1997 Dodge Van Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 17%of 24 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1997 Dodge Van, 17% of the 24 complaints for this model year. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 1997 Dodge grand caravan was in for transmission problems, and at 117,000 miles I learned my transmission is also going. I know two other people who replaced their transmissions before 100,000. Don't buy one.”
NHTSA complaint #10116062, filed 2005-03“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10026018, filed 2003-07Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 1997 Dodge Van
4 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsTires
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Dodge Van
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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