1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 09/08/2026

61Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints

10.5%Of all 583 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS84 · 14.4%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION61 · 10.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN47 · 8.1%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL46 · 7.9%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE46 · 7.9%

Share of the 583 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan overview page.

What owners report

“TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR UNDER LOAD CONDITIONS GOING UPHILL. WHEN WEATHER IS HOT, THE DRIVETRAIN AND ENGINE OVERHEAT, CAN NOT MAINTAIN…”NHTSA complaint 718703 — filed 02/13/2000

“VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE TO REVERSE WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.”NHTSA complaint 849731 — filed 11/09/1999

“ENGINE SLIPPAGE JAN. 1999. TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED AND CONCLUDED NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUID. TRANSMISSION REBUILT AUG. 1999. OCT. 1999, CAR OVERHEATED, TOWED. HEADGASKET REPLACEMENT WITH…”NHTSA complaint 714094 — filed 10/30/1999

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan have power train:automatic transmission problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan: 61 of 583 complaints on file (10.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan have in total?

583 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 09/08/2026. Across all categories, 29 involved a crash, 39 involved a fire, 37 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 09/08/2026.