SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1977 Dodge Van

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
8Owner complaints

Model-year median: 9.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19768
19771
1979
Compare all Van years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
4Steering
3Tires
2Power Train
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

8 reports
60 miles · Jun 9, 2016
Power TrainStructureUnknown Or Other

I PURCHASED 1977 DODGE VAN. NEW IN 1977. THE HEADLINER CONSTANTLY FELL DOWN ON ME. THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE FIRST YEAR USING A LOCK OUT TORQUE CONVERTER. BUT CHRYSLER DID NOT USE A BRACE FOR THE SHAFT, SO THE SHAFT WOBBLE EVERY TIME IT ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED AND DESTROYED MY TRANSMISSION AT 12,500 MILES. IT HAD A 12,000 MILE WAR…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED 1977 DODGE VAN. NEW IN 1977. THE HEADLINER CONSTANTLY FELL DOWN ON ME. THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE FIRST YEAR USING A LOCK OUT TORQUE CONVERTER. BUT CHRYSLER DID NOT USE A BRACE FOR THE SHAFT, SO THE SHAFT WOBBLE EVERY TIME IT ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED AND DESTROYED MY TRANSMISSION AT 12,500 MILES. IT HAD A 12,000 MILE WARRENTY AND CHRYSLER WOULD NOT REPAIR. I HAD TO PAY TO FIX IT. THE ENGINE BLEW UPO AT 13,000 MILES, AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE CYLANERS HAD INDENTATIONS IN THEM., HE SAID THE WORKERS ARE UPSET WITH CHRYSLER AND ARE SABATOGING THE VEHICLES. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY BANGED THE JUGS WITH A BALLPEEN HAMER, AS HE FOUND THE HAMMER IN THE DRIVERSIDE DOOR, THAT WAS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND. THE HEAD OF HE HAMMER FIT THE INDENTS IN THE JUGS PERFECTLY. THE DAY I BOUGHT IT IT STOPPED RUNNING 60 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION BOX WAS BAD. BECAUSE I WAS MORE THAN 50 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM, I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK INTO THE SHOP. ABOUT 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES AFTER I DROVE OFF THE LOT. THIS VAN WAS HORRIBLE. CHRYSLER DID NOT HELP AT ALL BECAUSE I WAS 500-1000 MILES BEYOND THE 12,000 MILE WARRENTY. >THE METAL IN THE VAN STARTED TO RUST AFTER 8 MONTHS. CHRYSLER SAID I WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE ON OF THE WHEEL WELL WELD WAS LEAKING, WATER CAME INTO THE VAN THRU IT FROM OUTSIDE... BUT, IT RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT , SO I WAS NOT COVERED. I HATE CHRYSLER.

NHTSA ODI #10873482

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2003
Tires

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH A TIRE BLOW OUT OCCURRED.*MR THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DIDN'T DEFLATE WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER HAD FOUR TIRES TO FAIL AS A RESULT OF TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. *PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10040132

95,000 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Tires

FAILURE OF FOUR PIRELLI LIGHT TRUCK TIRES.*MR TIRE EXPLODED OFF THE TIRE CARCAS*TS

NHTSA ODI #10040007

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2002
Steering

STEERING BRACKET AND CHASSIS BROKEN THIS IS A RECALL ITEM#80V027000 I WOULD LIKE THIS REPAIRED SOON I NEED THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #762108

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Steering

STEERING BOX BRACKET FAILED AND EVEN THE CHASSIS WAS TORN IN HALF THIS WAS VERY DISTRESSING AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT MY FAULT II FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM THE RECALL CAMPAIN NUMBER WAS 80V027000 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT GETTING THIS REPAIRED BY DODGE THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #761601

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
SteeringStructure

I WAS DRIVING MY 1977 DODGE VAN WHEN THE STEERING BECAME VERY ERRATIC WHEN I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE I CAN SEE NO POSSIBLE WAY FOR THIS TO BE MY FAULT THE FRAME AS WELL AS THE STEERING BOX BRACKET ARE TORN IN HALF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #761588

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2002
Structure

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STRUCTURAL FAILURE AT THE STEERING BOX BRACKET AND THE RAIL WAS RIPPED INTO, CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL WHERE THE MANUFACTURER WOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM OR BUY BACK THE VEHICLE, DEPENDING ON WHICH WOULD BE CHEAPER.*JB

NHTSA ODI #785896

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1999
Structure

THE FRAME CRACKED CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS. MJS

NHTSA ODI #550107

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP81006 · Jumped From Park To Reverse, Electrical

Opened Jan 16, 1981 · Closed Aug 24, 1981

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

JUMPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, ELECTRICAL FIRE