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1997 problems

FaultScore report

1997 Dodge VAN problems

Owners have filed 41 complaints about the 1997 Dodge VAN with NHTSA between 1997 and 2008. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 8 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Dodge VAN All 1997 cars

FaultScore 76/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Dodge VAN.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 76: Against the median year of the Dodge VAN. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 76: 14.6% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — not reported: Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.

How 1997 compares with every other Dodge VAN

Click any bar to open that year's report.

1 12 1 6 8 4 9 16 25 41 26 20 48 19 20

76 77 79 89 91 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1997 Dodge VAN

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Suspension 7 17.1%

2 crashes, 0 fires

Brakes 7 17.1%

Airbags 5 12.2%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Transmission & Drivetrain 5 12.2%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Electrical System 4 9.8%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

Tires 3 7.3%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 3 7.3%

Median failure at 98,023 miles

Seat Belts 2 4.9%

Engine & Cooling 2 4.9%

Equipment & Accessories 1 2.4%

Seats 1 2.4%

Fuel & Propulsion 1 2.4%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Sep 1997 peak 12 Jul 2008

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 4 Jan 2005 Yonkers, NY Crash

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

BALL JOINT SEPARATION ON THE LFRONT LEFT TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10105695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 4 Jan 2005 Yonkers, NY Crash

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

BALL JOINT SEPARATION ON THE LFRONT LEFT TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10105695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 14 Jul 2003 SAN Antonio, TX Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 31 May 2000 ST John, IN Crash 5 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

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.

NHTSA complaint #862795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 1 Jul 2008 Muscle Shoals, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I OWN A 1997 DODGE VOYAGER VAN AND HAVE BEEN HAVING CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE PS, AC, AND ALTERNATOR BELT SLIPPING OFF, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PS AND ALTERNATOR MOUNTING BRACKETS. AT BEST, I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME USING THE ELECTRICITY FROM THE BATTERY TO POWER THE SPARK PLUGS AND HAVE NOT HAD PS BECAUSE OF THE SLIPPED BELT. THE MOST RECENT EVENT HAPPENED ON 6/30/08. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY OF THIS YEAR. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP AS MANY TIMES. THE PS MOUNTING BRACKET IS GOING TO NEED REPLACEMENT (AGAIN) OF THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT HAVE BROKEN OFF DUE TO THE STRAIN OF THE BELT SLIPPING OFF. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT ALL OF THE PULLEYS AND MOUNTING BRACKETS HAVE, BY NOW, BEEN REPLACED AND WERE IN WORKING ORDER AND CAN NOT GIVE ME A REASON WHY THE BELT KEEPS SLIPPING OFF. I WAS REFERRED TO THIS SITE, THROUGH THE INTERNET, BY MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR CHRYSLER OR DODGE VANS. IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT MAKE CORRECT.

NHTSA complaint #10232794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 9 Feb 2007 Williamsburg, VA

TIRES:VALVE

1997 DODGE 3500 MAXI VAN WITH TIRE FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE VALVE STEMS. **CC THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE TIRE FAILURES, ON THE SAME VEHICLE, DUE TO DEFECTIVE VALVE STEMS. THE STEM MANUFACTURERS ARE EHA SCHRADER AND FHA

NHTSA complaint #10182683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Sep 2005 Vadnais Hts., MN

SUSPENSION:FRONT

1997 DODGE CARAVAN HAS SEVERE STRUT TOWER CORROSION ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THIS HAS NOT FAILED YET, BUT COULD CAUSE CRASH IF STRUT COMES THROUGH TOP OF HOUSING.

NHTSA complaint #10137063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Jun 2005 at 80,000 miles Philo, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING IS WITH THE GAUGES. MY ABS AND CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND THE GAUGES GO OUT. I CAN TELL HOW FAST I'M GOING I CAN TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE AND MY DOORS WILL NOT LOCK THEMSELVES. I HAVE HAD THE COMPUTER RESET. WE HAVE DICONNECTED THE NEGITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND RECONNECTED IT. WE HAVE BEAT ON THE DASH TILL THEY COME BACK ON. THESE ARE ONLY TEMP FIXES BECAUSE PRETTY SOON HERE COMES THE LIGHTS OUT GOES THE GAUGES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO BECAUSE APARENTLY AFTER ABOUT 79000 MILES THE TRANSMISSIONS GO OUT ON THESE VANS. WE THE TRANSMISSION STARTS SHIFTING FUNNY IS WHEN THIS PROBLEM ACCURES. I LOVE MY VAN I JUST CANT HANDLE ITS PROBLEMS. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES HAVING THIS PROBLEM EITHER EVERYONE I HAVE TALKED TO HAS REPLACED THEIR TRANSMISSIONS AT 79000 MILES AND IS HAVING THE SAME GAUGE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING.

NHTSA complaint #10124270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 30 Mar 2005 Oceanside, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 4 Jan 2005 Yonkers, NY Crash

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

BALL JOINT SEPARATION ON THE LFRONT LEFT TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10105695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 4 Jan 2005 Yonkers, NY Crash

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

BALL JOINT SEPARATION ON THE LFRONT LEFT TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10105695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 17 Nov 2004 at 98,023 miles Raymond, NH

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

THE HEATER CORE SPRUNG A LEAK WHILE DRIVING WHICH RENDERED THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY FOGGED UP. THIS REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY BECAUSE THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CUT THE WINDSHIELD OFF, AND DROVE THE REST OF THE TRIP WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN, AND DEFOGGER SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION. THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED BY A MECHANIC WHO HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING THE PART. THIS MAY BE DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING DESIGN. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10101160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 May 2004 Phoenix, AZ

AIR BAGS

SAFETY RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED FOR 1997 DODGE VAN REGARDING AIR BAGS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE CLOCKSPRING. (NAR) *MR THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED, BUT WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER THEY INDICATED THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE (RECALL B24). *NM

NHTSA complaint #10073316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 May 2004 Omaha, AR

TIRES

WHEN THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, IT RUPTURED THE GAS TANK FILLER TUBE. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10071562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Jul 2003 Owings Mills, MD

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TIRE BLOW OUT. COMPLETE BLOW OF TREAD, RADIAL PLYS. ONLY SIDEWALLS REMAIN ON RIM.

NHTSA complaint #10029157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 14 Jul 2003 SAN Antonio, TX Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

NHTSA complaint #10026018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 29 Apr 2003 Seabrook, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

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

NHTSA complaint #10006353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 14 Dec 2001 Crisfield, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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

NHTSA complaint #755578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Jun 2001 Orem, UT

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

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.

NHTSA complaint #747134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 May 2001 Schaumburg, IL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

ROTORS BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CASTING.

NHTSA complaint #744877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Aug 2000 Doyline, LA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SPEED SENSOR O-RING CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE, NOISE AND HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. NLM