1997 Dodge Grand Caravan: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan: 5 recalls, 583 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #96V215000 · 1996 · 18,997 vehicles
What's wrong: The master cylinder rear seal, between the hydraulic fluid and the vacuum reservoir, May not seal adequately allowing hydraulic fluid to be drawn into the power assist vacuum reservoir.
Why it matters: As the hydraulic fluid in the master cylinder reservoir decreases, the level sensor will detect the loss of fluid and illuminate the instrument panel brake warning lamp. Continued operation of the vehicle with the warning lamp illuminated can result in extended stopping distances.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder on all affected vehicles. Addendum (4-14-97): vehicles inspected per Chrysler recall no. 707 and found to be outside the listed suspect master cylinder date code range, must now have the master cylinder primary piston replaced (Chrysler recall no. 714).
Tires Vehicle recall #97V200000 · 1997 · 25,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The tires can experience a sudden air pressure loss without warning.
Why it matters: Sudden tire failure could result in a loss of driver control of the vehicle.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tires that were mounted on steel wheels.
Child seat Vehicle recall #98V185000 · 1998 · 157,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The shoulder harness restraint on the integrated child seat can become difficult to extract when the safety belt latch plate becomes contaminated.
Why it matters: This can cause difficulty in releasing a child from the restraint.
The fix: Dealers will clean the latch mechanism. An extender will be added to the emergency release anchor for the child seat safety belts so that the release clips are more visible and accessible to the operator in the event that the retractor mechanism can not be unlocked. In addition, an instructional…
Fuel system Vehicle recall #00V268000 · 2000 · 1,163,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 3l and 3.8l engines have fuel rails with nitrole rubber o-ring seals that can degrade over time. Fuel leakage from the underhood fuel injection fuel rail could result, increasing the likelihood of a vehicle fire.
Why it matters: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install a seal on the vehicle fuel rails to prevent external leakage of fuel from the fuel rail crossover tube, should the existing o-rings continue to degrade. Owner notification began on January 25, 2002. Due to the large quantity of vehicles involved in this campaign, the owner…
Airbags Vehicle recall #02V293000 · 2002 · 1,500,521 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain MINI vans, the clockspring assembly May have been wound incorrectly during the vehicle assembly process.
Why it matters: This condition will manifest itself through illumination of the air bag warning lamp, and could eventually result in a driver's air bag open circuit, if the part is not replaced in a reasonable amount of time.
The fix: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. An extended lifetime warranty will also be placed on this component for all affected vehicles, regardless of mileage. Daimlerchrysler will also reimburse owners who have paid to have the clockspring replaced on…
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Seat belts Recall #97I001000 · 1996 · 150,000 vehicles
What's wrong: This is not a safety recall in accordance with federal regulation 573. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. On the integral child seat, the shoulder belts restraining the child retract and lock in place after the belt buckle is connected to the latch plate. The latch plate movement locks the belts to make sure the child is restrained in the case of a vehicle crash.
Why it matters: The latch plate located in the seat cushion area must be free to move back against its stop after the buckle is removed to allow the shoulder belts to be pulled out. Always be sure the area around the latch plate is free of food or other items that might prevent the latch plate from moving back.
The fix: Owners are being provided with a video tape and 2 harness clips. The video tape instructs owners on the proper use and maintenance of the child seats.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 39 mention a fire, 37 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (107): the most common themes are warning light on (27), fails to deploy (11).
- Electrical (104): the most common themes are electrical failure (33), warning light on (20), fire / smoke (18).
- Engine & cooling (102): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (28).
- Transmission & drivetrain (81): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (24), noise or vibration (9), stalls / loses power (8).
The 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan has 583 owner complaints, ranking #7 of 31 Grand Caravan model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 435). Complaints peaked in 2002 (113 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 103,000 miles. Neighboring years: 1996 (1157 complaints, 9 recalls), 1998 (559 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 3-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 23 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 3-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 22 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan.
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FAQ
Does the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan problems?
Owners have filed 583 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (107), electrical (104), engine & cooling (102).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 3-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.