Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
Car suddenly lost power while driving on the freeway at 60mph; engine remained on. I pulled over, turned off the car, and it started back up again and drove fine for about 2 miles. 'service engine soon' light came on. When it lost power again, I slowed and then tried to reaccelerate, and it drove fine for about 5 miles, enough to get me off the freeway and to a safe location. I checked the oil and transmission levels, which were OK, and there was nothing leaking under the car. Went to an appointment, and came back to the car, which started up and drove OK for about a half mile, then it shut down completely at a traffic light. This time it wouldn't start back up again, so I pushed it onto a side street, where it started up fine and drove to the nearest gas/repair station. Now, the van won't start again. Van was proceeding straight in all situations.
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. …
Was driving the van about approx 35 MPH in a snow storm when it started to slide, I accelerated to keep from spinning out and the transmission let go..took it to the transmission shop that put it in and they said the spider gears were "welded" to the shaft and it caused the shaft to break..this is the second tranny we put in this van for the same thing. Manufacture defect..they should pay for the new tranny.. It cost me over $1950 to put this tranny in and it is a rebuild from advanced auto..they said its a manufacture rebuild..also, the switch for the headlights is very loose and you have to play with it and get it in a certain position to get the lights to stay on. You have to turn them all the way to the right then pull it out a little then it will stay on..
Dt*: the contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle rpms dropped to zero, the vehicle jerked, and the engine stalled completely. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road, and was able to restart the vehicle after 10 minutes. The vehicle has not been taken in for inspection. The consumer stated several attempts have been made to fix the vehicle. The oil pan was leaking oil. The valve cover gaskets were replaced. The transmission was heavily damaged and had to be replaced. The power steering pump was replaced. The front end of the vehicle pulled to the left. Updated 08/15/06.
The transmission does not shift gears if the air conditioner is on. The air conditioner turned all the way up will blow out air as if it was on mid way. The wind shield wipers come on when the turn signal is activated, which causes me to buy blades more often. The brakes seem to lock up when the ground is wet. You can hear metal hitting together, and the car continues to roll. My sister-in-law, and one of my daycare moms had the same problem, but they were not as lucky as I was it caused them to rear end another vehicle.
Twice in the last 6 years the transmission has had to be completely rebuilt in our 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan due to failure. The first time, in 2002, occurred as the transmission permanently slipped out of gear. The second time, March 2008, the transmission would down-shift into first gear - at any speed and at any time. More often than not the transmission would shift out of gear before down-shifting causing the engine to race high. The van is not used for anything but passenger travel nor is it used for towing.
There are apparently no safety interlocks to prevent van from being placed in gear. This allowed my 5 year old daughter to place the car in gear without the engine running. The van rolled down the driveway, pinning my 9 year old son beneath the rear axle. Fortunetly, he was not seriously injured, though,emergency medical bills totaled $11,000. I decided to report this now after hearing of a similar incident on good morning America, in which a women was killed.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact was changing the tire when he noticed that the rear axle was fractured and exhibited signs of rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the replacement parts were unattainable. The contact had not spoken with the manufacturer at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was approximately 107,000. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
The 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan front and rear brake pads and rotors wear out nearly every month. The vehicle begins to sway while driving 55mph on freeway or when changing lanes. The emergency brake light is on due to a leakage in the brakes. The EGR valve keeps going out and the service engine light is on.
At 91,000 miles the vehicle had a sudden and catastrophic transmission failure. Given the fact that we have had a number of neighbors & friends also experience Grand Caravan transmission problems in 97 & 98 models, there obviously is a major design problem. I had owned a 1989 Grand Caravan that had two transmissions replaced under warranty. I took a chance going back to Chrysler and lost the bet. While Chrysler "customer no service" has told me "sir, when you signed the dotted line, you knew the warranty was 36,000 miles", clearly the public perception is that transmissions in $30,000 automobiles should last more than 90,000 miles. While Chrysler can hide behind the warranty all they want, they clearly are breaking with the public''s trust. …
Transmission complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 81 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan, 14% of the model year's 583 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (61 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain 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 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.