1997 Dodge Grand Caravan

◆ Worse than typical
1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Dodge Grand Caravan Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1997 highlighted. 1984: 0 complaints 1984 1985: 1 complaints 1986: 0 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 10 complaints 1989: 24 complaints 1989 1990: 55 complaints 1991: 129 complaints 1992: 255 complaints 1993: 289 complaints 1994: 199 complaints 1994 1995: 108 complaints 1996: 1157 complaints 1997: 583 complaints 1997 1998: 559 complaints 1999: 432 complaints 1999 2000: 442 complaints 2001: 298 complaints 2002: 290 complaints 2003: 219 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2004 2005: 995 complaints 2006: 284 complaints 2007: 182 complaints 2008: 1290 complaints 2009: 543 complaints 2009 2010: 866 complaints 2011: 530 complaints 2012: 583 complaints 2013: 470 complaints 2014: 356 complaints 2014 2015: 276 complaints 2016: 961 complaints 2017: 401 complaints 2018: 263 complaints 2019: 233 complaints 2019 2020: 16 complaints 2020
1997: 583 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19840
19851
19860
19872
198810
198924
199055
1991129
1992255
1993289
1994199
1995108
19961157
1997583
1998559
1999432
2000442
2001298
2002290
2003219
2004116
2005995
2006284
2007182
20081290
2009543
2010866
2011530
2012583
2013470
2014356
2015276
2016961
2017401
2018263
2019233
202016

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 14%

14% of complaints: air bags — 81 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
POWER TRAIN 10%

10% of complaints: power train — 60 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8%

8% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 45 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%

8% of complaints: electrical system — 45 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
VISIBILITY 7%

7% of complaints: visibility — 40 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

I 19960918 — SQ (closed 19970204)

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP

1997 — complaint volume: 583
I 19970131 — EA (closed 19980819)

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP

R 19970421 — service brakes, hydraulic

THE MASTER CYLINDER REAR SEAL, BETWEEN THE HYDRAULIC FLUID AND THE VACUUM RESERVOIR, MAY NOT SEAL ADEQUATELY ALLOWING HYDRAULIC FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE POWER ASSIST VACUUM RESERVOIR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. ADDENDUM (4-14-97): VEHICLES INSPECTED PER CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 707 AND FOUND TO BE OUTSIDE THE LISTED SUSPECT MASTER CYLIND

Campaign 96V215000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19980106 — tires

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH P215/65R15 GOODYEAR CONQUEST TIRES MOUNTED ON STEEL WHEEL. THE TIRES CAN EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN AIR PRESSURE LOSS WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIRES THAT WERE MOUNTED ON STEEL WHEELS.

Campaign 97V200000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19981130 — child seat

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT WHEN THE SAFETY BELT LATCH PLATE BE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE LATCH MECHANISM. AN EXTENDER WILL BE ADDED TO THE EMERGENCY RELEASE ANCHOR FOR THE CHILD SEAT SAFETY BELTS SO THAT THE RELEASE CLIPS ARE MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE OPER

Campaign 98V185000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990203 — PE (closed 19990611)

POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY

I 19990611 — EA (closed 20010810)

POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM

I 20000309 — RQ (closed 20020318)

DC MINIVAN FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAK

I 20010221 — EA (closed 20021122)

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING

R 20020125 — fuel system, gasoline

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L AND 3.8L ENGINES HAVE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS THAT CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ON THE VEHICLE FUEL RAILS TO PREVENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE, SHOULD THE EXISTING O-RINGS CONTINUE TO DEGRADE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN

Campaign 00V268000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20021118 — air bags

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF M

Campaign 02V293000 — check if this car was fixed

R Date not on file — seat belts

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRAL CHILD SEATS. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY.

Remedy: OWNERS ARE BEING PROVIDED WITH A VIDEO TAPE AND 2 HARNESS CLIPS. THE VIDEO TAPE INSTRUCTS OWNERS ON THE PROPER USE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CHILD SEATS.

Campaign 97I001000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1997 Dodge Grand Caravan — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (81 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (60 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (45 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 97I001000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V215000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V200000 (tires) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V185000 (child seat) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V268000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 02V293000 (air bags) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1990 ▲ 1995 ▲ 2004

WORST YEARS

■ 2008 ■ 1996 ■ 2005

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan?

The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 14% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan have?

6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.