1997 Plymouth Voyager — 3.0L V6

The 1997 model year arrives during a downward trajectory in owner complaints, with 368 filings representing a significant decline from the 1992 peak of 835 yet marking a temporary plateau before the continued descent seen in 1998-2000. However, this year represents an anomaly within that trend, featuring 11 recalls—matching the generation’s highest annual count—and a record 141 technical service bulletins that far exceed any other year in the dataset, suggesting concentrated manufacturer attention to emerging defects. While complaint volume has moderated, the specific grievances concentrate in critical systems: Engine & Engine Cooling leads with 49 complaints, followed closely by Power Train (43) and Air Bags (38), with the data recording 22 fire-related and 14 crash-related complaints without specifying root causes. Compared to the relative recall lull of 1994-1995 (4-5 recalls annually), 1997’s regulatory activity spikes sharply, indicating unresolved safety and reliability issues that required federal intervention despite the model’s aging platform. Given the confluence of elevated recalls, unprecedented service bulletins, and persistent powertrain and safety-system complaints, 1997 represents a high-maintenance year within a declining reliability curve, making it a risky acquisition compared to later years with fewer recalls and lower complaint volumes.