1997 Dodge Caravan — 3.0L V6

The 1997 Dodge Caravan sits within the second generation (1996-2000) that represents the clear peak of the model's federal complaint record, with 1996 registering an all-time high of 1,647 complaints and 1997 itself at 787—well above the pre-refresh 1995 figure of 573. Recall activity also spikes dramatically in this window, jumping from 4 recalls in 1995 to 16 in 1996 and remaining elevated at 15 for 1997, signaling a cluster of manufacturer-acknowledged defects in the launch years of this generation. The 1997 model year further records the highest TSB count in the entire dataset at 137, surpassing the 89 logged for 1996 and indicating substantial in-service campaign activity even after the initial wave of formal recalls. The dominant complaint categories—engine/engine cooling (100), power train (98), and air bags (93)—suggest the powertrain and occupant safety systems were the principal trouble zones, and with 52 fire-related and 46 crash-related complaints, the safety exposure is not trivial. The data does not specify root causes, but the convergence of high complaints, high recalls, and peak TSBs places 1997 at the problematic apex of this generation, after which metrics steadily decline through 2003. **Bottom line:** the 1997 Caravan is a model year to approach cautiously—a pre-purchase inspection focused on drivetrain function, brake hydraulics, and airbag system status, plus verification that all 15 recalls have been completed, is essential before buying.