1997 Dodge Caravan Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 133about this part
- Share
- 19%of 714 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,502miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 133 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1997 Dodge Caravan, 19% of the 714 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,502 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“I consider ourselves fortunate after scouring thru the numerous customer complaints on the 1997 Dodge Caravan. We bought the vehicle used in 1999 with 23,000 miles on it. It was mainly used to transport myself and our three children all under the age of 6 at the time, but now my husband drives it back and forth to work. We to have had the intermitent ghost wipers ever since purchasing the vehichle and were constantly told by the dealer that nothing was wrong or could be found to be wrong. …”
NHTSA complaint #10050696, filed 2003-12, 123,000 miles“Took my car in for a transmission to be serviced, picked my car up a hour later.he transmission locked on me. I had my vehicle towed to another shop. The total ost of repairs was $1400.00.”
NHTSA complaint #10037135, filed 2003-09, 83,000 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. It is amazing to me how many people have problems with this vehicle and that there isn't a recall on their transmissions. I will never buy a Dodge Caravan again.”
NHTSA complaint #10070538, filed 2004-01, 65,226 miles“I bought this van new in 1997 just after buying the van there was ticking noise coming from the engine I feel it is the lifters but dealership says no it was the fuel purge valve. The noise countinues to get worse and I am sure the noise is the lifters when I change the oil to 10w-30 the noise goes away. The oxygen sensor was replaced at approx 50k miles. The van has recently been in the shop for the transmission two or three time since november 2003 aprox. 90,000 miles on it. The transmission was hanging up in second gear when Dodge retuned to me the transmission shuttered while driving. …”
NHTSA complaint #10072595, filed 2004-05, 90,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 6 | 26% |
| 2014 | 2 | 10% |
| 2013 | 2 | 7% |
| 2012 | 3 | 3% |
| 2011 | 5 | 6% |
| 2010 | 14 | 8% |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% |
| 2008 | 11 | 4% |
| 2007 | 9 | 11% |
| 2006 | 13 | 8% |
| 2005 | 13 | 2% |
| 2004 | 4 | 6% |
| 2003 | 22 | 11% |
| 2002 | 27 | 11% |
| 2001 | 19 | 7% |
| 2000 | 86 | 18% |
| 1999 | 96 | 17% |
| 1998 | 103 | 16% |
| 1997 | 133 | 19% |
| 1996 | 185 | 13% |
| 1995 | 93 | 19% |
| 1994 | 111 | 17% |
| 1993 | 101 | 11% |
| 1992 | 110 | 12% |
| 1991 | 57 | 9% |
| 1990 | 75 | 27% |
| 1989 | 48 | 25% |
| 1988 | 4 | 4% |
| 1987 | 7 | 10% |
| 1986 | 1 | 2% |
| 1985 | 6 | 12% |
| 1984 | 3 | 17% |
Other parts of the 1997 Dodge Caravan
152 complaintsEngine cooling
123 complaintsElectrical system
96 complaintsBrakes
72 complaintsFuel system
60 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
56 complaintsVehicle speed control
45 complaintsSteering
40 complaintsOther or unknown
29 complaintsEquipment
22 complaintsSeat belts
22 complaintsBody and structure
21 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Dodge Caravan
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology