARNESS DID NOT HOLD. OWNER FURTHER NOTES THAT INVESTIGATOR DID LOOK AT SEAT BELTS AND DETERMINED THAT THEY DID NOT RETRTACT, ALSO THEY DID NOT LOCK. *AK

Compare 1987PLYMOUTHVOYAGER to Similar Vehicles

VOYAGER vs FORDF-150 → VOYAGER vs FORDEXPLORER → VOYAGER vs JEEPGRAND CHEROKEE → VOYAGER vs FORDESCAPE →

NHTSA Investigations

EA05019Engineering AnalysisClosed

POWER STEERING FLUID FIRES

PE05036Preliminary EvaluationClosed

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

RQ99004Recall QueryClosed

REAR LIFTGATE SUPPORT

EA97016Engineering AnalysisClosed

LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILURE

DP85004Defect PetitionClosed

CARBURETOR PROBLEMS - PLYMOUTH

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1987 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER have?▼
The 1987 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER has 99 NHTSA complaints, 20 crashes, 4 fires, 22 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1987 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Understanding NHTSA Complaints → Vehicle Recalls Explained → Safest Car Brands 2026 → Most Reliable Used Cars → Lemon Law Guide →

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.