1996 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan.

19951997
Complaints
1,860
Crashes
40
Fires
68
Injuries
42
Fatalities
7
Recalls
0

Worst 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1181 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:81,088 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:1
#2168 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:87,663 mi
#3113 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan.

Airbags
181
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
81,088
Automatic Transmission
168
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,663
Unintended Acceleration
113
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
107
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,333
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
80
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
30
Avg Miles
98,100
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
74
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,800
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
59
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
91,500
Structure:Body:Door
48
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
45
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
75,240
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
42
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
156,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
39
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
127,100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
32
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
26
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Avg Miles
123,308
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
25
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
98,100
Child Seat
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
91,933
Fuel Pump
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,000
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
69,833
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
500
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
21
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
6
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
128,684
Engine & Cooling
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
122,648
Gasoline Fuel System
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
48,650
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Dodge Grand Caravan Years

19851987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020

1996 Dodge Grand Caravan — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan has 1,860 NHTSA complaints, 40 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 181 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan?
Top reported problems: Airbags (181 complaints, avg 81,088 mi); Automatic Transmission (168 complaints, avg 87,663 mi); Unintended Acceleration (113 complaints). 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 Grand Caravan?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 91,222 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 Grand Caravan?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan include 40 crash-related reports, 68 fire reports, 42 injuries, and 7 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 Grand Caravan have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Dodge Grand 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 Grand Caravan?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1996 Dodge Grand 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 Grand Caravan reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan

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