Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
EVENTS INCLUDE NORMAL USE OF VEHICLE. THE FAILURE IS THE STRUT TOWERS ON A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAVE RUST THROUGH CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE, STRUT COULD BREAK THROUGH THE HOUSING. DODGE HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHENEVER THE CONTACT SHIFTS, THE VEHICLE MAKES AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, IT OPERATES NORMALLY. THE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND WILL START BACK UP, BUT IT IS UNRELIABLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REV AND HAVE TO BE RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE REVVING TO STOP. IF THERE IS A POWER FLUCTUATION, THE REAR WIPERS WILL TURN ON AND OFF AT RANDOM. THE HIGH BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK, BUT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE PARKING LIGHT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED. HE REPLACED THE BULB, BUT IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IS CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF; HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AND THERE IS A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY IS RUSTING AND ROTTING. THE ROCKER PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS RUSTED COMPLETELY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,766. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/11/08.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK LIFTGATE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FELL APART. THE HATCHBACK PUSHED A PORTION OF THE SUPPORT BRACKET INTO THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED INTERIOR DAMAGE. THE ARM OF THE LIFTGATE SNAPPED AND FELL ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD. SHE CHECKED THE MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE TO FIND OUT IF HER VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V079000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE). SHE DISCOVERED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 218,523 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 217,000.
THE STRUT TOWER THAT HOLDS THE UPPER PART OF BOTH FRONT STRUTS WAS RUST OUT. IF I HADN'T HAD THIS REPAIRED, THE FRONT STRUT COULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH THE STRUT TOWER. CHANCES ARE THIS WOULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY (BECAUSE THE FORCES ON THE STRUT TOWERS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST THEN). THIS COULD VERY PROBABLY HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT. I FEAR THAT MOST CARAVAN OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE INVOLVED IN A POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAD THIS REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE IN NOVEMBER 2004.*AK
MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS BEEN A HEADACHE SINCE I GOT IT. RIGHT AFTER I GOT IT I HAD TO PAY $600 TO GET MY DASHBOARD FIXED BECAUSE ALL MY GAUGES QUIT COMPLETELY. NOW MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL GO OFF BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN THEY ARE OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES OR UNLOCK THE DOORS OR OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE IT PUT ON A TESTER AND THEY CANT FIND WHY ITS ON. THE REAR END RATTLES PRETTY BAD ALSO AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO PICK UP AND GO.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE HOOD BECAME ATTACH FROM THE PANEL. AND FLEW IN THE WINDOW THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
WHEN IT RAINS IT LEAKS INSIDE OF VEHICLE. HAD TO REMOVE CARPET BECAUSE OF ODOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
THE MOUNTING BOLT ATTACHING THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONING PULLEY HAD BROKEN ALLOWING THE BELT TO ENLODGE NEAR AN ENGINE MOUNT. *JG
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. THE HORN AND SPEED CONTROL ARE ALSO INOPERABLE WHICH OCCURRED ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE OCCASIONALLY EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS ALSO MOVE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE ACTIVATED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIR BAG, HORN AND SPEED CONTROL PROBLEMS ARE CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY IS THE POSSIBLE CULPRIT.*AK
WHILE PUMPING FUEL INTO VEHICLE SLIDING DOOR HAS CAME BACK AND BROKE FUEL COVER DOOR,KNOCKING HANDLE OUT OF TANK, AND OUT OF CONSUMER'S HAND. SOME OF THE FUEL SPILLED ONTO CONSUMER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
LIFTGATE BOLT BROKE OFF RIGHT HAND SIDE WHILE BEING CLOSED. TOOK TODEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER NO RECALLS, BUT PROBLEM WAS REPAIRABLE.*AK
PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S DOOR WELDS THAT HOLD THE HINGES ARE BREAKING. REPLACED THEM ONCE, CURRENTLY BROKEN AGAIN. *AK
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN, VIN 1B4-GP54R6VB-209333. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER LOCKS. I HAVE THE REPAIR RECORD FROM ONE REAR DOOR LOCK THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 21586 MILES, NOV 17, 1997. THE DEALER DESCRIBED: "LT SLIDING DOOR LATCH WILL NOT OPERATE, 11R/I DOOR PAD, R/R LOCK ACTUATOR" THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS DESCRIBED: "4675782MOTOR". I RECALL THE OTHER REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED IN JUNE 1997: SO BOTH WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE RIGHT DOOR HAS FAILED AGAIN, FIRST OBSERVED MARCH 16, 1999, MILEAGE 46402.
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AND INTERIOR LIGHT SYSTEM FAIL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH.
NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE LAST (3) OR (4) MONTHS THE HARNESS ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BECAME SO TIGHT AROUND CHILD THAT OWNER HAD TO USE THE AUXILIARY RELEASE. *AK AIR CONDITIONER HAS GIVEN CONSUMER PROBLEMS ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, BRAKES WERE NOISY AND WERE REPLACED. POWER LOCK FAILURE. POWER STEERING PROBLEM, CONSUMER DID NOT SPECIFY. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR COMES OPEN WHEN LOCKED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
CAMSHAFT FAILED.
WHEN DRIVING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE DOOR TO UNLOCK, TOOK TO DEALER, REPLACED THE SENSOR ON TWO OCCASIONS . *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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