1997 Dodge Caravan Engine Problems

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED AND THE ENGINE REMAINS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574237

Incident

Mar 23, 2014

WHILE PARKED AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. A FIRE THEN APPEARED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. 911 WAS CALLED AND FIRE SQUAD CAME. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE USED BUT IT COULD NOT PUT OUT THE FIRE. FIRE TRUCK CAME AND BY THIS TIME THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIREMEN USED WATER TO FINALLY CONTROL THE FIRE. FIRE RESTARTED AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT AGAIN AND EVENTUALLY THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED. IT WAS PERHAPS ONLY 10 MINUTES FOR THE FIRE TO START, SPREAD, AND COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DESTROY THE VAN. BECAUSE OF THE INTENSITY, QUICKNESS OF THE FIRE, AND THE DIFFICULTY IN PUTTING IT OUT, IT APPEARS TO BE A FUEL RELATED FIRE. I READ THAT DODGE HAD FUEL LINE "O" RINGS THAT COULD BE DEFECTIVE AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE. I CALLED DODGE HEADQUARTERS AND EXPLAINED THE EVENT. I AM STILL WAITING FOR A CALL BACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10469169

Incident

Jul 30, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE ALTERNATOR AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. THE VEHICLE MERGED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THE SERPENTINE BELT DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT CONNECTED THE BELT BACK ONTO THE PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THERE WAS NO FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE PULLEY COULD BE REPLACED FOR $1000. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NHTSA ID

10436890

Incident

Nov 23, 2001

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AS THE RADIATOR OVERHEATED AND EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10396977

Incident

Apr 19, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE FAN BELT SUDDENLY FAILED, CAUSING THE STEERING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO ALSO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAN BELT WAS NOT IN A LOCATION AROUND THE FAN UNIT TO HOLD IT IN PLACE AND WOULD FAIL AGAIN IF WET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.

NHTSA ID

10358318

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

31,000 mi

BELT SLIPPED OFF MY 1997 DODGE CARAVAN.... ALSO WHEN I GOT HOME FELL FROM TOW TRUCK BECAUSE OF ICE !~! BUT WOULD NOT OF HAPPEN IF A RECALL WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY LOOK AT ALL THOSE COMPLAINTS OUT THERE.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297097

Incident

Dec 24, 2009

Mileage

107,850 mi

SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF PULLEY SYSTEM WHEN DRIVEN THROUGH STANDING WATER IN ROAD,THIS DISABLES POWER STEERING,COOLING AND BATTERY,WHICH IN TURN DISABLES LIGHTS,POWER WINDOWS AND FUEL PUMP. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES WITH BOTH MY 97 AND 98 CARAVAN. BELT IS DRIED OFF AND RE ATTACHED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288880

Incident

Oct 16, 2009

BOUGHT A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN 1997. THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF NUMEROUS TIMES, USUALLY WHEN GOING THROUGH PUDDLES OR SNOW. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF, ALL POWER TO STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. IS GONE. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THESE VANS, YET DODGE/CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO ADMIT IT AND RECALL IT. I FINALLY GOT TIRE OF IT AND TOOK A LOOK AT WHY IT WAS HAPPENING. I NOTICED THAT THE IDLER WHEEL CLOSEST TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS SHAPED AND MOUNTED IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THE BELT TO COME OFF EASILY. THE IDLER WHEEL IS TOO FAR IN AND IS BEVELED OUTWARD, CAUSING THE BELT TO COME OFF WHEN IT BECAME WET OR GOT SNOW OR ICE PIECES ON IT. THE CURE? A 5 CENT WASHER PLACED BEHIND THIS IDLER WHEEL, BRINGING IT OUT EVER SO SLIGHTLY, BUT ENOUGH TO PREVENT IT FROM COMING OFF EVER AGAIN. NOT THE TENSIONER OR THE BELT OR ANY OF THE OTHER EXCUSES THEY CHARGE YOU FOR, JUST A SIMPLE WASHER THAT ACTS LIKE A SPACER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235826

Incident

Dec 18, 1997

Mileage

3,000 mi

ON RAINY DAYS WHEN MAKING SHARP LEFT TURN, THE 97 DODGE CARAVAN (3.0 V6) LOOSES POWER STEERING AND GOES OUT OF CONTROL. THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT SLIPPED OUT OF THE TENSIONER PULLEY CAUSING THE POWER STEERING LOSS LEADING TO THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION WHILE DRIVING IN ADDITION TO THE ROAD BEING WET AND SLIPPERY. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH OR DEADLY ACCIDENT IF THIS CONDITION HAPPENS. THIS CONDITION HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217100

Incident

Feb 2, 2008

Mileage

141,562 mi

MARCH 3,2007 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE RAIN. I DROVE FOR 30 MINUTES AND THEN THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF MY 97 DODGE CARAVAN AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. ONCE AGAIN, I WAS LUCKY AND DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. SECONDLY, MY SMALL CHILD WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR OF DODGE CARAVAN THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF THIS PROBLEM. I DID MISS A DAY OF WORK AND HAD TO HAVE THE BELT PUT BACK ON THE CAR, AS WELL AS HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED FOR ABOUT 25 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184190

Incident

Mar 3, 2007

Mileage

78,484 mi

1997 CARAVAN DASH GAUGES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, ENGINE DIED. *TS ***NAR*** THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10158418

Incident

May 1, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 15 MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC TO DETERMINE WHERE THE FIRE STARTED OR THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID

10151428

Incident

Feb 28, 2006

Mileage

177,000 mi

SERPENTINE BELT KEEPS COMING OFF AFTER HITTING A PUDDLE OR BODY OF WATER. THIS PROBLEM STARTED, AFTER HAVING WORK DONE TO MY 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. A AUTOMOTIVE SHOP REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SERPENTINE BELT DUE TO BEING DAMAGE (BROKEN). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURN TO AUTOMOTIVE SHOP FIVE TIME, SINCE THE ORIGINAL SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACE, EACH INCIDENT MY DODGE CARAVAN HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER, JUST THE CORRECT WAY IN WHICH CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF AFTER THE SERPENTINE BELT COME OFF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE BATTERY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP IN WHICH THE CAR IS OUT OF CONTROL. DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATION AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT KNOWS THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT CONFIGURATION, BUT CHOSEN NOT TO DUE THE RIGHT THING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10137988

Incident

Sep 27, 2005

DT: TRANSMISSION: CONTACT STATES VEHICLE HAD 28,000 MILES WHEN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, AND AGAIN AT 50,000 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS AGAIN REBUILT. AT ABOUT 70,000 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. TRANSMISSION SERVICE MECHANIC STATED THAT THESE VANS NEEDED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH ANOTHER COOLING SYSTEM. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND ANOTHER COOLING SYSTEM INSTALLED.*AK ENGINE: CONTACT STATES THE OIL WARNING LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FULL OF OIL. THREE DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS SAID THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OIL PRESSURE TO KEEP OIL ON THE BEARINGS.

NHTSA ID

10124079

Incident

May 30, 2005

SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WHENEVER THERE IS INCLEMENT WEATHER -IE, RAIN , SNOW, SLUSH, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. MY SPECIFIC CONCERN IS THAT - THIS DEFECT- MAY CAUSE AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON SOME SUPER HIGHWAY BECAUSE STEERING BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I THINK THE POTENTIAL FOR MANY DEATHS IS THERE IF THIS PROBLEM - WHICH APPEARS QUITE FREQUENTLY ON CHRYSLER PRODUCT MINIVANS IS NOT CORRECTED. IT IS MY OPIUNION THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL THE MINIVANS WHICH HAVE SIMILAR CONFIGURATIONS AS THE 1997 3.3 SERIES ENGINES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10106055

Incident

Jan 5, 2005

CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE THAT SHE HAD ONE YEAR AGO, BUT HAD IT REPAIRED VIA RECALL NOTICE. VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO START IN THE MORNING. CONSUMER COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT, AND DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN. IT WAS REPAIRED ONE YEAR AGO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10092170

Incident

Sep 14, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. HAD THE VEHICLE TO TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087495

Incident

Aug 9, 2004

I BOUGHT THIS VAN NEW IN 1997 JUST AFTER BUYING THE VAN THERE WAS TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE I FEEL IT IS THE LIFTERS BUT DEALERSHIP SAYS NO IT WAS THE FUEL PURGE VALVE. THE NOISE COUNTINUES TO GET WORSE AND I AM SURE THE NOISE IS THE LIFTERS WHEN I CHANGE THE OIL TO 10W-30 THE NOISE GOES AWAY. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT APPROX 50K MILES. THE VAN HAS RECENTLY BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION TWO OR THREE TIME SINCE NOVEMBER 2003 APROX. 90,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HANGING UP IN SECOND GEAR WHEN DODGE RETUNED TO ME THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE IS NOW IN THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN IT IS LEAKING FROM THE OUTPUT SHAFT SEALS AND WHILE IN PARK WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE VAN JERKS FOWARD LIKE THE TRASMISSION IS STILL ENGAGED. THIS ALL HAPPENS WHILE IN PARK. SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK IF THE ACCELORATOR IS PRESSED THE VEHICLE JUMPS / JERKS FOWARD THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS MY WIFE AND I HAVE THREE CHILDREN THAT SOMETIMES WALK IN FRONT OF THE VAN TO GET IN WHEN WE GO OFF AS A FAMILY. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON JUST HOURS BEFORE I RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND IT IS THE EGR VALVE FAILURE THAT CAUSED THE CKECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION OFF AS THAT BUT I AM ALSO A MECHANIC THE EGR VALVE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSIONACTING AS IF IT IS ENGAGE ALTHOUGH IT IS ACUALLY IN PARK.THIS IS NOT GOOD PRACTICE TO LIE ABOUT A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION LEAK WAS CAUSED FROM THE FIRST REMOVAL OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CHRYSLER WARRANTY DEPARTMENT SAID THE LEAK WOULD NOT BE COVERED THIS IS ALSO VERY DIGUSTING WHEN YOU REMOVE AN AXLE THE SEAL SHOULD BE REPLACED BEFORE YOU REINSTALL THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER IS STILL TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION. THE WATER PUMP HAS FAILED AND ALSO THE COOLING FAN RELAY FAILED FOR THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10072595

Incident

May 10, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD EITHER FROM THE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE NOISE OCCURED WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING. DEALERSHIP WASN'T PROVIDING ANY ASSISTANCE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE NOISE COULD NOT BE CORRECTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10065064

Incident

Dec 23, 2003

Mileage

94,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING OVER WATER PUDDLES CONSUMER NOTICED THE SERPENTINE BELT FROZE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. *AK THE POWER STEERING HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE GEARS WOULD SLIP WHEN SHIFTED, THE WATER PUMP LEAKED, THE BELT TENSIONER FELL APART, THE CONSUMER WOULD LOSE THE STEERING WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER,THE A/C DID NOT BLOW COOL AIR DUE TO A LEAKING EVAPORATOR, AND THE BELT TENSIONER WOULD STICK AND MAKE NOISES WHEN DRIVING THROUGH WATER. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10057730

Mileage

11,475 mi

CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHEN HER VEHICLE SLID INTO A DITCH AFTER THE SERPENTINE BELT AND OTHER PARTS FELL TO THE GROUND. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10061134

Incident

Oct 26, 2003

Mileage

137,054 mi

WE BOUGHT THIS VAN ONE YEAR AGO AND SO FAR WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OXYGEN SENSOR, SPEED SENSOR, HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHENEVER THEY WANT NOT JUST THE 16 MPH THING, BALL JOINTS ARE CLUNKING, THE CD PLAYER QUIT AND THEN SOON AFTER FM RADIO ONLY AM WORKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10056554

Incident

Feb 4, 2004

I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME MODEL VEHILE AND THEY HAD THE SAME COMPLAINTS .I THINK THE MAKER OF THIS VEHICLE SHOULD DO A RECALL AND PRORATE A DOLLAR SCALE ON THESE MINI VANS. FOR I TRUST THE VECHICLES THAT FOLLWED HAVE TO BE MORE RELIABLE. THIS VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITH ME DRIVING AND IS CURRENTLY PARKED IN MY FRONT YARD UNDRIVIBLE

NHTSA ID

10053021

Incident

Jan 10, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS CLUNKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10051587

Incident

Dec 16, 2003

Mileage

110,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION ON 1997 DODGE CARAVAN.*MR IGNITION TUMBLE WAS REPLACED, FAN ASSEMBLY.*TS

NHTSA ID

10044854