VehicleVerdict

1997 Dodge Grand Caravan transmission problems

The 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan has 85 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

85

Transmission complaints

10%

Share of year

4

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Grand Caravan transmission complaints by model year236 complaints1988: 2 complaints1989: 11 complaints1990: 27 complaints1991: 17 complaints1992: 39 complaints1993: 52 complaints1994: 59 complaints1995: 25 complaints1996: 236 complaints1997: 85 complaints1998: 85 complaints1999: 78 complaints2000: 102 complaints2001: 29 complaints2002: 44 complaints2003: 29 complaints2004: 3 complaints2005: 24 complaints2006: 12 complaints2007: 23 complaints2008: 68 complaints2009: 22 complaints2010: 40 complaints2011: 43 complaints2012: 48 complaints2013: 36 complaints2014: 18 complaints2015: 77 complaints2016: 210 complaints2017: 37 complaints2018: 22 complaints2019: 48 complaints2020: 8 complaints
Grand Caravan transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THERE ARE APPARENTLY NO SAFETY INTERLOCKS TO PREVENT VAN FROM BEING PLACED IN GEAR. THIS ALLOWED MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO PLACE THE CAR IN GEAR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE VAN ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, PINNING MY 9 YEAR OLD SON BENEATH THE REAR AXLE. FORTUNETLY, HE WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED,…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 14, 2000 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan have?

NHTSA has 85 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan transmission — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.