1997 caravan dash gauges do not function properly, engine died. *ts ***nar*** the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times but they were unable to determine the problem.
1997 Dodge Caravan: engine failure
7 of the 706 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Caravan describe engine failure.
- owner complaints
- 7
- of this car's complaints
- 1%
- recalls
- 0
Engine failure by model year
What owners say
Prior to the recall notification, the consumer had paid for the repairs regarding the clock spring, the consumer requested reimbursement. In addition, the dealer replaced engine oil filter. *ak. Also the gas filler door had to be replaced. *jb
Ea 01 007/air bag clockspring, air bag light remain on while driving and horn is inoperative. Dealer contacted. *ak. The engine blew at 73000 miles according to the technician and advisor at the dodge dealership.
Idler/tension pulley failed causing the timing belt to skip and causing valves to be struct by the pistons. Total engine failure with no compression at only 26,160. Vehicle was maintain very well. Dealership wants to charge full price but agreed to a 50/50 split of cost. They are driving up the cost of repairs by finding other problems. Can you help?
Was driving vehicle when distributor bearings seized up and caused transaxle to loosen up. Transmission then failed. Vehicle is an all wheel drive. Towed to dealership. Mechanic indicated plug on transmission canister cap had melted. This happened at 78,000 miles. Had transmission replaced with new transmission. Problem reappeared in new transmission. Had previously smelled sulfur like fumes inside vehicle. Vehicle gave big jerk , and made a loud noise before coming to a stop. Also, noticed grayish smoke in rear. At dealership, mechanic noticed plug, made of plastic, had melted like the first one.*ak
Camshaft broke in half at 59,000 miles, necessitating engine replacement. Service mgr. & technician both iniststed this was very unusual in any engine, especially one with this low mileage. Dodge refused to help with repairs as car was "out of warranty". The wipers turn on by themselves every now and then, sometimes when just opening the doors. The whole brake system had to be replaced at 43,000 miles as it had never been properly looked at, even though service records showed inspection at three occasions before breaking down. Original dealer was dutchess dodge, 614 south road, poughkeepsie, ny 12601 (914) 462-7700. They never responded to correspondence regarding the brakes & wipers. The engine was repaired at hyde park motors. I've contacted dodge (daimler/chrysler) and the district mgr. (phil fornabaio) but they refuse to help with the engine and wouldn't even meet with me.
The engine blew up when the driver accidently ran into a puddle of water. Chrysler said it was the driver's fault.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Valve Body
- Subject regarding camshaft / bearing service. tt
- Subject regarding misdiagnosed leak detection pump systems with diagnostic trouble codes P1494, P0442...
- Concerns with the pcv valve freezing under extremely cold conditions. tt
- Concerns with serpentine belt slipping off idler pulley. tt
- Concerns with sags / hesitation / stumble / start & stall, a/c bump improvements, addition of leak...
- Subject regarding oil seepage at cam position sensor / misinterpreted head gasket leak. yc
- Vehicle experiencing a ticking noise while at idle from engine. yc
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 1997 Dodge Caravan engine failure
Is engine failure a common problem on the 1997 Dodge Caravan?
7 of 706 owner complaints about the 1997 Dodge Caravan (1%) mention engine failure. The model year with the most reports is 1997.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1997 Dodge Caravan?
There are 0 recalls and 22 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1997 Dodge Caravan
Airbag light 83Adaptive cruise 45Wipers 42Transmission failure 28Fire or smoke 24Stalling 23Fuel leak 16Headlights 15Loss of power 15Check engine light 13Slipping 12No deployment 10Fuel smell 10Power steering loss 10Door locks 8Grinding brakes 7Jerking 7Overheating 7Won't shift 7Tire blowout 7ABS 6Brake failure 6Harsh shifting 6Ball joint 5Coil spring 5Premature wear 5Seat belt 5
VIN decoder
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