2017 Dodge Caravan: Problems & Reliability
TOO FEW REPORTS2017 Dodge Caravan: TOO FEW REPORTS — 1 owner complaint; top issue: powertrain / transmission (1 complaint).
The verdict engine has only 11 complaints for the 2017 — under the 15-complaint floor — so it is not rated yet rather than called clean by silence.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2009–2020 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
1
NHTSA complaints
12
Model years compared
110
Service bulletins
1
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2017 Dodge Caravan problems
Powertrain / transmission dominates the record — 100% of complaints name it.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2017 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 1 | 100% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 100% |
| Engine | 1 | 100% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2017 Dodge Caravan recalls
1 recall campaign on federal record for the 2017 (reported Feb 8, 2018).
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 18V098000 | Feb 8, 2018 | Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch |
2017 Dodge Caravan service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 110 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2017 — close to the 114 of the median Caravan year from 2009 to 2020. Coded bulletins most often cover structure (26), electrical system (19), powertrain / transmission (17). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2017 vs. the year before and after
From the 2016 to the 2017, owner complaints fell by more than half (2 → 1) — an improvement. The 2018 that followed fell by more than half (1 → 0), so the 2018 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Caravan | BEST | 2 | 139 | 0 | — |
| 2017 (this page) | TOO FEW REPORTS | 1 | 110 | 1 | — |
| 2018 Caravan | TOO FEW REPORTS | 0 | 78 | 0 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Dodge Caravan years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2017 Dodge Caravan
Powertrain / transmission (1 complaint on the 2017): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Service brakes (1 complaint on the 2017): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Engine (1 complaint on the 2017): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Recalls: confirm the campaign above was completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2017 Dodge Caravan — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
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- Comparable real deals near you, from verified transactions
Found a 2017 Dodge Caravan for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
The CarWhere Used Car Report checks salvage records, salvage-auction listings, stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail, and full market history for one VIN — $16.99, one time.
FAQ
Is the 2017 Dodge Caravan reliable?
2017 Dodge Caravan: TOO FEW REPORTS — 1 owner complaint; top issue: powertrain / transmission (1 complaint). The verdict engine has only 11 complaints for the 2017 — under the 15-complaint floor — so it is not rated yet rather than called clean by silence.
What are the most common 2017 Dodge Caravan problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2017 Dodge Caravan are powertrain / transmission (1, 100%), service brakes (1, 100%), engine (1, 100%). The manufacturer has 110 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2017 Dodge Caravan have?
1 recall campaign on federal record for the 2017 Dodge Caravan, most recently 18V098000 (Feb 8, 2018, exterior lighting). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2017 Dodge Caravan before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2017 Dodge Caravan come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.