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U.S. public vehicle records

1977 Dodge VAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

7 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

47,530 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1977 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior457.1%
Transmission and shifting114.3%

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.

Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
2
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
Structure:Frame And Members
2
Tires:Tread/Belt
2
Power Train
1
Structure:Body
1
Unknown Or Other
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)2
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System2
Structure:Frame And Members2
Tires:Tread/Belt2
Power Train1
Structure:Body1
Unknown Or Other1

Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion): 2; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 2; Structure:Frame And Members: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2; Power Train: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 5 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.

2002
4
2003
2
2016
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20024
20032
20161

2002: 4; 2003: 2; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 761588 · 2002-05-06 (May 6, 2002)

I WAS DRIVING MY 1977 DODGE VAN WHEN THE STEERING BECAME VERY ERRATIC WHEN I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE I CAN SEE NO POSSIBLE WAY FOR THIS TO BE MY FAULT THE FRAME AS WELL AS THE STEERING BOX BRACKET ARE TORN IN HALF. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 761588 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 761601 · 2002-05-06 (May 6, 2002)

STEERING BOX BRACKET FAILED AND EVEN THE CHASSIS WAS TORN IN HALF THIS WAS VERY DISTRESSING AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT MY FAULT II FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM THE RECALL CAMPAIN NUMBER WAS 80V027000 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT GETTING THIS REPAIRED BY DODGE THANK YOU. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 761601 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10873482 · 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)

I PURCHASED 1977 DODGE VAN. NEW IN 1977. THE HEADLINER CONSTANTLY FELL DOWN ON ME. THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE FIRST YEAR USING A LOCK OUT TORQUE CONVERTER. BUT CHRYSLER DID NOT USE A BRACE FOR THE SHAFT, SO THE SHAFT WOBBLE EVERY TIME IT ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED AND DESTROYED MY TRANSMISSION AT 12,500 MILES. IT HAD A 12,000 MILE WARRENTY AND CHRYSLER WOULD NOT REPAIR. I HAD TO PAY TO FIX IT. THE ENGINE BLEW UPO AT 13,000 MILES, AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE CYLANERS HAD INDENTATIONS IN THEM., HE SAID THE WORKERS ARE UPSET WITH CHRYSLER AND ARE SAB…

Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873482 at NHTSA ↗