Dodge Van 1997
Model Van made in 1997 by Dodge got 41 consumer complains as well as 4 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to air bags and communications. Technical service bulletines regarding electrical system and engine and engine cooling.
Model 1997
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 0832097 | 09/19/1997 | 6088834 | Information regarding nhtsa authorized airbag deactivation for medical necessity. *nlm | 01/10/2000 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||||
| 083997 | 11/28/1997 | 54162 | Condition with keyless entry (rke) transmitter batteries discharge prematurely. *yc | 03/30/1998 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||||
| 080197 | 02/03/1997 | 51278 | Jtec powertrain control module wiring harness connector repair packages. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||||
| 070397 | 05/09/1997 | 07-05-93 | 6088786 | Concerns with engine coolant usage. *nlm | 01/07/2000 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| Safety recall notice received for 1997 dodge van regarding air bags and replacement of the clockspring. (nar) *mr the consumer made an appointment to have the clockspring replaced, but when he arrived at the dealer they indicated that they didn't have the part available (recall b24). *nm *cb | |||
| 05/01/1997 | 2 | 01/01/1997 | |
| Air bag module under front drivers seat. | |||
| 09/01/1997 | |||
| Driver's side seatbelt does not retract back into position, and middle row captain seat by the side doors has never worked, totally inoperative.chrysler and coachman will not take the respondsibility for providing the parts or fixing the seatbelts. also, received recall notice for air bag. but dealer was unable to fix because their analisis machine was off. *ak | |||
| AIR BAGS - SIDE/WINDOW | |||
| 05/23/2000 | 1 | ||
| On a divided highway traveling 60mph, approached a red light and another vehicle coming from the left, ran the light and hit consumer's vehicle on driver's side, running it off the road into a ditch head-on. upon impact, driver's side airbag didn't deploy. contacted dealer. *ak | |||
| 09/01/1997 | |||
| Driver's side seatbelt does not retract back into position, and middle row captain seat by the side doors has never worked, totally inoperative.chrysler and coachman will not take the respondsibility for providing the parts or fixing the seatbelts. also, received recall notice for air bag. but dealer was unable to fix because their analisis machine was off. *ak | |||
| COMMUNICATIONS - HORN ASSEMBLY | |||
| 05/01/1997 | 1 | 04/01/1997 | |
| Horn failure. *yc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 06/30/2008 | 1 | ||
| 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. i was referred to this site, through the internet, by many others that have had the same problem with their chrysler or dodge vans. it seems that i am not alone in this problem that the manufacture will not make correct. *tr | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 01/01/2004 | 80000 | 08/20/2001 | |
| 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. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 10/26/1998 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Distributor out of sync. nlm | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 01/05/2000 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Gaskets failed resulting in the engine leaking oil. nlm | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | |||
| 1 | 07/01/1998 | ||
| While making a left turn and running through water, it is splashing onto the belt, causing van to lose steering and brakes! this is very dangerous. **** dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis*****738051. *ak *jb | |||
| EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | |||
| 10/26/1998 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Tape player will not accept tapes. nlm | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - FUEL PUMP | |||
| 12/12/2001 | 2 | 02/01/1998 | |
| This will be my 3rd fuel pump in less than 2 years, the second one was just 6 months ago.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 01/14/2005 | 1 | ||
| 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.*ak | |||
| 10/26/1998 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Speed sensor o-ring caused transmission fluid leakage, noise and hesitation upon acceleration. nlm | |||
| 03/01/1997 | 25 | ||
| Transmissionn repeatedly slips, usually when first started in the morning. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES | |||
| 01/05/2000 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Transmission cooler line failed causing leakage. nlm | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT | |||
| 08/10/2001 | 0 | 12/13/2000 | |
| 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 featureto 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. *ak | |||
| SEAT BELTS | |||
| 09/01/1997 | |||
| Driver's side seatbelt does not retract back into position, and middle row captain seat by the side doors has never worked, totally inoperative.chrysler and coachman will not take the respondsibility for providing the parts or fixing the seatbelts. also, received recall notice for air bag. but dealer was unable to fix because their analisis machine was off. *ak | |||
| SEAT BELTS - FRONT - ANCHORAGE | |||
| Consumer received recall notice in reference to the seat belts. contacted dealer for repairs. dealer stated no parts were available. please note the recall information was not available in the dims data base, nor was the manufacturer' s recall information listed on the owner's notice. *ak | |||
| SEATS | |||
| 09/01/1997 | |||
| Driver's side seatbelt does not retract back into position, and middle row captain seat by the side doors has never worked, totally inoperative.chrysler and coachman will not take the respondsibility for providing the parts or fixing the seatbelts. also, received recall notice for air bag. but dealer was unable to fix because their analisis machine was off. *ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - DISC - ROTOR | |||
| 03/02/1998 | 2 | 07/02/1997 | |
| Warped rear drums and front rotors caused pulsation when braking. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - DRUM - DRUM | |||
| 03/02/1998 | 2 | 07/02/1997 | |
| Warped rear drums and front rotors caused pulsation when braking. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||
| 04/14/1998 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Consumer noticed brake fluid reservoir empty one month after purchase of vehicle. nlm | |||
| 09/01/1998 | 1 | 07/11/1997 | |
| Gasket on hydraulic brake reservoir turned inside out causing brake fluid to leak . | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | |||
| 04/21/1999 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Brakes failed, dealer unable to duplicate. nlm | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - CALIPER | |||
| 04/17/1998 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Right side caliper defective. nlm | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR | |||
| 04/01/2001 | 2 | 04/01/1997 | |
| Rotors began to disintegrate due to a defective casting. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 03/10/2000 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Suspension components experienced excessive wear , sway bar bushings, strut bar and upper spring insulators worn out. nlm | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 09/18/2005 | 1 | ||
| 1997 dodge caravan has severe strut tower corrosion on front drivers side. this has not failed yet, but could cause crash if strut comes through top of housing. *jb | |||
| 05/03/2000 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Wheels out of alignment, causing excessive wear of the tires. nlm | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM | |||
| 03/10/2000 | 1 | 03/12/1998 | |
| Vehicle was towed to dealer, service dept checked ball joint and said the vehicle was ok to drive while they waited for the part, soon after the left front ball joint broke causing consumer to loose control of the vheicle resulting in front end alignment problems. nlm | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 01/03/2005 | 1 | 04/07/1997 | |
| Ball joint separation on the lfront left tire. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 01/03/2005 | 1 | 04/07/1997 | |
| Ball joint separation on the lfront left tire. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - HUB | |||
| 05/01/2000 | 05/01/2000 | ||
| Both door mounts rear view mirrors fold into the door at speeds above 60 mph. the clamp screws strip out when tightened rendering the mirrors useless. replacement cost of mirror $125 each. *ak | |||
| TIRES | |||
| 1 | |||
| When the rear tire blew out, it ruptured the gas tank filler tube. *ph *nm | |||
| TIRES - TREAD/BELT | |||
| 07/23/2003 | 1 | ||
| Tire blow out. complete blow of tread, radial plys. only sidewalls remain on rim.*ak | |||
| TIRES - VALVE | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 3 | ||
| 1997 dodge 3500 maxi van with tire failure due to defective valve stems. **cc the consumer's vehicle has had three tire failures, on the same vehicle, due to defective valve stems. the stem manufacturers are eha schrader and fha | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - HEATER CORE | |||
| 11/05/2004 | 98023 | 1 | |
| The heater core sprung a leak while driving which rendered the defroster system inoperative. vehicle immediately fogged up. this reduced the driver's visibility because the driver was unable to see out of the windshield. consumer pulled over and cut the windshield off, and drove the rest of the trip with the windows down, and defogger switch in the off position. the heater core was replaced by a mechanic who had difficulty finding the part. this may be due to faulty manufacturing design. *ak *tc | |||
| 08/01/1997 | 1 | 04/01/1997 | |
| Left side air vent lever failed. *yc | |||
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES - EXTERIOR | |||
| 4 | 03/12/1998 | ||
| Rearview mirror not working properly. nlm | |||
Car dealers selling
| State | City | Zip | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MN | WHITE BEAR LAKE | 55110 | WHITE BEAR DODGE | |
| NH | EXETER | 03833 | FOSS MOTORS | |
| NY | WHITE PLAINS RD | 10607 | WHITE PLAINS DODGE | 914 9464445 |
| OH | SOUTH ZANESVILLE | FINKS USED CARS | ||
| TX | SAN ANTONIO | 78216 | NORTH STAR DODGE |