Complaints
2,178
Crashes
74
Fires
66
Injuries
102
Fatalities
9
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Dodge Caravan Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1196 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:89,391 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:1
#2138 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:79,234 mi
Crash-related:2
#3111 complaints
Electrical System:Horn
Avg mileage:101,267 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Dodge Caravan.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 196 | 5 | 1 | 89,391 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 138 | 2 | — | 79,234 mi | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 111 | 1 | — | 101,267 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 103 | 3 | — | 18,000 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 99 | — | 5 | 72,943 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 88 | 1 | 21 | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 76 | — | — | 94,400 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 63 | 2 | 1 | 93,567 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 63 | 4 | 2 | 15,500 mi | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 61 | — | — | 13,000 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 51 | 21 | 1 | 133,221 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 49 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 42 | — | 5 | 153,699 mi | |
| Child Seat | 39 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 36 | 1 | — | 135,000 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 32 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 30 | — | 3 | 103,398 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 29 | — | 2 | 111,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 28 | — | 2 | 111,503 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 26 | 1 | — | 96,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 25 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 22 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 20 | — | 5 | 60,000 mi | |
| Seat Belts:Integrated Child Seat | 20 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 16 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 16 | — | — | 82,500 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 15 | — | 1 | 90,818 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 15 | 2 | 2 | 44,000 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 15 | — | — | 74,421 mi |
Airbags
196
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
89,391
Automatic Transmission
138
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,234
Electrical System:Horn
111
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,267
Unintended Acceleration
103
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
18,000
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
99
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
72,943
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
88
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
21
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
76
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
94,400
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
63
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
93,567
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
63
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Avg Miles
15,500
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
61
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
13,000
Air Bags:Frontal
51
complaints
Crashes
21
Fires
1
Avg Miles
133,221
Structure:Body:Door
49
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
42
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
153,699
Child Seat
39
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
36
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
135,000
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
32
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
30
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
103,398
Gasoline Fuel System
29
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
111,000
Electrical Faults
28
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
111,503
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
26
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
25
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
60,000
Seat Belts:Integrated Child Seat
20
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
82,500
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
90,818
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
15
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
44,000
Suspension Failures
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,421
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Dodge Caravan. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge Caravan Years
1996 Dodge Caravan — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Dodge Caravan reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1996 Dodge Caravan has 2,178 NHTSA complaints, 74 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 196 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Dodge Caravan?
Top reported problems: Airbags (196 complaints, avg 89,391 mi); Automatic Transmission (138 complaints, avg 79,234 mi); Electrical System:Horn (111 complaints, avg 101,267 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1996 Dodge Caravan?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 80,549 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Dodge Caravan include 74 crash-related reports, 66 fire reports, 102 injuries, and 9 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1996 Dodge Caravan have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Dodge Caravan as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1996 Dodge Caravan?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1996 Dodge Caravan shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Caravan reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Dodge Caravan
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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