1997 Dodge Caravan problems
Owners have filed 1,028 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Caravan. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 15% of complaints. After that come engine (13%) and transmission (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,028 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 51 and 62
- Injuries and deaths
- 64 and 5
- Typical mileage
- 90,000 miles 149 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 13 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 26 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 29 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 19 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 15 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 9 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Among the 149 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 90,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 95,000 miles (19 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 51 complaints mention a crash; 62 complaints mention a fire; 64 injuries reported; 5 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 26 model years of the Dodge Caravan with enough data (620 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 7 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
FOIA request info re chrysler minivan recalls initiated 1/25/02, engine and fuel line malfunctions that resulted in fires . Information request from consumers attorney. Attorney is pursuing a wrongful death claim for the consumer. Consumer burned to death in a vehicle wreck in 1997. Campaign id number : 03e053000.
Michael schottland on behalf of the deceased owner stephanie berman. Ms. Bermans vehicle, while in motion, turned over and became engulfed in a fire that LED to her death, there was a recall 00v268 regarding the possibility of a fire.
Vehicle recalled for anti-lock brakes. The brake light had come and there was a clicking noise which had come from the ABS brakes. The consumer requested reimbursement. The hydraulic master cylinder, ABS pump and motor assembly were all replaced.
Headlight housing on 1997 dodge se grand caravan. The plastic lens of the headlight housing in which the headlight bulb is encased has discolored, thereby, obscuring the light generated by the headlight bulb. This has occurred on both the right and left headlight housings. I have surveyed other minivans of the same vintage and noticed they too were discolored. It concerned me so much that I purchased two new headlight housings from off the internet (not mopar). There is probably a safety factor with this defect.