1996 Dodge Grand Caravan

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Dodge Grand Caravan Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1996 highlighted. 1984: 0 complaints 1984 1985: 1 complaints 1986: 0 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 10 complaints 1989: 24 complaints 1989 1990: 55 complaints 1991: 129 complaints 1992: 255 complaints 1993: 289 complaints 1994: 199 complaints 1994 1995: 108 complaints 1996: 1157 complaints 1996 1997: 583 complaints 1998: 559 complaints 1999: 432 complaints 1999 2000: 442 complaints 2001: 298 complaints 2002: 290 complaints 2003: 219 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2004 2005: 995 complaints 2006: 284 complaints 2007: 182 complaints 2008: 1290 complaints 2009: 543 complaints 2009 2010: 866 complaints 2011: 530 complaints 2012: 583 complaints 2013: 470 complaints 2014: 356 complaints 2014 2015: 276 complaints 2016: 961 complaints 2017: 401 complaints 2018: 263 complaints 2019: 233 complaints 2019 2020: 16 complaints 2020
1996: 1157 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19840
19851
19860
19872
198810
198924
199055
1991129
1992255
1993289
1994199
1995108
19961157
1997583
1998559
1999432
2000442
2001298
2002290
2003219
2004116
2005995
2006284
2007182
20081290
2009543
2010866
2011530
2012583
2013470
2014356
2015276
2016961
2017401
2018263
2019233
202016

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 15%

15% of complaints: air bags — 178 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN WERE NOT FUCTIONING CORRECTLY.DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020919

POWER TRAIN 14%

14% of complaints: power train — 167 distinct reports on file.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10%

10% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 112 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%

9% of complaints: electrical system — 106 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 6%

6% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 73 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19950925 — seat belts

No summary on file.

Remedy: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH CHILD SEAT ASSEMBLIES WITH REVISED SEATS CONTAINING RETRACTOR IMPROVEMENTS. THE REVISED SEATS WILL ALSO INCREASE CHILD COMFORT BY INCORPORATING PROTECTIVE SEAT BELT

Campaign 95I004000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19951025 — PE (closed 19951222)

FUEL LEAKEAGE FROM ROLLOVER VALVE

1996 — complaint volume: 1157
R 19960102 — fuel system, gasoline

THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE CAN ALLOW FUEL TO PASS INTO THE VAPOR CANISTER RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL LEAKAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE WITH A FILLER TUBE THAT HAS AN ADDITIONAL ROLLOVER VALVE. THE ASSOCIATED ROLLOVER VALVE VAPOR HOSES WILL BE REROUTED.

Campaign 95V236000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19960125 — PE (closed 19960628)

SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION

R 19960212 — seats

THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE REAR BENCH SEATS TO THE SEAT RISERS MAY BE EMBRITTLED AND FRACTURE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BENCH SEAT TO RISER BOLTS.

Campaign 95V225000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19960216 — fuel system, gasoline

A STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE CAN BUILD UP ON THE UNGROUNDED METAL SECTION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND STRAP FOR THE FUEL FILLER TUBE.

Campaign 96V002000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19960422 — engine and engine cooling

IN CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY AND ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL IS NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN EXPANSION PLUG AND RETAINING BRACKET OVER THE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG.

Campaign 96V006000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19960819 — PE (closed 19970131)

FUEL LEAKS FROM THE GAS TANK

R 19960827 — seat belts

THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT MODULES TO THE SEAT FRAME CAN BREAK.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT MODULE BOLTS.

Campaign 96V136000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19960918 — SQ (closed 19970204)

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP

I 19970131 — EA (closed 19980210)

FUEL TANK LEAKS

I 19970131 — EA (closed 19980819)

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP

R 19981130 — child seat

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT WHEN THE SAFETY BELT LATCH PLATE BE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE LATCH MECHANISM. AN EXTENDER WILL BE ADDED TO THE EMERGENCY RELEASE ANCHOR FOR THE CHILD SEAT SAFETY BELTS SO THAT THE RELEASE CLIPS ARE MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE OPER

Campaign 98V185000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990203 — PE (closed 19990611)

POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY

I 19990611 — EA (closed 20010810)

POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM

R 20000109 — fuel system, gasoline

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK AT THE INTERFACE OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ATTACHMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ATTACHING NUT WITH A NUT THAT INCLUDES TIGHTER DESIGN TOLERANCES. THE SEALING O-RING WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.

Campaign 99V216000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20000309 — RQ (closed 20020318)

DC MINIVAN FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAK

I 20000808 — PE (closed 20010221)

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING

I 20010221 — EA (closed 20021122)

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING

R 20020125 — fuel system, gasoline

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L AND 3.8L ENGINES HAVE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS THAT CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ON THE VEHICLE FUEL RAILS TO PREVENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE, SHOULD THE EXISTING O-RINGS CONTINUE TO DEGRADE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN

Campaign 00V268000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20021118 — air bags

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF M

Campaign 02V293000 — check if this car was fixed

R Date not on file — seat belts

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRAL CHILD SEATS. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY.

Remedy: OWNERS ARE BEING PROVIDED WITH A VIDEO TAPE AND 2 HARNESS CLIPS. THE VIDEO TAPE INSTRUCTS OWNERS ON THE PROPER USE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CHILD SEATS.

Campaign 97I001000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 Dodge Grand Caravan — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (178 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (167 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (112 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 97I001000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 95I004000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 95V236000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 95V225000 (seats) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V002000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V006000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V136000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V185000 (child seat) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99V216000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V268000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 02V293000 (air bags) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1990 ▲ 1995 ▲ 2004

WORST YEARS

■ 2008 ■ 2005 ■ 2016

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan?

The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 15% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.