1997 DODGE CARAVAN

1028 complaints filed with NHTSA.

1028
Complaints
51
Crashes
62
Fires
64
Injuries
5
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION107
AIR BAGS102
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE52
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN44
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL42
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL38
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE30
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER29
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS24
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM20
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER16
UNKNOWN OR OTHER16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING16

Recent Complaints

20130824FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY WIFE PARK THE VAN INSIDE THE GARAGE, TURN OFF THE RADIO, ENGINE AND LIGHTS. SHE OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND SEE FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING BY THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLER. AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE VAN WERE ON. SHE REMOVE THE KIDS FROM THE VAN AND MY SON CALL 911.POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, REMOVE THE VAN FROM THE GARAGE AND CHECK IT AND FOUND POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION .CHECK THE VAN TODAY 8-24 2013 AND FOUND THAT THE FIRE START AT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH. DIM SWITCH

Mileage: 209,000

20130824FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY WIFE PARK THE VAN INSIDE THE GARAGE, TURN OFF THE RADIO, ENGINE AND LIGHTS. SHE OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND SEE FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING BY THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLER. AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE VAN WERE ON. SHE REMOVE THE KIDS FROM THE VAN AND MY SON CALL 911.POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, REMOVE THE VAN FROM THE GARAGE AND CHECK IT AND FOUND POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION .CHECK THE VAN TODAY 8-24 2013 AND FOUND THAT THE FIRE START AT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH. DIM SWITCH

Mileage: 209,000

20130801AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SCRATCHES TO THE RIGHT ARM WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

Mileage: 39,000

20120804FireENGINE

WHILE PARKED AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. A FIRE THEN APPEARED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. 911 WAS CALLED AND FIRE SQUAD CAME. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE USED BUT IT COULD NOT PUT OUT THE FIRE. FIRE TRUCK CAME AND BY THIS TIME THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIREMEN USED WATER TO FINALLY CONTROL THE FIRE. FIRE RESTARTED AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT AGAIN AND EVENTUALLY THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISH

Mileage: 120,000

20120804FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE PARKED AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. A FIRE THEN APPEARED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. 911 WAS CALLED AND FIRE SQUAD CAME. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE USED BUT IT COULD NOT PUT OUT THE FIRE. FIRE TRUCK CAME AND BY THIS TIME THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIREMEN USED WATER TO FINALLY CONTROL THE FIRE. FIRE RESTARTED AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT AGAIN AND EVENTUALLY THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISH

Mileage: 120,000

20120225CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK, RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC HEAVY BUT MOVING CLOSE TO POSTED SPEED LIMIT (65 MPH). TRAFFIC SLOWED IN FRONT OF ME AND I ALSO SLOWED, THEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, SO I ALSO INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. WHILE DOING SO, THE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR, I LOST BRAKE PRESSURE AND STARTED MOVING TO THE LEFT TO AVOID A COLLISION BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO. MY VAN HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TIME AND SPACE TO STOP AND NOT COLLIDE IF THE BRAKES WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED, BUT W

Mileage: 185,000

20101029FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS BURNED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00V268000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SY

Mileage: 170,000

20100621FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN NOTICED THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FENDER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. THE CONTACT BELIEVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V268000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) WAS THE CAUSE THE

Mileage: 175,000

20100302FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

1997 DODGE CARAVAN GAS ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR*CW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE FILLED THE GAS TANK, IT QUICKLY RAN OUT. AS THE CONSUMER WAS GOING BACK TO THE GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THE FUEL RAIL HAD BURST AND CAME LOOSE WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK, WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. *JB

20090511CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH. ANOTHER DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND NO LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, INCLUDING A BROKEN NOSE AND CHEEK BONES, AND ALSO A SHATTERED RIGHT FOOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND PICTURES OF

Mileage: 160,000

20060228FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 15 MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC TO DETERMINE WHERE THE FIRE STARTED OR THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE.

Mileage: 177,000

20050921CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

1) DEFECT RESULT OF NORMAL USE, NO EXCEPTIONAL SITUATION JUST NORMAL EVERY DAY USE.RELATED TO TWO VEHICLES ONE 1996 CARAVAN, ANOTHER 1997 CARAVAN. 2) EXESIVE HAZE BUILDOFF ON HEADLIGHTS(PLASTIC LENS) I CAN CONTRIBUTE A LOSS OF PROPER DISTANCE ILUMINATION, FOR WITCH SEVERAL ATEMPTS OF DIFERENT METHODS WHERE TRIED TO CORRECT PROBLEM, RESULTING IN PEDESTRIAN STRUCT ACCIDENT ON DARK NIGHT,MY DRIVING RECORD HAD BEEN TICKET, ACCIDENT CLEAR FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. 3) SEVERAL POLISHING METHODS WHERE A

Mileage: 47,000

20041201CrashFireFatalFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

FOIA REQUEST INFO RE CHRYSLER MINIVAN RECALLS INITIATED 1/25/02, ENGINE AND FUEL LINE MALFUNCTIONS THAT RESULTED IN FIRES . *BF INFORMATION REQUEST FROM CONSUMERS ATTORNEY. ATTORNEY IS PURSUING A WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM FOR THE CONSUMER. CONSUMER BURNED TO DEATH IN A VEHICLE WRECK IN 1997. CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03E053000. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER,

20041122CrashAIR BAGS

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY VEHICLE WAS MET WITH AN ACCIDENT ON ROUTE 516, OLD BRIDGE, NJ. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A SCHOOL BUS AND PUSHED INTO A LAMP POLE. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED AS PER STATE FARM INSURANCE. BOTH AIR BAG FAILED TO WORK. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARD INSTEAD OF PROTECTING OUR NECK AND BODY. THE VEHICLE IS WITH STATE FARM INSURANCE. *JB. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN TWO INJURIES. *AK

Mileage: 120,000

20041122CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY VEHICLE WAS MET WITH AN ACCIDENT ON ROUTE 516, OLD BRIDGE, NJ. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A SCHOOL BUS AND PUSHED INTO A LAMP POLE. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED AS PER STATE FARM INSURANCE. BOTH AIR BAG FAILED TO WORK. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARD INSTEAD OF PROTECTING OUR NECK AND BODY. THE VEHICLE IS WITH STATE FARM INSURANCE. *JB. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN TWO INJURIES. *AK

Mileage: 120,000

20041105CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. ONLY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO BREAST AND STOMACH. RECALL 04V480000 AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WAS ISSUED. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO MODEL YEAR. *AK

20041019CrashAIR BAGS

THE CONSUMER STATED HER HUSBAND WAS COMING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE SIDE. SHE STATED THAT HE RECEIVED SOME MINOR INJURIES AND HIS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB *SC

20040303ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHEN HER VEHICLE SLID INTO A DITCH AFTER THE SERPENTINE BELT AND OTHER PARTS FELL TO THE GROUND. *PH *JB

Mileage: 137,054

20040107CrashTIRES

WHILE DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE VEHICLE'S TIRE BLEW OUT.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SIDE SWIPED THE GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

20031210CrashFireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL 96V215000 CONCERNING MASTER CYLINDER IN JULY 2002. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED THE TIRES. MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. ON 11/18/2003, THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A DAMAGED DISC IN THE NECK AND SPINAL CORD.*AK