1996 Dodge GRAND CARAVAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
792 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
99,675 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 124 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 173 of 792 complaints (21.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 123 | 15.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 74 | 9.3% |
| Steering behavior | 68 | 8.6% |
| Braking behavior | 49 | 6.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 37 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 30 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 173 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 123 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 104 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 102 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 39 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 38 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 38 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 33 |
Air Bags: 173; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 123; Vehicle Speed Control: 104; Electrical System:Horn: 102; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 39; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 38; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 38; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 33
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 37 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 40 |
| 150,000 and above | 22 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 37; 100,000 to 149,999: 40; 150,000 and above: 22
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 668 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 14 |
| 2000 | 184 |
| 2001 | 226 |
| 2002 | 172 |
| 2003 | 79 |
| 2004 | 57 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
1996: 14; 2000: 184; 2001: 226; 2002: 172; 2003: 79; 2004: 57; 2005: 18; 2006: 7; 2007: 5; 2008: 11; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 123 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 74 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 68 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010188 · 2003-03-09 (March 9, 2003)
DODGE '96 MINIVAN STALLING PROBLEM WHILE IN OPERATION. START UP TIME 5-10 MINUTES LATER (VERY DANGEROUS). TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR; PROBLEM ESCALATED TO FULL REPLACEMENT. NOT SATISFIED WITH REPLACEMENT -"BUMPS" ON SECOND AND THIRD GEARS UP AND DOWN. THESE HAVE BEEN COSTLY REPAIRS. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT NO MATTER WHAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED - FULL FUEL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. RPS RACED TO 15K. REPLACED CAM SENSOR, HARNESS, HOSES ETC. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010860 · 2003-03-21 (March 21, 2003)
TRANSMISSION LOCKED-UP ON 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN WE CONTACTED SOMEONE ABOUT OBTAINING A TRANSMISSION, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD ALREADY SENT LETTERS TO DODGE DEALERSHIPS TO EXPECT TO BE CONTACTED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THE 1996 & 1997 GRAND CARAVANS; THE DEALERSHIPS WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VEHICLES WERE DEFECTIVE, BUT THAT THEY(MANUFACTURER) WOULD NOT HAVE THEM REPAIRED. MY HUSBAND WAS TRAVELING ON I-40 BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF WINSTON SALEM, NC, WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HE HAD WITH HIM OUR 8 YEAR OLD…
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002532 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY THERE WAS A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE VENTS, AND FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. BUILT IN CHECK ON TOP OF FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING. .*JB. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006175 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE METER READ LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS, THE VAN RAN OUT OF GAS, THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN TO DRIVE WHEN SOON AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS A MISFIRED CYLINDER, THE FUEL FUEL PUMP WAS BURIED INSIDE THE GAS TANK, AND WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL DROPPED BELOW THE FUEL PUMP, THE PUMP HEATED UP AND SUCKED IN AIR INSTEAD OF THE GASOLINE. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008551 · 2002-11-15 (November 15, 2002)
I OWN A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ES. I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 85000 MILES BACK IN 1999. RECENTLY MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE HORN STOPPED WORKING (BUT WOULD SOMETIMES SOUND WHEN MAKING TURNS), THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THIS WAS OVER A FEW 2-3 MONTH PERIOD THIS PAST SUMMER. I ASKED A MECHANIC ABOUT IT, HE SAID IT WAS A RECALL ITEM FROM DODGE. I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VAN, AND THEY SAID "THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SPRING" IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY CHARGED ME ABOUT 200.00 TO REPLACE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014349 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSES VARIOUS ELECTRICAL INPUTS SUCH AS TURNING ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HONKING HORN, CAUSING THE ABS FAILURE LIGHT TO COME ON AND CAUSING ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO SHORT OUT INCLUDING ALL GAUGES AND EVEN CAUSING THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008830 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003712 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE'S HORN IS NOT WORKING DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER WON'T REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005723 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
CAR SUDDENLY BEGINS TO IDLE VERY IRRATICALLY & ROUGHLY WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN EVEN WHEN FULLY WARMED UP. THE IDLE AIR CONTROL WAS REPLACED ON 1-30-02, BUT CAR STARTED STALLING AGAIN ON 2-11-03.
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005723 at NHTSA ↗