Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My van was parked out side luckys on mitalda near w maude avenue in sunnyvale ca 94086 I was using the water refilling station and started to smell smoke when I turned around I imideatlly noticed that the drivers side rear taillight was on fire. Not having a fire extinguisher I took the bottle of water I had in my hands and started to throw water on it until the flames went out. What in the hell would make that happen? Is my van up for recall? I just purchased the van just a week ago. It has been a night mare for me not to mention extremely costly replacing everything's that's been going out. The A/C cluster the dash cluster the power window motor. The rear vent motor. Countless bulbs and fuses.
Consumer received NHTSA recall 00V268000 concerning fuel leakage. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for a routine check up, and the mechanic informed the consumer that the recall repairs were done properly. On ma 3, 2004 while driving, the consumer noticed that smoke was coming from the hood. Suddenly the vehicle caught on fire. Consumer extinguished the fire. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, but dealer was unable to resolve the problem. While backing out of the driveway the vehicle hesitated and was turned off. The consumer then turned on the vehicle back on again return back into the driveway when the smoke started to come out of the engine compartment. The mechanics identified that the rubber bushings on the original fuel rail. The gas leak was still present and coming from the bushings. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving at 62 MPH, the vehicle stalled intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the instrument cluster and the body control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving 65 MPH, the contact noticed smoke rising from the hood of the vehicle. The fire department was able to contain the flames to the engine compartment before extinguishing the fire. A police and fire report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 176,000.
I purchased my 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan from a private party in 2009, and shortly after the gauge cluster stopped functioning while I was driving. Check engine and ABS lights came on which on checking with my mechanic said my ABS system is non-functional as is all other instrument related readings. A short time later, the panel came back on and worked for awhile than shut off again. Someone said hit the panel face and the gauges should come back on. I did and it did. For awhile. Over time the gauge failure interval grew shorter and shorter, and hitting the panel finally failed to return the use of the gauges. To replace this gauge cluster is an $800.00 plus repair in a shop with a rebuild panel costing over $200.00 by itself. I don't want to know what a dealer will charge. …
Tl contact owns a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan. Whenever the contact shifts, the vehicle makes an unfamiliar noise. When the vehicle is parked, it operates normally. The transmission stalls and will start back up, but it is unreliable. The vehicle would rev and have to be restarted in order for the revving to stop. If there is a power fluctuation, the rear wipers will turn on and off at random. The high beams on the headlights do not work, but the failure was repaired. The parking light on the front driver's side failed. He replaced the bulb, but it still does not work. The contact stated that he is constantly replacing the low beam lights. The serpentine belt slips off; however, it has been repaired. The check engine light flashes on and off and there is a burning electrical smell coming from the vehicle. The front strut assembly is rusting and rotting. …
I own a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan se all wheel drive. My van has 185,000 miles on it aprox. And had 149,000 when purchased in 2004. I am having several electrical issues with the van from the get go to current. My front wipers will come on by them self at any given time and they refuse to shut off. I have to pull my car over and shut it down and hope when I start it next that the wipers will stay off. Just recently my check engine light keeps popping off and then back on and continues to do so. My rear A/C and heater blower works intermittently. I go through headlights like im drinking water and most recently my cigarette lighter no longer has power to it. I would like to be able to charge my cell phone in the van. I have taken the van to my mechanic and have had repairs done to correct the issues but they seem to be unrepairable. …
The battery light came on in my 1997 Grand Caravan and a couple of minutes later the ABS light came on. When I got to work I cut the car off and tried to restart it. It did start but the cut off. Then it would not start at all. No dash lights anything. I waited about 3 hours and tried to start it again and nothing happened. When the tow truck came and the driver got in and tried to start it, again it was totally dead. He left the key in the on position while we talked and then about a minute later the dash light came on and he started it. The dealer could not find anything wrong with it. This happened once before about a year ago. On the way to work all the lights came on in the dash and I pulled over and cut the car off. After about 10 minutes I tried it again and it started with no problem. I am concerned that it is a problem with the computer. Have you heard of this problem before?
Car has faulty gas gauge and despite how much gas I put in, will toggle between having gas to empty and sits on empty, has run out of gas as a result, hard to start and now will not start. Also has many electrical quirks, turn headlights on inboard dash light goes off and vice versa. Had someone fix fan to go on when plugged into battery since cannot get into computer dashboard and internal heat fan stopped working, also indicators work sporadically (so evidently an electrical communications issue). I've read that this year has had recalls due to faulty fuel hoses/lines and when using after market fuel filters even from napa which will cause fuel lines to become faulty. My van falls within this year, but I was told my specific VIN # didn't apply. Van is 3.3 liter engine, v6.
1. Wipers turns on automatically - usually when a turn signal is on. 2. Service engine light turns on frequently with p1698 code and no other pending code. Present interval at an average of a week. Dealer cannot find the root of the problem. Found out this incident is very common as discussed in several chatrooms. Incident usually starts with ABS light on then instrument cluster dies, followed by airbag light then the service engine light. At incident, power door locks does not work. At incident, sometimes ABS and airbag light will turn off after s short drive then the instrument panel will work. 3.rear interior lights remain lit even when dash switch is off and no door ajar. Sometimes a single interior light turns on when starting engine and remain lit.
NHTSA investigations
Air bag clockspring
There is no summary currently available
Electrical complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 104 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan, 18% of the model year's 583 complaints. The component named most often is horn (47 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 18 fires and 3 injuries to electrical system 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.