1997 Dodge Caravan Engine problems

When the vehicle is on, the key can be removed and the engine remains on. *Tr

While parked at a stop sign the vehicle started to smoke. A fire then appeared coming out of the hood. 911 Was called and fire squad came. Within 5 minutes the entire front of the car was engulfed in flames. Fire extinguishers were used but it could not put out the fire. Fire truck came and by this time the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. Firemen used water to finally control the fire. Fire restarted and had to be put out again and eventually the fire was completely extinguished. It was perhaps...

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 dodge caravan. The contact stated while driving 65 mph the vehicle lost power steering, the engine overheated, the alternator and air conditioner failed. The vehicle merged onto the side of the road and the contact inspected the engine and noticed the serpentine belt detached from the pulley and was dragging on the ground. The contact connected the belt back onto the pulley. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and stated there was no failure; however, the pulley...

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 dodge caravan. The contact noticed steam coming from the front end of the vehicle as the radiator overheated and exploded. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was awaiting diagnosis. The contact did not inform the manufacturer. The failure mileage was unknown. The vin was unavailable.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge caravan. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph in rainy weather, the fan belt suddenly failed, causing the steering and air conditioning system to also fail. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the contact was informed that the fan belt was not in a location around the fan unit to hold it in place and would fail again if wet. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000 and the current mileage was approximately 33,000.

Belt slipped off my 1997 dodge caravan.... Also when I got home fell from tow truck because of ice !~! But would not of happen if a recall would have happened already look at all those complaints out there.. *Tr

Serpentine belt slips off pulley system when driven through standing water in road,this disables power steering,cooling and battery,which in turn disables lights,power windows and fuel pump. I have encountered this problem several times with both my 97 and 98 caravan. Belt is dried off and re attached. *Tr

Bought a 1998 dodge grand caravan in 1997. The serpentine belt came off numerous times, usually when going through puddles or snow. When the belt comes off, all power to steering, brakes, etc. Is gone. This is a common complaint with these vans, yet dodge/chrysler has refused to admit it and recall it. I finally got tire of it and took a look at why it was happening. I noticed that the idler wheel closest to the front of the vehicle is shaped and mounted in a way that allows the belt to come off easily. The...

On rainy days when making sharp left turn, the 97 dodge caravan (3.0 V6) looses power steering and goes out of control. The serpentine drive belt slipped out of the tensioner pulley causing the power steering loss leading to this hazardous condition while driving in addition to the road being wet and slippery. There is a potential for a crash or deadly accident if this condition happens. This condition happened four times in the past two months. *Tr

March 3,2007 I was driving to work in the rain. I drove for 30 minutes and then the serpentine belt came off my 97 dodge caravan again. This has happened several times. When this happens, the vehicle is almost impossible to steer. Once again, I was lucky and did not have an accident. Secondly, my small child was not in the vehicle. This is a very dangerous situation and on this model and year of dodge caravan there are numerous complaints on the internet of this problem. I did miss a day of work and had to have the belt put back on the car, as well as having the vehicle towed for about 25 miles. *Jb

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. *Nm

Dt*: the contact stated after being parked for 15 minutes the vehicle caught fire under the hood. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle has not yet been seen by a mechanic to determine where the fire started or the extent of the damage.

Serpentine belt keeps coming off after hitting a puddle or body of water. This problem started, after having work done to my 1997 dodge caravan. A automotive shop replace the original serpentine belt due to being damage (broken). The vehicle has been return to automotive shop five time, since the original serpentine belt was replace, each incident my dodge caravan hit a puddle of water, just the correct way in which causing the serpentine belt to come off after the serpentine belt come off the check engine...

Dt: transmission: contact states vehicle had 28,000 miles when transmission went out. The transmission was rebuilt, and again at 50,000 the transmission went out, the transmission was again rebuilt. At about 70,000 the transmission failed again. Transmission service mechanic stated that these vans needed to be equipped with another cooling system. The transmission was rebuilt and another cooling system installed.*Ak engine: contact states the oil warning light comes on even when the vehicle is full of oil. Three different mechanic shops said there is not enough oil pressure to keep oil on the bearings.

Serpentine belt comes off dodge grand caravan whenever there is inclement weather -ie, rain , snow, slush, making it almost impossible to drive this vehicle. My specific concern is that - this defect- may cause an extremely serious accident on some super highway because steering becomes almost impossible. I think the potential for many deaths is there if this problem - which appears quite frequently on chrysler product minivans is not corrected. It is my opiunion that there should be a recall on all the minivans which have similar configurations as the 1997 3.3 Series engines. *Ak

Consumer was having the same problem with vehicle that she had one year ago, but had it repaired via recall notice. Vehicle did not want to start in the morning. Consumer could not afford to pay for it, and dealer would not repair it again. It was repaired one year ago. *Ak

While driving vehicle stalled. Consumer was not able to restart vehicle. Had the vehicle to towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic informed consumer that the problem could not be duplicated. *Ak

I bought this van new in 1997 just after buying the van there was ticking noise coming from the engine I feel it is the lifters but dealership says no it was the fuel purge valve. The noise countinues to get worse and I am sure the noise is the lifters when I change the oil to 10w-30 the noise goes away. The oxygen sensor was replaced at approx 50k miles. The van has recently been in the shop for the transmission two or three time since november 2003 aprox. 90,000 Miles on it. The transmission was hanging up in...

A banging noise was heard either from the transmission or engine when shifting gears. The noise occured while driving or idling. Dealership wasn't providing any assistance. Dealership indicated that the noise could not be corrected.*Ak

While driving over water puddles consumer noticed the serpentine belt froze, causing steering wheel to lock up. *Ak the power steering had become inoperative, the gears would slip when shifted, the water pump leaked, the belt tensioner fell apart, the consumer would lose the steering when driving through a puddle of water,the a/c did not blow cool air due to a leaking evaporator, and the belt tensioner would stick and make noises when driving through water. *Sc *jb

Consumer was injured when her vehicle slid into a ditch after the serpentine belt and other parts fell to the ground. *Ph *jb

We bought this van one year ago and so far we had to replace both oxygen sensor, speed sensor, head gasket, water pump, the transmission is slipping, doors lock and unlock whenever they want not just the 16 mph thing, ball joints are clunking, the cd player quit and then soon after fm radio only am works. *Ak

I have talked with other owners of this same model vehile and they had the same complaints .I think the maker of this vehicle should do a recall and prorate a dollar scale on these mini vans. For I trust the vechicles that follwed have to be more reliable. This vehicle would stall with me driving and is currently parked in my front yard undrivible

While driving at any speed, the vehicle intermittently stalled out without any warning. The engine was clunky. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on several occasions. *Jb

Problems with transmission on 1997 dodge caravan.*Mr ignition tumble was replaced, fan assembly.*Ts