Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1997 Dodge Caravan
NHTSA data on file today
The 1997 Dodge Caravan has 15 NHTSA recall campaigns and 709 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #10E034000 AFTERMARKET RECEIVER HITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E022000 BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E023000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMP/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03E053000 WIX FILTERATION/FUEL FILTER LEAKS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03E045000 INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTS/FUEL FILTER LEAKS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V293000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V076000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/SEAT BELT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V268000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FUEL LEAKAGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V185000 CHRYSLER/INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V200000 CHRYSLER/TIRES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V070000 CHRYSLER/STEEL ROAD WHEELS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #96V215000 CHRYSLER/MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97I001000 CHRYSLER/INTEGRAL CHILD SEATS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 151 complaints
- Power Train 128 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 118 complaints
- Electrical System 88 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 63 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 55 complaints
Of the 709 complaints on file, 44 report a crash and 32 a fire; across all 709 complaints, owners report 54 injuries and 4 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1997 Dodge Caravan has numerous recalls, with issues in airbags and service brakes. It's particularly prone to airbag and powertrain complaints, affecting safety and reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbags | 120,000–150,000 miles | $400–$800 | very common |
| powertrain | 100,000–130,000 miles | $1,000–$3,000 | common |
| engine cooling | 90,000–120,000 miles | $400–$1,500 | common |
| electrical system | 80,000–110,000 miles | $200–$600 | occasional |
| service brakes | 70,000–100,000 miles | $250–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Replace brake pads and rotors
- Inspect suspension components annually
- Replace timing belt at 100,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 2 years
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Dashboard airbag warning light
- Unusual engine noises
- Powertrain warning light
- Spongy brake pedal feel
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1997 Dodge Caravan at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.