RecallRepo

1997 Dodge Caravan Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Dodge Caravan has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,409,889 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,028 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

AIR BAGS 02V293000 2002-11-07 1,500,521 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. …

SEAT BELTS 02V076000 2002-03-08 545,311 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SOME TRIM MATERIAL CAN LOOSEN AND DROP INTO THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRIM WITH FOAM BLOCKERS AND INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL 3RD ROW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 00V268000 2000-09-13 1,163,000 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L AND 3.8L ENGINES HAVE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS THAT CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A VEHICLE FIRE.

Consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ON THE VEHICLE FUEL RAILS TO PREVENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE, SHOULD THE EXISTING O-RINGS CONTINUE TO DEGRADE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2002. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE…

CHILD SEAT 98V185000 1998-08-06 157,000 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT WHEN THE SAFETY BELT LATCH PLATE BECOMES CONTAMINATED.

Consequence

THIS CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING A CHILD FROM THE RESTRAINT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE LATCH MECHANISM. AN EXTENDER WILL BE ADDED TO THE EMERGENCY RELEASE ANCHOR FOR THE CHILD SEAT SAFETY BELTS SO THAT THE RELEASE CLIPS ARE MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE OPERATOR IN THE EVENT THAT THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED. IN ADDITION, AN INSTRUCTIONAL OWNER'S MANUAL…

TIRES 97V200000 1997-11-13 25,000 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH P215/65R15 GOODYEAR CONQUEST TIRES MOUNTED ON STEEL WHEEL. THE TIRES CAN EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN AIR PRESSURE LOSS WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence

SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF DRIVER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIRES THAT WERE MOUNTED ON STEEL WHEELS.

WHEELS 97V070000 1997-04-28 60 affected
Defect

THE STEEL ROAD WHEELS WERE DAMAGED BY THE EQUIPMENT USED TO MATCH MOUNT THE WHEEL TO THE TIRE.

Consequence

A SCORE MARK WAS MADE ON THE WHEEL, AFFECTING THE DURABILITY OF THE WHEEL.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL ROAD WHEELS (AND FULL SIZE SPARE TIRES) WITH NEW WHEELS.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 96V215000 1996-10-29 18,997 affected
Defect

THE MASTER CYLINDER REAR SEAL, BETWEEN THE HYDRAULIC FLUID AND THE VACUUM RESERVOIR, MAY NOT SEAL ADEQUATELY ALLOWING HYDRAULIC FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE POWER ASSIST VACUUM RESERVOIR.

Consequence

AS THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR DECREASES, THE LEVEL SENSOR WILL DETECT THE LOSS OF FLUID AND ILLUMINATE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE WARNING LAMP. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED CAN RESULT IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. ADDENDUM (4-14-97): VEHICLES INSPECTED PER CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 707 AND FOUND TO BE OUTSIDE THE LISTED SUSPECT MASTER CYLINDER DATE CODE RANGE, MUST NOW HAVE THE MASTER CYLINDER PRIMARY PISTON REPLACED (CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 714).

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
107
1crashes1fires1injuries
AIR BAGS
102
7crashes7injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
52
21fires2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
44
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
42
17crashes19injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
38
2crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
30
1fires
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
29
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
24
1injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
20
1crashes5fires2deaths
Total complaints1,028

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“I know it's my solenoid my vehicle won't go out of 2 gear. My name is [xxx].[xxx] my number is [xxx]. I'm not sure if anything can be done being the vehicle is so old but I thought I'd give it a try. Email is [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c.…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2022-07-27

“I know it's my solenoid my vehicle won't go out of 2 gear. My name is [xxx].[xxx] my number is [xxx]. I'm not sure if anything can be done being the vehicle is so old but I thought I'd give it a try. Email is [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c.…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2022-07-27

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 dodge caravan. While driving approximately 35 mph, the engine shut down without warning. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and restarted after a few minutes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the failure was due to electrical…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2016-01-15

“When the vehicle is on, the key can be removed and the engine remains on. *tr”

ENGINE · reported 2014-03-23

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 dodge caravan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph over a puddle of water, there was a sudden loss of power steering assist. The failure only occurred whenever the contact was driving over a puddle of water, causing the serpentine belt to become…”

STEERING · reported 2014-01-13

“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…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2013-08-23

“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…”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING · reported 2013-08-23

“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…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2013-07-23

Defect investigations

Investigation EA01007 Opened 2001-02-21 · closed 2002-11-22

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA97003 Opened 1997-01-31 · closed 1998-08-19

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP

THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.

Investigation EA97003 Opened 1997-01-31 · closed 1998-08-19

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP

THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.

Investigation EA99013 Opened 1999-06-11 · closed 2001-08-10

POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM

Investigation PE02004 Opened 2002-01-16 · closed 2002-03-11

REAR SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED JANUARY 16, 2002, BASED ON SEVEN REPORTS ALLEGING THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAILED ON CERTAIN 1997 AND 1998 MODEL YEAR CARAVAN AND VOYAGER VEHICLES.THE REPORTS INDICATED A TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE ENTERED THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM, THUS CAUSING THE RETRACTOR TO JAM OR BIND.IN THIS…

Investigation PE99010 Opened 1999-02-03 · closed 1999-06-11

POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY

There is no summary currently available

Investigation RQ00008 Opened 2000-03-09 · closed 2002-03-18

DC MINIVAN FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAK

There is no summary currently available

Investigation SQ96016 Opened 1996-09-18 · closed 1997-02-04

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP

ODI CONTINUES TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING LATCHING/RETRACTOR MECHANISM PROBLEMS.CHRYSLER'S ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM INDICATES THAT OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES ARE NOT ADHERING TO THE CLEANING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SEAT.THE SEAT APPEARS TO MALFUNCTION IF CRUMBS OF FOOD OR BEVERAGE RESIDUE ACCUMULATES ON THE LATCHING…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Dodge Caravan as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.