10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,172 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Dodge Caravan lights problems

lights problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1997 Dodge Caravan:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

1997 Dodge Caravan Owner Comments

problem #9

Nov 272006

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Headlight housing on 1997 Dodge SE Grand Caravan. The plastic lens of the headlight housing in which the headlight bulb is encased has discolored, thereby, obscuring the light generated by the headlight bulb. This has occurred on both the right and left headlight housings. I have surveyed other minivans of the same vintage and noticed they too were discolored. It concerned me so much that I purchased two new headlight housings from off the internet (not mopar). There is probably a safety factor with this defect.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #8

Jan 012005

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles
Headlights on 1997 Dodge Caravan have become clouded and are no longer safe to drive at night.

- Elkridge, MD, USA

problem #7

Oct 282002

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,000 miles
1) defect result of normal use, no exceptional situation just normal every day use.related to two vehicles one 1996 Caravan, another 1997 Caravan. 2) exesive haze buildoff on headlights(plastic lens) I can contribute a loss of proper distance ilumination, for witch several atempts of diferent methods where tried to correct problem, resulting in pedestrian struct accident on dark night, my driving record had been ticket, accident clear for more than 30 years. 3) several polishing methods where attempted with different advertised products resulting in slight temporary improvements always resulting in lesser time recurrance of problem, can not afford to replace all 4 with new parts due to excesive cost $135 each, anly replaced one after accident and yes have parts if need to be submitted. Point in case, my work is and has been for the past 20 years related to plastics, specifically injection molding, for witch I know first hand the consecuences for a poorly design chemical content plastic in this case policarbonates with incorrect uv aditive content, witch is the cause for not only my particular brand of vehicle, year or model, this problem is with all plastic headlight, sure tghey save weigth, sure its easier to manufacture to the weirdest shapes, so much so tha know a days the seem to be part of either the hood or the fenders, so now their being exposed to direct sunlight from the top causing even prematurer conditions, (this is not a scratching related issue here this is sunlight related damage causing reduced night driving visibility reach (since when a body part is subject to normal wear and tear. Since astm D 1003-92 does mention otdoor exp. Test-haze and loss of surface luster of plastic mats, I failed to locate proper time limits of accepted failure to consider them to be, non acceptable. (glass does not carry this condition), like it was mentined before, this is not only related to Chrysler this problem is with all makes, brands

- Calexico, CA, USA

problem #6

Apr 272004

Caravan 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,552 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Headlights frosty or opaque, too dim to see with safely

- Muskogee, OK, USA

problem #5

Sep 232003

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles
Headlight lens discolored- car had to have replacement to pass state inspection. Cost: $322 for one headlight assembly.

- Langhorne, PA, USA

problem #4

Nov 152000

Caravan

  • miles
Replacement of failed bulb caused abrasions to hand access door is too small, and a wiring harness obstructs access to light socket. Two bulbs shattered. Dealer had to disassemble battery and electrical bus to access the light socket, 30 min labor, $45 cost. Difficulty of replacement discourages safe maintenance of lighting, and cuts your hands.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #3

Jan 121999

(reported on)

Caravan 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

During night driving the headlights do not fully illuminate the road far enough ahead to see potential hazards.

- East Falmo, MA, USA

problem #2

Sep 151998

(reported on)

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Headlights too dim. Qcaw

- Danville, VT, USA

problem #1

Aug 071998

(reported on)

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Front headlights are not bright in low or high beam operation. Dealers have realigned headlights which did not correct problem. Possible design flaw.

- Williams Port, PA, USA

Not what you are looking for?