PlymouthProwler1997Overview/plymouth/prowler/1997/base/
PR platform

1997 Plymouth Prowler

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Prowler.

The 1997 Plymouth Prowler, built on the PR platform, is a distinctive roadster whose early production year recorded just two owner complaints—the lowest in the model’s 1997‑2002 span. Those complaints centered on latches, locks and linkages, while the vehicle was subject to three recalls during its lifespan. Compared with the peak of 21 complaints in 2001, the 1997 model’s minimal issue count highlights its comparatively strong reliability at the outset of the Prowler’s run.

Model year2001200019991997

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 34 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, front wiper blades, serpentine belt and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 34 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP295-40R20OEM · verified
Wheel / rim10 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter04213583AB discontinued
Spark plug68304020AA
BatteryBB34F101AA
Front wiper blades04897768AA discontinued · alt 1AMWC018AA
Serpentine belt04573013AD discontinued · alt 04663950AF
Thermostat04573560AE discontinued · alt 04781661AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length160.6 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height51.2 in
Wheelbase113 in
Curb weight2837 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 61 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Prowler of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.0–7.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.00 sec — 1997 Roadster
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1997Roadster 3.5L V67.00 sec15.60 sec214 hpRWD
1997Roadster 3.5L V67.10 sec15.30 sec214 hpRWD
1999Roadster 3.5L V65.70 sec14.30 sec253 hpRWD
1999Roadster 3.5L V65.80 sec14.40 sec253 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts85 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts75 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts16.7 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)525 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)175 rpm
Spark Plug Gap0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque20.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.50 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Oil Capacity5.08 oz
Standard BCI Group Number34
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15; Do not allow pressure to exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature195 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)46-50
RPM37-41 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.313; Rear: 0.276 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in / 0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.939 in / 0.782 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.949 in / 0.793 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.881 in / 0.736 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
140 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9040 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1997 model recorded two consumer complaints, three recall actions, two investigations and 43 TSBs, placing it at the low end of complaint volume relative to the subsequent year which saw zero complaints but still two recalls. Compared with the following year, 1997 experienced a higher complaint count but similar recall frequency, while later years (19992001) showed a sharp increase in complaints before declining in 2002. The 1997 crash and fire complaint counts were zero, indicating no reported safety incidents of those types that year. Overall, the data suggests that the 1997 Prowler entered the market with relatively modest early‑life issues, but the brand’s problem trajectory escalated in the early 2000s. Therefore, from a reliability standpoint the 1997 model is not the most problematic year, yet prospective buyers should verify that any recall work was completed and consider the vehicle’s later‑year service history before purchase.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
43
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Latches/Locks/Linkages1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

03V034000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower ArmReported 05/02/2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION THAT CAN RESULT IN ACCELERATED WEAR AND POSSIBLE SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS WITH MODIFIED ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 4, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED…

06E022000Service Brakes, HydraulicReported 13/03/2006

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA… Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 43 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
08-049-202020-04-22Electrical SystemCharging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
31005192019-11-20StructureUse of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
31006192019-11-20StructureRepair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…
31003192019-11-20StructureUse of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
31-006-192019-11-20StructureRepair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Prowler. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1997 Prowler have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.