1997 Dodge Caravan Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026
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
Share of the 714 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Dodge Caravan overview page.
What owners report
“WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A SQEUAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT.”NHTSA complaint 849469 — filed 09/30/1999
“IN THE REVERSE POSITION IN WHICH THE INDICATOR IS ON "R" BUT ACTUALLY THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN REVERSE, BUT IN DRIVE POSITION. INTERMITTENTLY, THE…”NHTSA complaint 848348 — filed 09/22/1999
“WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD CLUNK INTO GEAR BEFORE TAKING OFF. ALSO, LOST REVERSE GEAR AND LOW GEA., VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED / REPAIRED AT A INDEPENDENT…”NHTSA complaint 846535 — filed 09/02/1999
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 Caravan have power train:automatic transmission problems?
Power Train:automatic Transmission is the most-reported problem area on the 1997 Dodge Caravan: 107 of 714 complaints on file (15%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 1997 Dodge Caravan have in total?
714 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 44 involved a crash, 37 involved a fire, 54 reported injuries, and 4 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.
