Total Complaints
2 filings
DODGE B SERIES · model year
1997 DODGE B SERIES
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997DODGEB SERIES carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 B SERIES is suspension:rear with 1 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:front underhood (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1997 B SERIES, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050111FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE DRIVER REPORTED TO HIS FIRST JOB IN THE AM. HE SAYS HE HAD DRIVEN THE VAN APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. NOTICED NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE VAN. NO UNUSUAL SMELL. WHEN HE PULLED UP TO HIS FIRST JOB HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING UP FROM UNDER THE VAN. HE EXITED THE VAN AND OPENED THE HOOD. HE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHILE HE DIALED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VAN IS A TOTAL-LOSS. VERIZON HAS HAD SIMILAR FIRES IN THIS MODEL VAN AND FEELS THAT THIS INCIDENT DESERVES FURTHER INVESTIGATION. PREVIOUS FIRES OF THIS NATURE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA BY VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. *AK
Mileage: 183,000
19981202SUSPENSION:REAR
THIS VEHICLE IS A 1997 MODEL AND THE SWAY BAR IS RUBBING ON THE TIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Compare 1997DODGEB SERIES to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 DODGE B SERIES have?▼
The 1997 DODGE B SERIES has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 DODGE B SERIES?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 DODGE B SERIES is SUSPENSION:REAR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD.
Is the 1997 DODGE B SERIES safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.