RoadVitals

1977 Dodge Van Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1977 Dodge Van, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • 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.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jun 9, 2016

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 · filed May 6, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed May 20, 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 · filed May 6, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Sep 12, 2003

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

NHTSA ID 10040007 · filed Sep 12, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jun 9, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER HAS HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *JG

NHTSA ID 785896 · filed Feb 12, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .