U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Dodge GRAND CARAVAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

444 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

103,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 132 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 81 of 444 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	58	13.1%
Steering behavior	53	11.9%
Transmission and shifting	42	9.5%
Engine operation	26	5.9%
Electrical and battery issues	24	5.4%
Fuel system concerns	8	1.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags

Electrical System:Horn

Vehicle Speed Control

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer

Electrical System

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Air Bags	81
Electrical System:Horn	45
Vehicle Speed Control	42
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	36
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys	33
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	24
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer	23
Electrical System	22

Air Bags: 81; Electrical System:Horn: 45; Vehicle Speed Control: 42; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 36; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 33; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 24; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 23; Electrical System: 22

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 51; 150,000 and above: 22

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (51). 312 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

104

2002

102

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2019

2020

2000: 58; 2001: 104; 2002: 102; 2003: 46; 2004: 40; 2005: 20; 2006: 14; 2007: 8; 2008: 14; 2009: 5; 2010: 9; 2011: 5; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 6; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 42 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10009271 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)

PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKE SHOES, NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, CLOCK SPRING FAILED WHICH CAUSED HORN TO BE INOPERATIVE.*AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009271 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10013753 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)

CHILD WAS ABLE TO MOVE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE WITHOUT DEPRESSING BRAKE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013753 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003095 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)

I HAVE HAD THE BELT TENSIONER REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE I OWEND THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF WARPPING.THE THIRD TIME I WROTE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE THAY TOLD US THAT THE PART HAS MEET DODGES WARRENTY REQUIREMENTS.THAY WAS SORRY BUT NOTHING THAY COULD DO.I THANK THE IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF YOU LOSE YOUR POWER STEERING.WHICH COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT. PLUS THE WIPPERS COME ON BY THEM SELF OR WHEN YOU PUT ON THE TURNLIGHT ON.THIS HAS BE GOING ON SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NEW.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003095 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10020487 · 2003-05-23 (May 23, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WATER THE VEHICLE WILL LOST STEERING ABILITY. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020487 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000951 · 2003-01-11 (January 11, 2003)

CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK PRNDL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000951 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001620 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001620 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031197 · 2003-08-10 (August 10, 2003)

1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. STARTED VEHICLE AND LET IDLE WHILE IN PARKING LOT. ENGINE APPEARED TO FORM VAPOR LOCK AND STALLED. TRIED RESTARTING. NO EFFECT. SMELLED FUEL. LOOKED OUTSIDE AND FOUND VERY LARGE FUEL SPILL ON SIDE OF VEHICLE. EVACUATED VEHICLE AND CALLED 911 IN CASE OF FIRE. FD REPORTED SEPARATION OF FUEL LINE FROM FUEL TANK. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. AWAITING PARTS AND REPAIR INFO. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031197 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10043825 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)

SERPENTINE BELT FALLS OFF WHEN WATER GETS ON IT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND CONTROL. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND AM CONCERNED THAT MY FAMILYS' SAFETY WILL BE IN JEPARDY EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS. IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES TO US AND I FEEL THIS WARRANTS A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043825 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025394 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)

MY 97 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT CAUSING THE GEAR SELECTOR, ABS, AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO DISPLAY ON THE DASH. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025394 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10047162 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED THREE YEARS AGO: WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES FOR NO REASON, CD PLAYER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES HAYWIRE AND WE LOSE THE GAUGES AND MILEAGE, POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, KEYLESS ENTRY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, AIR CONDITIONER ODOR AND FAN PROBLEMS, SOMETIMES COOL AIR SOMETIMES NOT AND THE LIST GOES ON. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047162 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031611 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LINE, LOCATED NEAR THE GAS TANK, HAD CORRODED RESULTING IN THE BRAKE FAILURE.

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031611 at NHTSA ↗