RoadVitals

1997 Vehicles: Recalls, Complaints & Safety Data

Every 1997 model-year vehicle in our database with enough NHTSA data to publish, ranked by the number of complaints owners have filed. Because all of these vehicles are the same model year, they have had the same amount of time in which reports could accumulate.

Complaints 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.

Vehicles listed1997 model years that clear the threshold at which we publish a vehicle page.
1,432
across 269 makes
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.
39,013
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.
969
distinct campaigns naming a vehicle of this year
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.
272

1997 vehicles by owner-reported complaint volume

60 vehicles of 1,432, most-reported first

1997 model-year vehicles ranked by owner-reported complaint count
#VehicleComplaintsComplaints 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.90 daysRecallsInvestigationsIssue IndexThe Vehicle Issue Index is our own informational metric, not an official safety rating and not a reliability prediction.
1Ford F-1502,7580261866.9
2Ford Explorer1,731012666.6
3Jeep Grand Cherokee991011766.5
4Ford Expedition85309766.6
5Pontiac Grand Prix81009767.8
6Ford Taurus77005053.9
7Chevrolet Blazer76807261.7
8Dodge Caravan714015765.6
9Dodge Grand Caravan58306664.5
10Chevrolet Silverado 150055502049.3
11Toyota Camry55504365.5
12Ford Escort54302265.3
13Chevrolet Cavalier540013466.9
14Chevrolet S1046908465.2
15Honda Accord460015055.3
16Dodge Dakota446012159.0
17Chevrolet Malibu44306759.6
18Chevrolet Venture43209860.1
19Chevrolet Suburban41403559.7
20Ford Ranger41107261.3
21Chevrolet Tahoe41002456.2
22Jeep Wrangler40107053.4
23Dodge Ram398011565.2
24Buick Lesabre39402259.5
25Dodge Neon39006161.3
26Jeep Cherokee390010263.1
27Chrysler Town And Country38809664.3
28Pontiac Grand Am38304261.5
29Honda Civic373016163.1
30Dodge 150036101150.6
31Chevrolet Astro36007156.5
32Mazda 62635804260.8
33Dodge Stratus34907365.8
34Chevrolet Lumina34702258.7
35Plymouth Voyager346011763.8
36Dodge Intrepid34402461.2
37Mercury Mountaineer32807465.4
38Mercury Grand Marquis31605760.6
39Lincoln Town Car31408759.6
40Ford F-250304014363.2
41Ford Crown Victoria2880111062.7
42GMC Jimmy27405260.5
43Chevrolet Silverado27200038.1
44Cadillac Deville26902555.2
45Plymouth Grand Voyager26105663.9
46Toyota 4Runner26104055.1
47GMC Sierra23800034.6
48Pontiac Trans Sport23606658.2
49Mercury Sable22803050.3
50Saturn Sl22703055.9
51Buick Park Avenue21903562.5
52Ford Contour21808461.4
53Nissan Pathfinder21704157.9
54Dodge Ram 250021301149.8
55Chrysler Sebring210011566.1
56Kia Sephia20501151.9
57GMC Suburban20003559.9
58Ford Windstar19206660.8
59Pontiac Sunfire19009366.4
60Kia Sportage18103465.0

Showing the 60 most-reported of 1,432 1997 vehicles. The rest are reachable through their make and model pages.

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.

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

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

1997 Vehicles: Recalls, Complaints & Safety Data · RoadVitals