1997 Dodge Grand Caravan

◆ Worse than typical
1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
BUILT 2026-09-02

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. 1985: 1 complaints 1985 1986: 0 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 10 complaints 1989: 24 complaints 1990: 55 complaints 1990 1991: 129 complaints 1992: 256 complaints 1993: 289 complaints 1994: 199 complaints 1995: 108 complaints 1995 1996: 1157 complaints 1997: 583 complaints 1997 1998: 559 complaints 1999: 432 complaints 2000: 442 complaints 2000 2001: 298 complaints 2002: 290 complaints 2003: 219 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2005: 995 complaints 2005 2006: 284 complaints 2007: 182 complaints 2008: 1291 complaints 2009: 543 complaints 2010: 868 complaints 2010 2011: 530 complaints 2012: 583 complaints 2013: 470 complaints 2014: 357 complaints 2015: 279 complaints 2015 2016: 964 complaints 2017: 402 complaints 2018: 265 complaints 2019: 235 complaints 2020: 16 complaints 2020
1997: 583 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19840
19851
19860
19872
198810
198924
199055
1991129
1992256
1993289
1994199
1995108
19961157
1997583
1998559
1999432
2000442
2001298
2002290
2003219
2004116
2005995
2006284
2007182
20081291
2009543
2010868
2011530
2012583
2013470
2014357
2015279
2016964
2017402
2018265
2019235
202016

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

AIR BAGS 19%

19% of complaints: air bags — 108 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

VEHICLE HIT A DEER WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH. UPON IMPACT WITH THE DEER, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE CORRECT VIN NUMBER UPON RECEIPT OF THIS COMPLAINT. *PH

NHTSA ODI report, 20031112

ON 04-26-2003 MY FAMILY AND I WERE LEAVING THE DETROIT METRO AIRPORT PARKING GARAGE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20030506

OWNER HIT A PICKUP TRUCK AT THE FRONT LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19970805

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18%

18% of complaints: electrical system — 107 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing horn and 12v/24v/48v battery.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

MY VAN WAS PARKED OUT SIDE LUCKYS ON MITALDA NEAR W MAUDE AVENUE IN SUNNYVALE CA 94086 I WAS USING THE WATER REFILLING STATION AND STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE WHEN I TURNED AROUND I IMIDEATLLY NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20200722

Also filed under SERVICE BRAKES and EXTERIOR LIGHTING

OWNER STATES THAT WHILE FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GAS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, OWNER NOTES THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19970401

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 18%

18% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 106 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing belts and associated pulleys and gasoline.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACES.

NHTSA ODI report, 20161215

Also filed under STEERING

POWER TRAIN 14%

14% of complaints: power train — 84 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and park/neutral start interlock switch.

CRASH INJURY
SERVICE BRAKES 12%

12% of complaints: service brakes — 68 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic and electric.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID DRAINED FROM THE BRAKE LINES AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20141009

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 (108 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (107 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (106 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 19% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan have?

6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.