Worst Vehicles of 1997
The most problematic 1997 model year vehicles ranked by NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.
How scoring works: Each complaint counts as 1 point, each recall as 5 points, and each federal investigation as 10 points. Click any vehicle to view its full reliability profile.
#VehicleComplaintsRecallsInvest.TSBsScore
1#11997 Ford F 150
3,285 complaints26 recalls18 invest.325 TSBs
3,28526183253,595
#21997 Ford ExplorerSpecial Purpose Vehicles
2,150 complaints12 recalls6 invest.369 TSBs
2,1501263692,270
#31997 Jeep Grand CherokeeSpecial Purpose Vehicles
1,433 complaints11 recalls7 invest.105 TSBs
1,4331171051,558
#41997 Ford ExpeditionSpecial Purpose Vehicles
1,065 complaints9 recalls7 invest.373 TSBs
1,065973731,180
#51997 Pontiac Grand PrixMidsize Cars
1,064 complaints9 recalls7 invest.102 TSBs
1,064971021,179
#61997 Dodge Caravan
1,028 complaints15 recalls7 invest.136 TSBs
1,0281571361,173
#71997 Chevrolet BlazerSpecial Purpose Vehicles
1,098 complaints7 recalls2 invest.59 TSBs
1,09872591,153
#81997 Ford TaurusMidsize Cars
1,003 complaints5 recalls251 TSBs
1,003502511,028
#91997 Dodge Grand Caravan
857 complaints6 recalls6 invest.8 TSBs
857668947
#101997 Chevrolet CavalierCompact Cars
751 complaints13 recalls4 invest.94 TSBs
75113494856
#111997 Chevrolet MalibuMidsize Cars
693 complaints6 recalls7 invest.119 TSBs
69367119793
#121997 Ford EscortCompact Cars
729 complaints2 recalls2 invest.150 TSBs
72922150759
#131997 Chevrolet VentureSpecial Purpose Vehicles
612 complaints9 recalls8 invest.96 TSBs
6129896737
#141997 Toyota CamryMidsize Cars
685 complaints4 recalls3 invest.129 TSBs
68543129735
#151997 Dodge Dakota
650 complaints12 recalls1 invest.107 TSBs
650121107720
#161997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
693 complaints2 recalls10 TSBs
6932010703
#171997 Chevrolet S10
574 complaints8 recalls4 invest.63 TSBs
5748463654
#181997 Chrysler Town And CountrySpecial Purpose Vehicles
546 complaints9 recalls6 invest.151 TSBs
54696151651
#191997 Pontiac Grand AmCompact Cars
600 complaints4 recalls2 invest.67 TSBs
6004267640
#201997 Chevrolet SuburbanSpecial Purpose Vehicles
556 complaints3 recalls5 invest.41 TSBs
5563541621
#211997 Honda AccordCompact Cars
546 complaints15 recalls75 TSBs
54615075621
#221997 Dodge Ram
513 complaints11 recalls5 invest.100 TSBs
513115100618
#231997 Chevrolet Astro
563 complaints7 recalls1 invest.47 TSBs
5637147608
#241997 Plymouth Voyager
474 complaints11 recalls7 invest.140 TSBs
474117140599
#251997 Dodge NeonCompact Cars
553 complaints6 recalls1 invest.62 TSBs
5536162593
#261997 Ford RangerStandard Pickup Trucks
536 complaints7 recalls2 invest.202 TSBs
53672202591
#271997 Jeep WranglerSpecial Purpose Vehicles
548 complaints7 recalls84 TSBs
5487084583
#281997 Jeep CherokeeSpecial Purpose Vehicles
496 complaints10 recalls2 invest.87 TSBs
49610287566
#291997 Chevrolet TahoeSpecial Purpose Vehicles
515 complaints2 recalls4 invest.32 TSBs
5152432565
#301997 Buick LesabreLarge Cars
514 complaints2 recalls2 invest.52 TSBs
5142252544
#311997 Honda CivicSubcompact Cars
452 complaints16 recalls1 invest.132 TSBs
452161132542
#321997 Dodge IntrepidLarge Cars
473 complaints2 recalls4 invest.84 TSBs
4732484523
#331997 Dodge StratusMidsize Cars
451 complaints7 recalls3 invest.81 TSBs
4517381516
#341997 Lincoln Town CarLarge Cars
395 complaints8 recalls7 invest.134 TSBs
39587134505
#351997 Ford Crown VictoriaLarge Cars
340 complaints11 recalls10 invest.167 TSBs
3401110167495
#361997 Mazda 626Midsize Cars
451 complaints4 recalls2 invest.82 TSBs
4514282491
#371997 Dodge Ram 1500
468 complaints1 recalls1 invest.13 TSBs
4681113483
#381997 Mercury MountaineerSpecial Purpose Vehicles
399 complaints7 recalls4 invest.293 TSBs
39974293474
#391997 Chevrolet Lumina
438 complaints2 recalls2 invest.58 TSBs
4382258468
#401997 Gmc JimmySpecial Purpose Vehicles
421 complaints5 recalls2 invest.61 TSBs
4215261466
#411997 Mercury Grand MarquisLarge Cars
370 complaints5 recalls7 invest.133 TSBs
37057133465
#421997 Plymouth Grand Voyager
366 complaints5 recalls6 invest.8 TSBs
366568451
#431997 Ford F 250
348 complaints14 recalls3 invest.316 TSBs
348143316448
#441997 Buick Park AvenueLarge Cars
355 complaints3 recalls5 invest.76 TSBs
3553576420
#451997 Chrysler SebringCompact Cars
295 complaints11 recalls5 invest.130 TSBs
295115130400
#461997 Cadillac DevilleLarge Cars
339 complaints2 recalls5 invest.74 TSBs
3392574399
#471997 Pontiac Trans Sport
307 complaints6 recalls6 invest.77 TSBs
3076677397
#481997 Ford ContourCompact Cars
314 complaints8 recalls4 invest.203 TSBs
31484203394
#491997 Kia SephiaCompact Cars
375 complaints1 recalls1 invest.13 TSBs
3751113390
#501997 Chevrolet Silverado
365 complaints0 recalls15 TSBs
3650015365
Shopping for a 1997 model?
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Check Your CarBased on 2.1M+ owner complaints
Data sourced from NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.