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#BS-1996-DODCAR-D2BA

1996 Dodge CaravanProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 2,178 owners and 18 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
2,178
Crashes
74
Fires
66
Recalls
18
TSBs
138
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 2,178 complaints, 74 crashes, 66 fires, and 18 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

transmission failure

16 complaints • Severity 8.6/10

$X,XXX
2

stalls when driving and idling

12 complaints • Severity 7.3/10

$X,XXX
3

heater fan only runs on highest speed

4 complaints • Severity 5.5/10

$X,XXX
4

dash shorts out

3 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
5

turn signals stop working

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the AirbagsHIGH

196 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 96K miles.

!Inspect the Power Train:automatic TransmissionMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

12
0–30K
8
30–60K
52
60–90K
50
90–120K
23
120–150K
13
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (52 reports) • Median: 96K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Airbags (196 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Airbags196 (9%)
Power Train:automatic Transmission138 (6%)
Electrical System:horn111 (5%)
Speed Control103 (5%)
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly99 (5%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline88 (4%)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer76 (3%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine63 (3%)

1996 Dodge Caravan: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Caravan, with 196 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 96,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 96K-mile mark.

Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Caravan, with 138 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical System:horn Issues

Electrical System:horn complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Caravan, with 111 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system:horn-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Caravan, with 103 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

350
00
377
01
292
02
126
03
75
04
16
05
14
06
7
07
4
08
7
09
2
10
4
11
3
13
3
14
5
15
1
23

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1996 Dodge Caravan. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (18 recalls)

00V268000Jan 2002

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

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 COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A VEHICLE FIRE.

02V293000Nov 2002

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

03E045000

EQUIPMENT

AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 17, 2002, AND JANUARY 20, 2003, SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES LISTED ABOVE. THE FILTER MAY EXPERIENCE MALFUNCTION OF THE QUICK CONNECTOR EITHER BLOCKING FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE OR CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. THIS DOES NOT INVOLVE ANY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP. NOR ANY DAILMERCHRYSLER DEALERS.

03E053000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, MODELS WIX FILTER PART NUMBERS 33576, 33577, 33734; NAPA FILTER PART NUMBERS 3576, 3577, 3734; AND CARQUEST FILTER PART NUMBERS 86576, 86577, 86734 USED ON 1996-2000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, DODGE CARAVAN, AND PLYMOUTH VOYAGER VEHICLES, CAN CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LEAK.

06E022000Mar 2006

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.

+ 13 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (14)

1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

DP96014OpenOpened Nov 1996

DEFECTIVE AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

EA01007ClosedOpened Feb 2001 · closed Nov 2002

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

EA96025ClosedOpened Oct 1996 · closed Jul 1998

SLIDING DOOR LATCH FAILURE

STRUCTURE

EA97002ClosedOpened Jan 1997 · closed Feb 1998

FUEL TANK LEAKS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

EA97003ClosedOpened Jan 1997 · closed Aug 1998

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP

CHILD SEAT

+ 9 more in the full report

The worst model year for the Dodge Caravan is the 2002 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 2,178 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 18 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Dodge Caravan Model Years

200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984
View all Dodge Caravan years →

1996 Dodge Caravan: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1996 Dodge Caravan?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1996 Dodge Caravan is related to the airbags, with 196 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1996 Dodge Caravan reliable?
The 1996 Dodge Caravan has 2,178 complaints, 74 crash reports, and 66 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1996 Dodge Caravan problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1996 Dodge Caravan have any recalls?
Yes, the 1996 Dodge Caravan has 18 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Dodge Caravan problems start?
Based on 158 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 96,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 1996 Dodge Caravan data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 2,178 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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