Overview & Reviews

After a one year hiatus, all-wheel drive returns to the lineup, available on SE and LE models. Traction control is newly available, and an enhanced accident response system will automatically unlock the doors and illuminate the interior when an airbag deployment is detected. A Sport decor group is newly available on Grand Caravan SE.

• Not the most reliable vehicle on the road.

User Reviews:

Showing 21 through 30 of 61.00

• 

  1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Shoe - July 5 - 8:36 am

  Overall great vehicle. Maintainance has been normal and the Dodge dealers Ive had to deal with have been great too (Im military, so have moved around a bit). The engine has held up well and the only real disapointment Ive had is that the a/c went bad and had to be replaced. Ive been coast to coast and from Florida to New Hampshire with no major probems. Will likely consider a Grand Caravan again.

• 

  Love our van - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By dodge owner - August 11 - 2:00 am

  Weve had our van since new. Mostly reliable, and very comfortable. We have the 3.8 engine-had to have the block replaced at 6000 miles, dealer claims certain oil passages were not bored through on original. No problems since with the engine. Only minor problems since. Front wipers turn on for no reason sometimes. Difficult to converse on freeways because of interior noise. Luggage rack on roof contributes to this problem. But we love the space inside, hauls our kids and gear comfortably. My wife drives it in downtown Detroit, very rough roads, and no interior shakes,rattles, etc. Would buy another. Exterior paint still looks great after 5.5 years.

• 

  Trannie problems - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Dan - April 17 - 10:00 am

  Drives nice and very comfortable ride but loaded with lots of nasty surprises. Gone thru 3 serpentine belts and tentensioners. Wipers will turn on for no reason and the trannie is jerking a lot now....ready to replace the trannie very soon. A common known problem for these vehicles....Will never buy chrysler products again!!!! DG

• 

  Practical Vehicle - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By rau1997 - April 13 - 2:33 am

  We bought our 1997 Grand Caravan used with 26500 miles on it from a dealership. We also bought an extended warranty taking it to 6yrs/75k (only used it once for the starter but it was nice to have peace of mind). Overall its been a pretty good car with only three problems; starter went out at 50k; brakes; wiper goes on for no reason (not covered on extended warranty).

• 

  Once it starts! - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By blindguy27 - March 5 - 10:00 am

  Nice style and drive. But once the transmission went! Three trannys in 10k miles, then a CV shaft, now wheel bearings! Van has been service faithfully every 3k, all scheduled maintenance, highway miles. Come to findout this is very common with Dodge vans...oh, and there is a ghost in the wipers turning on for no reason. Dealer cant/wont bother to figure it out (there are TSBs) unless I pay a diagnostic fee to look them up!

• 

  Good family vehicle - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By bubjack - January 3 - 10:00 am

  We bought the Grand Caravan Sport model new and have been fairly satisfied. It has been reasonably reliable(knock on wood). It now has 70000+ miles and still runs and drives good. Issues we have experienced: replaced MOPAR battery twice within first three years (warranty repair), replaced CD player (warranty repair),broken driver side mirror, phantom wipers, water pump replaced recently (not unusual for 70,000 mile car). Amazingly, the exhaust still works good (I usually have to replace a muffler or pipes by now). Car has the 3.3 liter engine and seems a bit weak going up long inclines or passing. Not enough HP and torque for this heavy vehicle.

• 

  Good Van - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By John Lau - June 18 - 10:00 am

  We had a choice of buying a new, bare- bones van, or a used one with options. We saw this and decided that we wanted the nicer things that it had. It never left us stranded, and it was dependable. It handled well for a van, it looked good, and it was loaded. There were never any rattles or squeaks, and except for the CD player (which stopped working two years ago), everything held up just fine.

• 

  So-so Van - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By CAS - June 12 - 10:00 am

  Bought a 97 Es extended and for the first 4-5 years the car had so many problems. The worst was the CD Player. Also, right before a stoplight the brakes blew out!! Chrysler needs to work on reliabilty.