1997 Dodge Grand Caravan from North America - Comments

The minivan drives well, is nicely appointed, and is roomy enough for a family of five plus the a large dog. The first four years went relatively smooth with the exception of the caravan's ability to eat up brakes.

Then we hit 70,000 and it began. In the last eighteen months I have put $6,000 plus into a six year old car. First the air conditioning began to act up. Then while driving with the children the transmission locked up. The result was a new transmission and new evaporator installed.

A month later the air conditioning stopped working again, this time it was the condenser. The next month while on a long trip the air conditioning stops working a hour into the drive. When we return home the van goes back to the dealer, their response is it is working fine. Now that warm weather is here again the problem is back. On a recent trip home the air conditioning stops working, I drove directly to dealer. Diagnosis, a new H-valve and fin sensor (probe) are required to fix the problem.

I have been recently stranded when a belt in the engine began to shred.

It loves to eat the brake pads. Currently I am looking at a complete brake job.

The Dodge Grand Caravan looks nice, drives decently and is comfortable, though rear air conditioning is a requirement. Yet, I will never own another Chrysler product again.

The product quality is so lacking. To my great dismay my vehicle is falling apart around me. It is not nickel and dimming me to death, oh no, it is going for the throat. I do not recommend this vehicle to anyone, in fact, run to the closest Toyota dealer. They build a quality product that lasts far beyond the last car payment.

I almost believe that Chrysler wants me to pay for this vehicle twice, once in car payments and the second time in car repairs.

It's great to see these reviews online. I am on my way to have my brakes repaired tomorrow morning... for the second time. Over a days time, they just started grinding like crazy. I also have wiper problems - they come on without my turning them on. Usually for just one "swipe." Until I read these reviews, I just thought I was crazy, asking "did that just happen??" Also, I've had the serpentine belt replaced at least once. Overall, it's been a great car, very dependable. Mine is a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport. I hope to get one more year out of it, then it's on to a Honda, Toyota or Ford. I'm a Mom of three little ones, and I need a GREAT car. We'll see which one I choose!

I have a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan SE. I bought it in 1998 as a program car with 25,000 miles still on it. It now has 134,000 miles on it. I think it is a great van!

The only catastrophic problem I've had is the battery has gone dead on occasion. I've had 4 batteries in the last 6 years. Now I buy batteries with warranties.

I had the water pump and serpentine belt changed at about 80,000 miles and I changed the starter at 85,000 miles. My Oxygen sensors went bad at about 85,000 miles, but I changed them at 130,000 miles. I've had 3 sets of front brakes and changed the rear brakes once. It's a 2-ton vehicle and I've put a lot of heavy loads in it, so I think the brakes have held up great! Other than regular plug and oil changes and fluid checks, that's all the maintenance.

I've hauled just about everything in this van. Full sheets of plywood and 2x8x10's in the rain and nothing ever got wet. People ask me why don't I get a pickup truck and I tell them that I have one with a permanent cap. I drove from Louisiana to Delaware with 132,000 miles on the car and hauling 1020 pounds (I had the van weighed empty and full, so this is not an exaggeration). I had no problems at all. This was not the heaviest load I'd ever had in this van. I hauled a wooden privacy fence for my friend and from the looks of the rear springs it was a lot more than 1000 pounds.

I'm driving this van until the wheels fall off! As with any car, if you take good care of it with regular fluid checks and oil changes and not procrastinate too long when a minor problem arises (because it will lead to a major problem) then any car will be a great car. As far as this van goes, when it's time for a new vehicle, I'm going to the Dodge dealership for a new Grand Caravan!

I have a 1997 Grand Caravan 3.3L. I feel that if you take care of any car it will definately last you. I have 88,000 miles on mine. I mostly use it for long trips. I have replaced the brakes twice in the rear and I am only on my second set in the front. So depending on how you drive it, it should treat you good. I haven't had any major problems with it. The starter was just replaced along with the shocks and struts. But any hauling vehicle will need shocks and struts after awhile. I have heard that if you get the transmission flushed every 100k or so, the transmission will be less likely to give you problems. Also change the fluid every two years or 30k and you should be fine. As well as not driving it hard. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Dodge.

We own a 1998 Grand Caravan SE. We bought it with 72,000 miles used back in 2003 and it now has 190,000 miles on it. It has been an AWESOME van for us and it has been our only vehicle for 3 years now. We take meticulous care of it and it is wonderful. we are just now looking to get a 2nd vehicle and use this van for an extra car. Hope this helps!

I think the 3.3 and 3.8 Chrysler engines are great, but the 3.0L Mitsubishi gets costly after 80k miles.