RoadVitals

1977 Dodge Van

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Jun 9, 2016
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1977 Dodge Van, most frequently naming the body & structure, steering and tires & wheels categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure436.4%
  • Steering327.3%
  • Tires & wheels218.2%
  • Powertrain (other)19.1%
  • Transmission19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP81006ClosedDefect Petition

JUMPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, ELECTRICAL

Opened Jan 16, 1981
Closed Aug 24, 1981

JUMPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, ELECTRICAL FIRE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 9, 2016

I PURCHASED 1977 DODGE VAN. NEW IN 1977. THE HEADLINER CONSTANTLY FELL DOWN ON ME. THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE FIRST YEAR USING A LOCK OUT TORQUE CONVERTER. BUT CHRYSLER DID NOT USE A BRACE FOR THE SHAFT, SO THE SHAFT WOBBLE EVERY TIME IT ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED AND DESTROYED MY TRANSMISSION AT 12,500 MILES. IT HAD A 12,000 MILE WARRENTY AND CHRYSLER WOULD NOT REPAIR. I HAD TO PAY TO FIX IT. THE ENGINE BLEW UPO AT 13,000 MILES, AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE CYLANERS HAD INDENTATIONS IN THEM., HE SAID THE WORKERS ARE UPSET WITH CHRYSLER AND ARE SABATOGING THE VEHICLES. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY BANGED THE JUGS WITH A BALLPEEN HAMER, AS HE FOUND THE HAMMER IN THE DRIVERSIDE DOOR, THAT WAS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND. THE HEAD OF HE HAMMER FIT THE INDENTS IN THE JUGS PERFECTLY. THE DAY I BOUGHT IT IT STOPPED RUNNING 60 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION BOX WAS BAD. BECAUSE I WAS MORE THAN 50 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM, I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK INTO THE SHOP. ABOUT 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES AFTER I DROVE OFF THE LOT. THIS VAN WAS HORRIBLE. CHRYSLER DID NOT HELP AT ALL BECAUSE I WAS 500-1000 MILES BEYOND THE 12,000 MILE WARRENTY. >THE METAL IN THE VAN STARTED TO RUST AFTER 8 MONTHS. CHRYSLER SAID I WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE ON OF THE WHEEL WELL WELD WAS LEAKING, WATER CAME INTO THE VAN THRU IT FROM OUTSIDE... BUT, IT RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT , SO I WAS NOT COVERED. I HATE CHRYSLER.

NHTSA ID
10873482
Incident
Nov 23, 1977
Mileage
60 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 12, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH A TIRE BLOW OUT OCCURRED.*MR THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DIDN'T DEFLATE WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER HAD FOUR TIRES TO FAIL AS A RESULT OF TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID
10040132
Incident
Jan 22, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 12, 2003

FAILURE OF FOUR PIRELLI LIGHT TRUCK TIRES.*MR TIRE EXPLODED OFF THE TIRE CARCAS*TS

NHTSA ID
10040007
Incident
May 25, 2003
Mileage
95,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 20, 2002

STEERING BRACKET AND CHASSIS BROKEN THIS IS A RECALL ITEM#80V027000 I WOULD LIKE THIS REPAIRED SOON I NEED THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
762108
Steering
Filed May 6, 2002

STEERING BOX BRACKET FAILED AND EVEN THE CHASSIS WAS TORN IN HALF THIS WAS VERY DISTRESSING AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT MY FAULT II FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM THE RECALL CAMPAIN NUMBER WAS 80V027000 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT GETTING THIS REPAIRED BY DODGE THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
761601
Incident
Apr 29, 2002
Body & structureSteering
Filed May 6, 2002

I WAS DRIVING MY 1977 DODGE VAN WHEN THE STEERING BECAME VERY ERRATIC WHEN I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE I CAN SEE NO POSSIBLE WAY FOR THIS TO BE MY FAULT THE FRAME AS WELL AS THE STEERING BOX BRACKET ARE TORN IN HALF. *AK

NHTSA ID
761588
Incident
Apr 29, 2002
Body & structureTransmission
Filed Feb 12, 2002

CONSUMER HAS HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *JG

NHTSA ID
785896
Body & structure
Filed Dec 29, 1999

THE FRAME CRACKED CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS. MJS

NHTSA ID
550107
Incident
Oct 17, 1999

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge Van by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002180038.2
2001150039.5
2000190038.6
1999170043.1
1998240027.4
1997240037.3
1996180031.4
1995100138.2
1994900—
1993401—
1991510—
1990010—
1989110—
1979100—
1977Viewing801—
1976100—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.