Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 60,000 mi.
| Every 60,000 mi | Spark Plug Wires (replace) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Voyager 3.8L V6.
The 1997 Plymouth Voyager pairs its minivan body with a 3.8-liter V6 that requires 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 or 10W-30 API oil, and it enters the reference record carrying 11 recalls and 368 total owner complaints — a figure that lands the model year roughly in the middle of the Voyager's 1990-2000 complaint history, well shy of the 1992 high of 835 yet more than twice the 2000 low of 171. Cooling-system issues dominate the ledger, with Engine and Engine Cooling ranking as the year's top complaint area and reinforcing a pattern visible across the nameplate's earlier years. For a researcher, that combination makes 1997 a useful bellwether rather than an extreme: representative of the Voyager's middle-era reliability profile, and instructive as a midpoint against which both the worse early-1990s numbers and the cleaner final-year results can be measured.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 34 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | 05281090AB alt 04105409AE |
| Engine air filter | 04213583AB discontinued |
| Fuel filter | 05140676AA discontinued |
| Spark plug | 68304174AA discontinued · alt 68303949AA |
| Battery | BB34F101AA alt 82300133 |
| Front wiper blades | 05096134AC |
| Serpentine belt | 05086140AB alt 05281275 |
| Thermostat | 04573560AE discontinued · alt MD997310 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 199.6 in |
| Overall width | 75.6 in |
| Overall height | 68.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 119.3 in |
| Curb weight | 4131 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 63 / 64.2 in |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 / 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Engine Oil | 5W-30 · API · 10W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.5 qt w/ filter |
| Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts | 40 ft-lbs |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | AT: 55 ft-lbs, MT: 70 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | Upper: 8.8 ft-lbs; Lower: 16.6 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 16.6 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 20.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 9 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 85-115 ft-lbs |
| Front Wheel Hub | 180 ft-lbs |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 180 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
| Ignition Coil Primary Resistance | .45-.65 ohms |
| Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance | 7000-15,800 ohms |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | Champion |
| Spark Plug Gap | 0.048-0.053 in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 20 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | ND 8 oil |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 34 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 600 cca |
| Optional BCI Group Number | 34 |
| Optional BCI Cranking Performance | 685 cca |
| Injector Primary Resistance | 4.2-5.0 na CNG ohms |
| Engine Compression | 100 |
| Engine Compression | 100 |
| Engine Compression | 100 Minimum psi |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 30-80 psi |
| Engine Oil Pressure RPM | 3000 rpm |
| Intake Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Brake Application | WITH REAR DISC BRAKES / WITH STANDARD |
| Torque to Knuckle | 16 ft-lbs / 30 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.313; Rear: 0.276 specification |
| Minimum Shoe Thickness | 0.030 |
| Brake Application | WITH REAR DISC BRAKES / WITH STANDARD |
| Rotor Max Parallel Variation | 0.0005 in |
| Rotor Runout Limit | 0.003 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 0.482 in / 0.939 in |
| 1 | 40 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 40 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 30 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 30 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 60,000 mi.
| Every 60,000 mi | Spark Plug Wires (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1997 Plymouth Voyager sits near the middle of a generation that saw complaints peak in the early‑1990s (835 in 1992) before falling to 368 in 1997, while recall activity, after a low of five in 1994, rose back to 11 in 1997 – the highest level of the period. Investigations remained modest (seven) compared with the double‑digit counts of the early‑1990s, and Technical Service Bulletins surged to 141, the most aggressive post‑1994 response. The top complaint categories for 1997—Engine & Engine Cooling (49), Power Train (43), Air Bags (38) and Fuel System (27)—reflect a shift from the broader systemic issues of earlier years toward more component‑specific problems, while crash‑related complaints (14) and fire complaints (22) are relatively low. Overall, 1997 shows a declining trend in consumer complaints but an elevated recall and TSB load, suggesting the model had enough documented fixes to address known flaws. **Takeaway:** The 1997 Voyager is a reasonably stable year to buy, provided the buyer verifies that all 1997 recalls and service bulletins have been completed.
All 368 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 11 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CURT MFG IS RECALLING CERTAIN CLASS 3 RECEIVER HITCHES, P/N 13347, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON 1997-2007 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS, 1996-2007 DODGE CARAVANS, AND 1996-2004 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER VANS. WHEN… Remedy: CURT MFG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE THE HITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MFG AT…
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SOME TRIM MATERIAL CAN LOOSEN AND DROP INTO THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRIM WITH FOAM BLOCKERS AND INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL 3RD ROW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO…
Showing 5 of 141 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08-049-20 | 2020-04-22 | Electrical System | Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin… |
| 3100519 | 2019-11-20 | Structure | Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with… |
| 3100619 | 2019-11-20 | Structure | Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC… |
| 3100319 | 2019-11-20 | Structure | Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with… |
| 31-006-19 | 2019-11-20 | Structure | Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.5 qt w/ filter of BELOW 32 F: 5W-30 API, BELOW 100 F: 5W-30 API, ABOVE 0 F: 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.