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1997 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 →
24Owner complaints

Model-year median: 9.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
9
199410
199518
199624
199724
199817
199919
2000
Compare all Van years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
4Electrical System
4Power Train
4Suspension
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
All reported categories
Tires
3Visibility
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Seat Belts
2Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
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 24 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

24 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2003
Power TrainCrashInjury

MY 3 YEARS OLD DOUGHTER WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE GEAR FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. SHE RAN OVER MY SON WHO WAS GOING AROUND THE CAR TO ENTER FROM THE OTHER SIDE. THE CAR IS A DODGE VAN 1997. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE INCIDENTS AND THEY SAID THAT THE CARAVAN MODEL 1997 DID NOT COME WITH THIS SAFETY …

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MY 3 YEARS OLD DOUGHTER WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE GEAR FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. SHE RAN OVER MY SON WHO WAS GOING AROUND THE CAR TO ENTER FROM THE OTHER SIDE. THE CAR IS A DODGE VAN 1997. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE INCIDENTS AND THEY SAID THAT THE CARAVAN MODEL 1997 DID NOT COME WITH THIS SAFETY FEATURE"TO CHANGE GEARS FROM BRAKE, DRIVE OR NEUTRAL. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKES' I BELIVE THIS IS A AFTY FEATURE THT SHOULD BE RECALED AND FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026018

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

THIS WILL BE MY 3RD FUEL PUMP IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS, THE SECOND ONE WAS JUST 6 MONTHS AGO.*AK

NHTSA ODI #755578

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2001
Suspension

BOTH DOOR MOUNTS REAR VIEW MIRRORS FOLD INTO THE DOOR AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH. THE CLAMP SCREWS STRIP OUT WHEN TIGHTENED RENDERING THE MIRRORS USELESS. REPLACEMENT COST OF MIRROR $125 EACH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747134

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ROTORS BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CASTING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #744877

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AND RUNNING THROUGH WATER, IT IS SPLASHING ONTO THE BELT, CAUSING VAN TO LOSE STEERING AND BRAKES! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. **** DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****738051. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10006353

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

BRAKES FAILED, DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #552604

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY TRAVELING 60MPH, APPROACHED A RED LIGHT AND ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING FROM THE LEFT, RAN THE LIGHT AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE, RUNNING IT OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862795

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2000
Seat Belts

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN REFERENCE TO THE SEAT BELTS. CONTACTED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. PLEASE NOTE THE RECALL INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE DIMS DATA BASE, NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER' S RECALL INFORMATION LISTED ON THE OWNER'S NOTICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856910

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Air Bags

AIR BAG MODULE UNDER FRONT DRIVERS SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #609572

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1999
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSITION, AND MIDDLE ROW CAPTAIN SEAT BY THE SIDE DOORS HAS NEVER WORKED, TOTALLY INOPERATIVE.CHRYSLER AND COACHMAN WILL NOT TAKE THE RESPONDSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING THE PARTS OR FIXING THE SEATBELTS. ALSO, RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR AIR BAG. BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX BECAUSE…

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DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSITION, AND MIDDLE ROW CAPTAIN SEAT BY THE SIDE DOORS HAS NEVER WORKED, TOTALLY INOPERATIVE.CHRYSLER AND COACHMAN WILL NOT TAKE THE RESPONDSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING THE PARTS OR FIXING THE SEATBELTS. ALSO, RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR AIR BAG. BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX BECAUSE THEIR ANALISIS MACHINE WAS OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837837

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.