1997 Dodge Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about transmission problems — slipping, hanging in a gear, failed or repeatedly replaced units — and about air bag clock spring faults that knock out the horn and cruise control or leave the air bag lamp lit. A recurring serpentine belt failure, which removes power steering assist and can stall the engine, also comes up often. Many complaints are filed on high-mileage vans, though some belt and transmission reports describe failures well under 50,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, hanging in gear or failing

   • 112 complaints (16%)
   • median 70,351 mi at 7.2 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 1996–2022

   Complaints describe the transmission slipping, refusing to shift out of second gear, clunking, vibrating or leaking fluid, with metal debris found in the pan in one case. Some owners report the unit was rebuilt or replaced and that the problem came back; others describe a shop quoting a large repair bill after the vehicle would not move. Dealers are described as attributing noises to parts that cannot be corrected or as declining warranty coverage on leaks and clunks. Ranges from around 29,000 to 200,000 miles, with many reports clustering between about 70,000 and 140,000 miles.

   What to check: Take a long test drive that includes a cold start and a highway merge, and ask for service records showing whether the transmission was ever rebuilt or replaced. A fluid and pan inspection can show debris or leaks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have had our vehicle since 1999 and have been disappointed with its performance. This is our third chrysler/Dodge van and this is the second of the three to have transmission problems. The first had them at 37,000 miles and this one is having them at 71,000 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10043534, filed 2003-10, 70,502 miles

   “The first time my transmission went out was when it had 29000 miles on it on october 1999.oakland Dodge replaced the torq conferter and overhaul the transmission at their cost. The transmission went out again after a little over 36000 miles later and now they blamed it on a broken torq converter and put in a remanufactured transmission at my cost. Also this vehicle had 3 serpentine belts replaced in one year because of shredding. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070538, filed 2004-01, 65,226 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag light on, horn and cruise control quit (clock

   • 146 complaints (20%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 32 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2013

   Owners report the air bag warning lamp coming on while the horn and cruise control stop working, which dealers and shops described as a failed clock spring assembly. Several complaints say the repair was paid for before a recall notice arrived, or that reimbursement or free repair was refused because the vehicle identification number was outside the recall scope. A few complaints describe air bags deploying in low-speed or no-impact situations and others describe them not deploying in a crash. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 140,000 miles, on vehicles of this age.

   Recall 02V293000

   What to check: Turn the key to run and confirm the air bag lamp goes out, then test the horn and cruise control. Ask whether recall 02V293000 was performed and keep any repair receipts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1997 Dodge Caravan, with approx 139,000 miles on it. I just read in the birmingham news about the NHTSA investigating daimler-chrysler's 1998-1999 Dodge caravans/chrysler town & countrys/plymouth voyagers. The article states the vans had a defect with the steering wheel/airbag. Mine is doing this exact thing. About a month ago, the airbag warning light came on, and the horn and cruise control quit working. Please include the 1997 model years in the investigation.”

   NHTSA complaint #10056446, filed 2004-02, 137,000 miles

   “In january 2003, I received a recall notice from chrysler for the air bag clock spring on my 1997 Dodge Caravan. The notice said that if I had already had the clock spring replaced ( I had), that I should submit the requested information and they would pay me back. I sent this information on january 12, 2003 to the address on the recall notice. The repair cost $142.22.I heard nothing unti april 4, 2003, when I received a letter asking for the same copies I had submitted in january. I resent them, and have heard nothing since. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10021384, filed 2003-06, 80,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Serpentine belt comes off, loss of power steering

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the serpentine belt sliding off its pulleys, often while driving through rain, puddles or slush, which takes out power steering assist and the alternator and can let the engine stall. Owners also report belt tensioner or idler pulley failures, including a sheared tensioner bolt, and repeated belt replacements. Dealers are described as re-fitting or replacing the belt, and in one case quoting a pulley replacement. Reported from as low as a couple thousand miles up to about 150,000 miles, often in wet or snowy conditions.

   What to check: Inspect the belt, tensioner and idler pulleys for glazing, misalignment or missing bolts, and ask whether the belt or tensioner has been replaced. Note that wet-weather driving is the commonly described trigger.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The tension pulley sheared it's bolt and caused the pulley to fall off while driving. Causing the power steering to go out and nearly losing control of the car. The bolt size was suprisingly small for a part that handles that much tension. My fear is that it will happen again while my kids are in it and at a higher speed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10041476, filed 2003-10, 101,746 miles

   “Bought a 1998 Dodge grand Caravan in 1997. The serpentine belt came off numerous times, usually when going through puddles or snow. When the belt comes off, all power to steering, brakes, etc. Is gone. This is a common complaint with these vans, yet Dodge/chrysler has refused to admit it and recall it. I finally got tire of it and took a look at why it was happening. I noticed that the idler wheel closest to the front of the vehicle is shaped and mounted in a way that allows the belt to come off easily. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10235826, filed 2008-07, 3,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor / master cylinder leaks

   • 36 complaints (5%)
   • median 114,710 mi at 7.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2012

   Owners report the brake pedal sinking to the floor with longer stopping distance, low or falling fluid in the master cylinder reservoir and the brake warning lamp lighting. Complaints describe master cylinder replacement, sometimes with the problem returning, and one owner was told the campaign did not apply to their vehicle. Others mention brake noise or drag from the rear drums. Mostly between about 40,000 and 185,000 miles; several owners link it to recall 96V215000 but report their vehicle was not covered.

   Recall 96V2150002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the master cylinder fluid level and look for wetness around the cylinder and booster, and press the pedal firmly at a standstill to see whether it holds. Ask whether the master cylinder has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was traveling home from work, rush hour traffic heavy but moving close to posted speed limit (65 MPH). Traffic slowed in front of me and I also slowed, then traffic came to a sudden stop, so I also increased pressure on the brakes. While doing so, the pedal went right to the floor, I lost brake pressure and started moving to the left to avoid a collision but was not able to. My van hit the car in front of me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10449340, filed 2012-02, 185,000 miles

   “The hydraulic fluid in the master cylinder reservoir decreases and the instrument panel brake warning lamp illuminates. Reference NHTSA campaign id number: 96v215000. Service advisor indicated that there was no recall on this problem, I showed copy of the NHTSA campaign id number print out and he said we don't use that information; we only use the factory data base and there's no recall . I have been experiencing the exact problem specified in the NHTSA recall - search results! Please help. Thank you.”

   NHTSA complaint #10013660, filed 2003-03, 42,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and injector O-ring leaks

   • 50 complaints (7%)
   • median 102,500 mi at 8.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2011

   Owners report a gasoline smell inside the cabin or under the hood, especially at startup or with the heater on, and some describe fuel leaks at the injector rail. Complaints repeatedly note that recall 00V268000 covers this fuel rail seal issue but that their vehicle was not included by VIN. One owner described repeated fuel pump replacements and breakdowns. Typically reported between about 30,000 and 160,000 miles, on 3.3L and 3.8L vans per the recall description.

   Recall 00V268000

   What to check: With the engine cold, smell around the open hood and check the fuel rail and injector area for weeping or staining. Ask whether recall 00V268000 was completed for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There was a gas smell inside the cabin of the van upon starting the van or when the heat was on. There was a recall (00v268000) issued for the fuel injection system, but the VIN number was outside the remedy scope.”

   NHTSA complaint #10051948, filed 2003-12, 100,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 1997 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the transmission and the o-rings on the fuel injectors are failing. Chrysler stated that the vehicle was not included in recall # 00v268000 (fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system). The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage is 192,000 and failure mileage was 30,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10196319, filed 2007-07, 30,000 miles

Buying note. These vans are old enough that condition and service history matter more than the model itself; a pre-purchase inspection covering the transmission, brakes, belt drive and fuel rail is worth the cost. Confirm which open recalls were completed and keep the paperwork, since several complaints here involve owners paying for repairs that a campaign later covered.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.