1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Exterior lighting Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Jul 22, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 583 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4
What this page shows
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 21 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.
Owner reports naming exterior lighting
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 22, 2020
Fire reported
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
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 29, 2010
Crash reported
TURNING OUT PARKING LOT AND DID NOT SEE POLE. DAMAGED MY LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT AND MY FENDER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10328052
Incident
Feb 10, 2010
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 29, 2010
Crash reported
TURNING OUT PARKING LOT AND DID NOT SEE POLE. DAMAGED MY LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT AND MY FENDER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10328051
Incident
Feb 10, 2010
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 29, 2010
MY HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO NOT BE BRIGHT ENOUGH. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME KIND OF FILMS BLOCKING THE LIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10328047
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Body & structureElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Aug 7, 2008
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
Exterior lighting
Filed May 14, 2007
BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ON THE 1997 GRAND CARAVAN WERE FROSTED FROM THE INSIDE AND THE LIGHTS DID NOT SHOWING UP AS BRIGHT. THEY APPEARED LOW LIT ALL THE TIME AS IF THE LIGHT COULD NOT FILTER THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE FROSTED LOOK ALL THE TIME. THIS WAS A HAZARD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE HEADLIGHT COVERS LOOKED LIKE THEY DID. THIS WAS A REAL PROBLEM. THEY LOOKED HORRIBLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
10190703
Incident
May 1, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 26, 2006
THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE DULLED TO THE POINT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOTICEABLY DIMMED TO THE POINT THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROADWAY AT NIGHT. *NM
NHTSA ID
10177014
Incident
Dec 26, 2006
Mileage
130,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 8, 2005
DT: THE OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE NO LONGER TRANSPARENT, BUT WERE TURNING OPAQUE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS SPECIFIC COMPONENT. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BE REPLACED BUT AT T CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
NHTSA ID
10135849
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 10, 2004
THE CLEAR PLASTIC LENSES THAT COVER THE HEAD LAMP BULBS HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY CLOUDED AND GREATLY DIMINISH THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT ITS NORMAL. I HAVE NOTICED THIS CONDITION ON MANY OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES AND DRIVERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE CONDITION . THIS CONDITION CREATES AN EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING BY REDUCING VISIBILITY. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THERE IS NO MENTION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL OR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE LISTED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF ANY REQUIRED MAINTENANCE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10102497
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
85,000 mi
EngineExterior lightingSteering
Filed Jun 2, 2004
RECALL PROBLEMS WITH EXHAUST AND AIR BAGS. *MR THERE WAS NO BACK UP LIGHTS, HORN, OR CLOCKSPRING. *SC
NHTSA ID
10075620
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 27, 2003
THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
NHTSA ID
10044823
Incident
Oct 27, 2003
Mileage
40,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 19, 2003
PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS ON HEADLIGHTS STEADILY ERODE BY DUST OR OTHER CONTAMINATIONS IN THE FLOW OF AIR. *AK
NHTSA ID
10011336
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 9, 2003
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD LIGHT LENS IS DISCOLORING CAUSING LOW VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10002447
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 11, 2002
PLASTIC COVER OVER HEADLIGHTS ARE CRUSTING. DT *TS
NHTSA ID
769590
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 6, 2002
BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, THE EXPOSURE OF THE SUN HAD CAUSED THE LENSES TO BECOME CLOUDED, WHICH REDUCED THE LIGHTING OF THE HEADLIGHTS. MR *JB
NHTSA ID
8022302
Incident
Nov 5, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 28, 2002
CONSUMER STATES HEAD LAMP BECOME POOR VISIBILITY, FOGGED AND HARD TO DRIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ID
8021745
Incident
Feb 15, 2002
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Oct 11, 2001
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5392-910. *SLC
NHTSA ID
6900654
Incident
Jul 19, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 2, 2000
Crash reported4 injuries reported
INADEQUATE FORWARD VISIBILTY, RESULTED IN REAR END COLLISION AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY IN FLORIDA.*AK
NHTSA ID
733186
Incident
Jan 27, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 3, 1998
HEAD LIGHTS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
NHTSA ID
536243
Fuel systemExterior lightingSteering
Filed Oct 3, 1997
HEAD LAMP SWITCH FAILED. (MJS)
NHTSA ID
523176
Incident
Nov 25, 1996
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed May 7, 1997
THE RIGHT REAR DOOR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE.
NHTSA ID
517022
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own