Most common 1997 Dodge Van problems
Share of the 24 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Van complaints by model year
Best Van years: 1995, 2001. Compare all years →
What 1997 Dodge Van owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
My 3 years old doughter was able to disengage the gear from park to neutral without depressing the brakes. She ran over my son who was going around the car to enter from the other side. The car is a Dodge Van 1997. I spoke to the dealer about the incidents and they said that the caravan model 1997 did not come with this safety feature"to change gears from brake, drive or neutral. You do not have to press the brakes' I belive this is a afty feature tht should be recaled and fixed.
My 1997 Dodge grand caravan was in for transmission problems, and at 117,000 miles I learned my transmission is also going. I know two other people who replaced their transmissions before 100,000. Don't buy one.
Brakes
Consumer noticed brake fluid reservoir empty one month after purchase of vehicle. Nlm
Gasket on hydraulic brake reservoir turned inside out causing brake fluid to leak .
Electrical system
The problem that I am having is with the gauges. My ABS and check engine soon light comes on and the gauges go out. I can tell how fast I'm going I can tell how much gas I have and my doors will not lock themselves. I have had the computer reset. We have diconnected the negitive battery cable and reconnected it. We have beat on the dash till they come back on. These are only temp fixes because pretty soon here comes the lights out goes the gauges. The transmission was replaced 2 years ago because aparently after about 79000 miles the transmissions go out on these vans. We the transmission starts shifting funny is when this problem accures. I love my Van I just cant handle its problems. We are not the only ones having this problem either everyone I have talked to has replaced their transmissions at 79000 miles and is having the same gauge problems I am having.
I own a 1997 Dodge voyager Van and have been having constant problems with the ps, ac, and alternator belt slipping off, causing damage to the ps and alternator mounting brackets. At best, I have had to drive the vehicle home using the electricity from the battery to power the spark plugs and have not had ps because of the slipped belt. The most recent event happened on 6/30/08. Similar incidents have happened in February, March, April, and May of this year. I have had it in the shop as many times. The ps mounting bracket is going to need replacement (again) of the mounting bolts that have broken off due to the strain of the belt slipping off. The repair shop says that all of the pulleys and mounting brackets have, by now, been replaced and were in working order and can not give me a reason why the belt keeps slipping off. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Dodge Van a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Van rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Van at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Dodge Van?
The transmission & drivetrain — 4 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the brakes (4) and electrical system (4).
How many recalls does the 1997 Dodge Van have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Dodge Van. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Van?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995 and 2001. See the full Dodge Van years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Dodge Van problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.