1997 Dodge Grand Caravan SE review from North America

So far, the only thing I've had go wrong with it is that sometimes when I start it up, the speedometer doesn't work. If I'm driving down the highway, I either have to shift into neutral, shut it off and restart it, or pull off to the shoulder, put it in park, shut it off and start it up to get the speedometer to work. Took it back to the dealer I bought it from as this happened the first week I had it, and they replaced the speed sensor. That was six weeks ago, and it's doing it again. Doesn't happen every time I start it up and drive, probably 1 time in 10, but I'm not fond of speeding tickets.

I'm thinking it's not the sensor that is bad, but maybe an electrical problem, as the windshield wipers don't always work correctly either. When I have them set for intermittent, they sometimes will wipe 2, 3, or 4 times in a row, then 1 wipe, pause, 1 wipe, pause, 2 wipes, pause, 1, etc. Didn't do it when I had it in the shop to be looked at, but the next time it rained, it did. Guess I can live with that, it's not a major problem unless they quit altogether.

I have arthritis in my knees and hips, and this is the easiest vehicle to get in and out of for me.

It also has the most comfortable ride of anything I've ridden in, and that includes the New Yorker I owned 3 years ago.

It has plenty of power when I need it, and the gas mileage is awesome for its age, the number of miles on it, and its size (gets 23 to 25 mpg when I use the cruise control, which I do consistently). My Acclaim got 23 to 25 mpg with a 4 cylinder engine, so that kind of mileage with a larger vehicle and larger engine, especially since I put 75 miles a day on it back and forth to work, impresses me.

The stock sound system is great. I have the cassette/AM/FM with Infinity sound and it will thump the seats with the base on and the equalizer maxed out.

I love the ability to remove the head rests from the rear seats and fold them down to make a bed, or remove them completely to haul larger items. And there's plenty of room for me, my son and his g/f and my grandkids if we all want to go somewhere together.