Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
NHTSA data on file today
The 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 576 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #02V293000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V268000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FUEL LEAKAGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V185000 CHRYSLER/INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V200000 CHRYSLER/TIRES 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 107 complaints
- Electrical System 98 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 96 complaints
- Power Train 79 complaints
- Visibility 59 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 52 complaints
Of the 576 complaints on file, 29 report a crash and 33 a fire; across all 576 complaints, owners report 37 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan has several critical recalls, notably involving airbags, fuel systems, and braking issues. Complaints particularly focus on airbags and electrical systems, indicating systemic durability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbags | 60,000–80,000 miles | $300–$800 | very common |
| electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $200–$600 | common |
| engine | 80,000–120,000 miles | $400–$1,500 | common |
| brakes | 60,000–90,000 miles | $250–$600 | occasional |
| fuel system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$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 3,000 miles
- Replace brake pads every 20,000 miles
- Rotate tires every 6,000 miles
- Inspect suspension annually
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Erratic electrical behavior
- Overheating engine
- Brake fluid leaks
- Stalling during acceleration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.