Total Complaints
2 filings
DODGE MINI RAM VAN · model year
1997 DODGE MINI RAM VAN
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997DODGEMINI RAM VAN 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, 0 fires, 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 MINI RAM VAN is visibility:rear window wiper/washer:motor with 1 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights (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 MINI RAM VAN, 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
0
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 |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050830EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1997 DODGE CARAVAN HEADLIGHTS LOST PART OF THEIR CAPABILITY TO LIGHT UP THE ROAD.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE PLASTIC COVERS WERE HEAVILY PITTED WITH A FOG-LIKE APPEARANCE PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA DIRECTLY AHEAD OF THE LIGHTS RESULTING IN DIFFUSION WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE INTENSITY OF THE HEADLIGHT BEAM ON BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM. *SC
20030811VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WHEN USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO OPERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK A CHRYSLER DEALER IN INDIANA STATED A LOT OF '97 CARAVAN'S HAVE THIS DEFECT. CONSUMER NOTED IT IS IRRITATING, DISTRACTING, AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER REQUESTED A LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION TO GET THE FAILURE REPAIRED. *PH
Compare 1997DODGEMINI RAM VAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 DODGE MINI RAM VAN have?▼
The 1997 DODGE MINI RAM VAN has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 DODGE MINI RAM VAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 DODGE MINI RAM VAN is VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS.
Is the 1997 DODGE MINI RAM VAN 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.