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1997 Dodge Grand CaravanProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 583 owner complaints about the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

35
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.9× the Grand Caravan median · #6 of 31 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints58390 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage90kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 22, 2020. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan has problems

583 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags10713
Electrical system10421
Engine and engine cooling10215
Power train815
Visibility611
Service brakes, hydraulic545
Vehicle speed control485
Steering354
Fuel system, gasoline304
17 other systems16217

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

1997 Dodge Grand Caravan recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Air bags: frontal

Recall 02V-293 · Nov 7, 2002 · 1,500,521 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

Recall 00V-268 · Sep 13, 2000 · 1,163,000 vehicles

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Foundation components: master cylinder

Recall 96V-215 · Oct 29, 1996 · 18,997 vehicles

Risk. AS THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR DECREASES, THE LEVEL SENSOR WILL DETECT THE LOSS OF FLUID AND ILLUMINATE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.

Mileage at failure

When do air bags problems start?

90kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 20 air bags complaints. 65% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 22% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles13under 100k miles7100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Air bags

9 owners mentioned a cost

$219median

Middle half: $200 – $250

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Grand Caravan year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Grand Caravan median. How we score

'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Dodge Grand Caravan safety ratings

1997 Dodge Grand Caravan in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
6 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan, and the recalls they led to.

  1. AIR BAG CLOCKSPRINGEA01007 · closed Nov 22, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-293
  2. INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUPEA97003 · closed Aug 19, 1998
    Led to recall 97I001000
  3. POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEMEA99013 · closed Aug 10, 2001
    No recall
  4. POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITYPE99010 · closed Jun 11, 1999
    No recall
  5. DC MINIVAN FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAKRQ00008 · closed Mar 18, 2002
    Led to recall 00V-268
  6. INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUPSQ96016 · closed Feb 4, 1997
    No recall
In owners' words

What Grand Caravan owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I PURCHASED MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN 2009, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE GAUGE CLUSTER STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON WHICH ON CHECKING WITH MY MECHANIC SAID MY ABS SYSTEM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL AS IS ALL OTHER INSTRUMENT RELATED READINGS.…
Complaint 10614903 · Jul 21, 2014 · 106,500 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE STOPPED AND PREPARING TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, DESTROYING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY.…
Complaint 10382621 · Feb 14, 2011 · 220,000 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. HE CALLED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V293000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND WAS ADVISED…
Complaint 10267227 · Apr 29, 2009 · 69,500 miles

Own a 1997 Grand Caravan?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.