1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Electrical Problems

MY VAN WAS PARKED OUT SIDE LUCKYS ON MITALDA NEAR W MAUDE AVENUE IN SUNNYVALE CA 94086 I WAS USING THE WATER REFILLING STATION AND STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE WHEN I TURNED AROUND I IMIDEATLLY NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT WAS ON FIRE. NOT HAVING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER I TOOK THE BOTTLE OF WATER I HAD IN MY HANDS AND STARTED TO THROW WATER ON IT UNTIL THE FLAMES WENT OUT. WHAT IN THE HELL WOULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN? IS MY VAN UP FOR RECALL? I JUST PURCHASED THE VAN JUST A WEEK AGO. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHT MARE FOR ME NOT TO MENTION EXTREMELY COSTLY REPLACING EVERYTHING'S THAT'S BEEN GOING OUT. THE A/C CLUSTER THE DASH CLUSTER THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR. THE REAR VENT MOTOR. COUNTLESS BULBS AND FUSES.

NHTSA ID

11340809

Incident

Jul 21, 2020

Mileage

158,182 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID

10732862

Incident

Jun 29, 2015

Mileage

77,000 mi

AT RANDOM GAUGES WILL STOP WORKING ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE ABS LIGHT WILL TURN ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654235

Incident

Nov 6, 2014

THIS IS ACTUALLY MY MOTHER'S VAN AND A VAN THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY OWNED. IT SEEMS THAT THESE VEHICLES SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM NOT DISARMING AS YOU TRY TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. YOU CAN UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT AS SOON AS YOU GET IN THE VEHICLE AND TRY TO START IT, IT IMMEDIATELY SHUTS BACK DOWN AS A SECURITY PRECAUTION. A SIMPLE SMACK ON THE DASH CURES IT RIGHT UP, BUT BEING AS HOW IT'S MY MOTHER'S VAN NOW; SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO SIMPLY "SMACK" THE DASH AND GET EVERYTHING WORKING AGAIN. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY KNOWN ISSUE. I HAVE READ ABOUT IT THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND HAVE EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF ON TWO SEPARATE VANS. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT DAIMLER/CHRYSLER SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND NOT HAVE THE CONSUMER FIX IT, SEEING AS HOW IT IS AND ISSUE THAT'S BURIED IN THE DASHBOARD AND NOT OUT IN PLAIN SIGHT, LIKE SOME MECHANICAL ISSUES. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL, BECAUSE IT COULD SET OFF THE AIRBAG AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. WELL, WITH ME HAVING TO SMACK THE DASH SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES, HER SPEEDOMETER IS OFF BY 50 MPH NOW. I AM HOPING FOR A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS ISSUE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT ONE MORE GOOD WHACK COULD SET OFF THE AIRBAG AND REALLY INJURY SOMEBODY. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649392

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

I PURCHASED MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN 2009, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE GAUGE CLUSTER STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON WHICH ON CHECKING WITH MY MECHANIC SAID MY ABS SYSTEM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL AS IS ALL OTHER INSTRUMENT RELATED READINGS. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PANEL CAME BACK ON AND WORKED FOR AWHILE THAN SHUT OFF AGAIN. SOMEONE SAID HIT THE PANEL FACE AND THE GAUGES SHOULD COME BACK ON. I DID AND IT DID. FOR AWHILE. OVER TIME THE GAUGE FAILURE INTERVAL GREW SHORTER AND SHORTER, AND HITTING THE PANEL FINALLY FAILED TO RETURN THE USE OF THE GAUGES. TO REPLACE THIS GAUGE CLUSTER IS AN $800.00 PLUS REPAIR IN A SHOP WITH A REBUILD PANEL COSTING OVER $200.00 BY ITSELF. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT A DEALER WILL CHARGE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE LEARNED THE GAUGE FAILURE CULPRIT IS COLD SOLDER JOINTS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CLASS OF VEHICLE. THIS DEFICIENCY CAN EASILY BE AVOIDED BY BETTER QUALITY CONTROL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10614903

Incident

Jul 21, 2014

Mileage

106,500 mi

CAR HAS FAULTY GAS GAUGE AND DESPITE HOW MUCH GAS I PUT IN, WILL TOGGLE BETWEEN HAVING GAS TO EMPTY AND SITS ON EMPTY, HAS RUN OUT OF GAS AS A RESULT, HARD TO START AND NOW WILL NOT START. ALSO HAS MANY ELECTRICAL QUIRKS, TURN HEADLIGHTS ON INBOARD DASH LIGHT GOES OFF AND VICE VERSA. HAD SOMEONE FIX FAN TO GO ON WHEN PLUGGED INTO BATTERY SINCE CANNOT GET INTO COMPUTER DASHBOARD AND INTERNAL HEAT FAN STOPPED WORKING, ALSO INDICATORS WORK SPORADICALLY (SO EVIDENTLY AN ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE). I'VE READ THAT THIS YEAR HAS HAD RECALLS DUE TO FAULTY FUEL HOSES/LINES AND WHEN USING AFTER MARKET FUEL FILTERS EVEN FROM NAPA WHICH WILL CAUSE FUEL LINES TO BECOME FAULTY. MY VAN FALLS WITHIN THIS YEAR, BUT I WAS TOLD MY SPECIFIC VIN # DIDN'T APPLY. VAN IS 3.3 LITER ENGINE, V6. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606794

Incident

Jun 28, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE STORE, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL PACK MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY COULD NOT ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH THE FAILURE OF THE COIL PACK. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES AND IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ UPDATED 03/08/12

NHTSA ID

10446126

Incident

Jun 17, 2009

Mileage

122,000 mi

MY VAN WILL SHUT OFF AND COME BACK ON WITHOUT WARNING SO LONG AS YOUR FOOT IS ON THE GAS. IF YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP IT WILL SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY BUT WILL RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND IMMEDIATELY GO BACK OUT WITH NO CODES STORED. THE CRANK AND CAM SENSOR HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACE BY THE DEALER BUT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN GOING INTO A CORNER OR THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN IT COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. THIS STARTED IN 2006 AND IS STILL GOING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284067

Incident

Jun 5, 2006

Mileage

74,953 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10237378

Incident

Sep 13, 2006

Mileage

149,766 mi

1997 GRAND CARAVAN SE - REPEATED INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF DASH GAUGES. WHEN THIS OCCURS, NO FEEDBACK FROM CAR ON SPEED OR GAS LEVEL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS OCCASIONAL STALLING. MULTIPLE OTHER CONSUMERS APPEAR TO HAVE SAME PROBLEMS. SEE HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T220421.HTML FOR POSTINGS. THE MECHANIC DID NOT FIX, WOULD APPARENTLY HAVE TO THROW PARTS AT IT (LIKE MANY OF THE CONSUMERS DESCRIBED IN THE ABOVE POSTING WITHOUT SUCCESS). THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234964

Incident

Jul 20, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

I OWN A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE ALL WHEEL DRIVE. MY VAN HAS 185,000 MILES ON IT APROX. AND HAD 149,000 WHEN PURCHASED IN 2004. I AM HAVING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VAN FROM THE GET GO TO CURRENT. MY FRONT WIPERS WILL COME ON BY THEM SELF AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND THEY REFUSE TO SHUT OFF. I HAVE TO PULL MY CAR OVER AND SHUT IT DOWN AND HOPE WHEN I START IT NEXT THAT THE WIPERS WILL STAY OFF. JUST RECENTLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS POPPING OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND CONTINUES TO DO SO. MY REAR A/C AND HEATER BLOWER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. I GO THROUGH HEADLIGHTS LIKE IM DRINKING WATER AND MOST RECENTLY MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER NO LONGER HAS POWER TO IT. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE MY CELL PHONE IN THE VAN. I HAVE TAKEN THE VAN TO MY MECHANIC AND HAVE HAD REPAIRS DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUES BUT THEY SEEM TO BE UNREPAIRABLE. I ALSO OWN A 1996 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER THAT HAS THE SAME VERY WIPER ISSUE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234137

Incident

Aug 11, 2004

Mileage

149,766 mi

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILS FREQUENTLY (ONCE OR TWICE WEEKLY) WHILE DRIVING. THIS MAY CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES TO SEVERAL HOURS. WHEN IT OCCURS, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON WHILE THE GAUGES ARE OFF. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR SPEED, RPM'S, FUEL LEVEL ETC. ETC. ON OCCASION, HITTING THE DASH WILL CAUSE THEM TO COME BACK ON, BUT NOT ALWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220976

Incident

Mar 9, 2008

Mileage

165,000 mi

DIGITAL DAHBOARD DISPLAY GOES BLANK WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER CANNOT READ ANY GAUGES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10202862

Incident

Jul 7, 2007

Mileage

113,000 mi

THE GAUGE CLUSTER ON OUT 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS FAULTY. WE CANNOT TELL HOW FAST WE ARE GOING, WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN,ETC. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX! *TR

NHTSA ID

10202737

Incident

Sep 11, 2007

Mileage

184,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE FLAMES TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEFORE EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 176,000.

NHTSA ID

10199544

Incident

Aug 10, 2007

Mileage

176,000 mi

THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 1997 GRAND CARAVAN AND A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I CUT THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT DID START BUT THE CUT OFF. THEN IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. NO DASH LIGHTS ANYTHING. I WAITED ABOUT 3 HOURS AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND NOTHING HAPPENED. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND THE DRIVER GOT IN AND TRIED TO START IT, AGAIN IT WAS TOTALLY DEAD. HE LEFT THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION WHILE WE TALKED AND THEN ABOUT A MINUTE LATER THE DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND HE STARTED IT. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. ON THE WAY TO WORK ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE DASH AND I PULLED OVER AND CUT THE CAR OFF. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES I TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE? *NM

NHTSA ID

10162109

Incident

Jul 5, 2006

Mileage

131,000 mi

1. WIPERS TURNS ON AUTOMATICALLY - USUALLY WHEN A TURN SIGNAL IS ON. 2. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON FREQUENTLY WITH P1698 CODE AND NO OTHER PENDING CODE. PRESENT INTERVAL AT AN AVERAGE OF A WEEK. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT THIS INCIDENT IS VERY COMMON AS DISCUSSED IN SEVERAL CHATROOMS. INCIDENT USUALLY STARTS WITH ABS LIGHT ON THEN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DIES, FOLLOWED BY AIRBAG LIGHT THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. AT INCIDENT, POWER DOOR LOCKS DOES NOT WORK. AT INCIDENT, SOMETIMES ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHT WILL TURN OFF AFTER S SHORT DRIVE THEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL WORK. 3.REAR INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN LIT EVEN WHEN DASH SWITCH IS OFF AND NO DOOR AJAR. SOMETIMES A SINGLE INTERIOR LIGHT TURNS ON WHEN STARTING ENGINE AND REMAIN LIT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10155928

Incident

Nov 20, 2005

Mileage

120,000 mi

NO AIRBAG, NO HORN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10143388

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

85,000 mi

I HAVE A DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, AND WHILE I AM DRIVING, THE ENGINE JUST STOPS WORKING AND MY STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY HARD TO MANUVER. I TOOK IT THE THE CAR DEALER AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10095996

Incident

Sep 10, 2004

Mileage

97,450 mi

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 00V268000 CONCERNING FUEL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE CHECK UP, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE PROPERLY. ON MA 3, 2004 WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONSUMER THEN TURNED ON THE VEHICLE BACK ON AGAIN RETURN BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MECHANICS IDENTIFIED THAT THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE ORIGINAL FUEL RAIL. THE GAS LEAK WAS STILL PRESENT AND COMING FROM THE BUSHINGS. *SC THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A ALTERNATOR PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10073562

Incident

May 3, 2004

Mileage

119,000 mi

REPORTED PROBLEM TO DODGE CORP. SEVERAL YEARS AGO ABOUT WIPERS COMING ON BY THEMSELVES. WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE NO RECALL, NO REMEDY. ON THIS ISSUE, MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS AND THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE HANDLED BY A RECALL. SECONDLY, AND MOST RECENTLY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS FAILED. DODGE REPRESENTS THAT TIME/MILEAGE PRECLUDES REPAIR AT THEIR COST. REAR WING VENT WINDOW QUIT WORKING APPROX. A WEEK AGO (MAR. 2004). VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART ELECTRONICALLY. MILEAGE/WARRANTY SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. DEFECTS ARE DEFECTS. RECALL REQUESTED. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10063839

Incident

Mar 25, 2004

Mileage

92,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING REAR RIGHT AUDIO SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH A LARGE BURLAP BAG. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061684

Incident

Mar 5, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

10056441

Incident

Dec 27, 2003

FAN BELT KEPT SLIDING OFF GOT BROKEN. *PH THIS PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR WHEN IT WOULD RAIN OR SNOW. THE PART WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON. *SC

NHTSA ID

10055543

Mileage

72,742 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10047162

Incident

Apr 2, 2000

Mileage

49,000 mi