Model year record

1997 Dodge Caravan

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,028 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V293000

Air bags: frontal

Component
Air bags: frontal
Manufacturer
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
1,500,521
Reported to NHTSA
2002-11-07
Owners notified
2002-11-18

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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 THEIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V076000

Seat belts: rear/other

Component
Seat belts: rear/other
Manufacturer
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
545,311
Reported to NHTSA
2002-03-08
Owners notified
2002-06-03

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SOME TRIM MATERIAL CAN LOOSEN AND DROP INTO THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Safety risk

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRIM WITH FOAM BLOCKERS AND INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL 3RD ROW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V268000

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
Manufacturer
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
1,163,000
Reported to NHTSA
2000-09-13
Owners notified
2002-01-25

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L 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.

Safety risk

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

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 NOTIFICATION WILL BE PHASED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-RINGS, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V185000

Child seat

Component
Child seat
Manufacturer
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
157,000
Reported to NHTSA
1998-08-06
Owners notified
1998-11-30

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT WHEN THE SAFETY BELT LATCH PLATE BECOMES CONTAMINATED.

Safety risk

THIS CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING A CHILD FROM THE RESTRAINT.

Manufacturer remedy

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 OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT CARD WILL BE PROVIDED.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V200000

Tires: bead

Component
Tires: bead
Manufacturer
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
25,000
Reported to NHTSA
1997-11-13
Owners notified
1998-01-06

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH P215/65R15 GOODYEAR CONQUEST TIRES MOUNTED ON STEEL WHEEL. THE TIRES CAN EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN AIR PRESSURE LOSS WITHOUT WARNING.

Safety risk

SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF DRIVER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIRES THAT WERE MOUNTED ON STEEL WHEELS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V070000

Wheels: rim

Component
Wheels: rim
Manufacturer
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
60
Reported to NHTSA
1997-04-28
Owners notified
1997-05-03

Defect description

THE STEEL ROAD WHEELS WERE DAMAGED BY THE EQUIPMENT USED TO MATCH MOUNT THE WHEEL TO THE TIRE.

Safety risk

A SCORE MARK WAS MADE ON THE WHEEL, AFFECTING THE DURABILITY OF THE WHEEL.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL ROAD WHEELS (AND FULL SIZE SPARE TIRES) WITH NEW WHEELS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V215000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
Manufacturer
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
18,997
Reported to NHTSA
1996-10-29
Owners notified
1997-04-21

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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).

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train: automatic transmission10770,502 mi
Air bags10295,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline52
Electrical system: horn4436,000 mi
Air bags: frontal4281,094 mi
Vehicle speed control3892,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine3095,711 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer2970,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys2470,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system2030,000 mi
Electrical system1772,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip17187,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling16107,850 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1611,475 mi
Unknown or other16
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly1567,322 mi
Fuel system, gasoline1295,711 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor12
Tires12
Steering: hydraulic power assist system1111,475 mi
Child seat9
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash967,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights982,552 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch9
Power train: manual transmission9
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder987,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery8
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system890,000 mi
Seat belts: front: anchorage8
Steering8114,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module7150,500 mi
Power train765,226 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic7147,683 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc7
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump7
Electrical system: wiring6
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control690,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch6
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components6
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads638,200 mi
Structure: body: door670,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system670,000 mi
Visibility: windshield6
Electrical system: ignition5
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.5
Seat belts5
Seats530,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner5120,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar5137,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion5190,000 mi
Suspension5144,000 mi
Suspension: front: macpherson strut595,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel440,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator4
Electrical system: starter assembly493,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood4
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch4
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery4
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump440,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)4
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum4
Suspension: front4110,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control467,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor449,900 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring4104,000 mi
Air bags: side/window3
Child seat: retractor374,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly3
Exterior lighting: headlights: concealment devices340,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor3
Seat belts: integrated child seat378,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly370,502 mi
Structure3
Structure: body3
Structure: body: tailgate3
Engine2120,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan2
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe2
Equipment: mechanical: carrier/rack2
Exterior lighting2164,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings282,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail2
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors2170,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system240,000 mi
Parking brake2
Parking brake: conventional2
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable2
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)2
Seat belts: rear/other2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: differential proportional valve2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: drum2
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)2
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate2
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields280,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt2
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal2
Visibility272,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices2
Child seat: harness buckle: infant1
Electrical system: ignition: module1
Electrical system: starter assembly: relay140,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: rear compartment/trunk1
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers1
Exterior lighting: headlights: high/low beam dimmer switch1
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch160,000 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights1
Exterior lighting: turn signal1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage1105,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly: filling/charging1
Fuel/propulsion system1120,000 mi
Interior lighting170,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages1
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical1
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)138,200 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift1
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter1
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft1
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft: seal1
Power train: driveline: differential unit1
Power train: driveline: driveshaft1113,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1
Seats: front assembly: head restraint1
Seats: mid/rear assembly1130,000 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: pads1
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light1
Service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lamp1
Service brakes, hydraulic: fluid1
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist1
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1127,246 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid1
Steering: linkages1
Structure: body: bumpers1
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments1
Suspension: front: control arm182,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm1
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint1
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint1
Suspension: front: springs: torsion bar1
Suspension: rear1
Suspension: rear: springs187,940 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire1
Vehicle speed control: linkages1
Visibility/wiper1114,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor1
Visibility: glass, side/rear1150,000 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: interior1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages1
Wheels1124,500 mi
Wheels: hub1

The 1996 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 1998 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.