Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1997 Dodge Caravan. While driving 45 MPH, the contact was involved in a head-on crash. Another driver lost control of the vehicle and struck the contact's vehicle. The driver's side air bag failed to deploy and no lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage yard. The contact sustained major injuries, including a broken nose and cheek bones, and also a shattered right foot. A police report was filed and pictures of the crash are available. The vehicle was not diagnosed. NHTSA campaign id number 02V293000 (air bags:frontal) was referenced. The dealer will be notified for more information about the recall. The failure and current mileages were 160,000.
Complaint received via e-mail. My vehicle was met with an accident on route 516, old bridge, nj. My vehicle was hit from behind by a school bus and pushed into a lamp pole. My vehicle is totaled as per state farm insurance. Both air bag failed to work. The driver and passenger seats collapsed backward instead of protecting our neck and body. The vehicle is with state farm insurance. Also, driver and passenger seats collapsed backwards, resulting in two injuries.
While driving 35 MPH the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. Upon impact the air bags didn't deploy and the third row seat separated from the track an slid forward. No injuries were reported.
After the dealership metro Chrysler; [phone]; jamaica queens ny; did the recall for the clock spring; 02 v 293 000, vehicle was in a frontal collision and none of the air bags deployed upon impact. Ts
In January 2003, I received a recall notice from Chrysler for the air bag clock spring on my 1997 Dodge Caravan. The notice said that if I had already had the clock spring replaced ( I had), that I should submit the requested information and they would pay me back. I sent this information on January 12, 2003 to the address on the recall notice. The repair cost $142.22.I heard nothing unti April 4, 2003, when I received a letter asking for the same copies I had submitted in January. I resent them, and have heard nothing since. It has now been six months since I received the original notice from Chrysler (reference # 10925018-vr102141-b24) and still have no reimbursement. It appears Chrysler has no intention of complying with the information in their recall notice. What should I do?
Tire blew-we spun out, hit a semi, totaled van..insurance co inspector said tire was defective-tread totally came off-just had tires serviced in July 2001. Neither airbag deployed and we hit semi in front-cut engine in half . When bought car, dealer said it had been in no previous accidents, but we're later told when we found glass in the back, that the rear bumper/panel had been previously replaced. Wondering now if airbags were not recharged from a previous accident. Accident occured 6 hrs outside san antonio (van horn, tx) and van is now in el paso, tx.
I own a 1997 Dodge Caravan, with approx 139,000 miles on it. I just read in the birmingham news about the NHTSA investigating daimler-Chrysler's 1998-1999 Dodge caravans/Chrysler town & countrys/Plymouth voyagers. The article states the vans had a defect with the steering wheel/airbag. Mine is doing this exact thing. About a month ago, the airbag warning light came on, and the horn and cruise control quit working. Please include the 1997 model years in the investigation.
Dt: air bag light is on and cruise control and horn doesn't work. Consumer states having a recall notice for these problems but delearship refuses to fix because the vehicle is not a 1998 or newer. The consumer's steering wheel is getting worst. Consumer's VIN #'s are not on the recall list, consumer also owns a 2000 Dodge van. Consumer wants to be kept up to date on the progress of the claim.
The cruise control stopped working. Then the air bag light came on. I later realized that the horn doesn't work. I reported this to the dealer service dept. At a nys inspection visit. The vehicle passed inspection. I have had several incidents where I needed to use the horn, and was unable to. This is a serious safety defect.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the air bags deployed inadvertently. The contact sustained bruises and scratches to the right arm when the air bags deployed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
On certain Mini vans, the clockspring assembly May have been wound incorrectly during the vehicle assembly process.
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.
Airbag complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 152 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Dodge Caravan, 21% of the model year's 714 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (42 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Dodge Caravan airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-293 (frontal, Nov 7, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Dodge Caravan airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 27 crashes, 0 fires and 27 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.