1997 Dodge B Series Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge B Series, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical150.0%
- Suspension150.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER REPORTED TO HIS FIRST JOB IN THE AM. HE SAYS HE HAD DRIVEN THE VAN APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. NOTICED NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE VAN. NO UNUSUAL SMELL. WHEN HE PULLED UP TO HIS FIRST JOB HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING UP FROM UNDER THE VAN. HE EXITED THE VAN AND OPENED THE HOOD. HE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHILE HE DIALED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VAN IS A TOTAL-LOSS. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN THIS MODEL VAN AND FEELS THAT THIS INCIDENT DESERVES FURTHER INVESTIGATION. PREVIOUS FIRES OF THIS NATURE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA BY VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS VEHICLE IS A 1997 MODEL AND THE SWAY BAR IS RUBBING ON THE TIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .