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#BS-1996-DODGRA-2C57

1996 Dodge Grand CaravanProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,860 owners and 11 recalls for this exact model.

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

Complaints
1,860
Crashes
40
Fires
68
Recalls
11
TSBs
8
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,860 complaints, 40 crashes, 68 fires, and 11 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

transmission failure

12 complaints • Severity 9.3/10

$X,XXX
2

heater only works on high

2 complaints • Severity 7/10

$X,XXX
3

windshield wiper switch stopped working

2 complaints • Severity 7/10

$X,XXX
4

doors lock and unlock by themself

2 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
5

fan belt comes off in rain

2 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the AirbagsHIGH

181 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 98K 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

17
0–30K
10
30–60K
40
60–90K
50
90–120K
30
120–150K
32
150K+

Peak failure range: 90–120K miles (50 reports) • Median: 98K 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 (181 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

Airbags181 (10%)
Power Train:automatic Transmission168 (9%)
Speed Control113 (6%)
Electrical System:horn107 (6%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline80 (4%)
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly74 (4%)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer59 (3%)
Structure:body:door48 (3%)

1996 Dodge Grand Caravan: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan, with 181 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 98,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 98K-mile mark.

Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan, with 168 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan, with 113 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical System:horn Issues

Electrical System:horn complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan, with 107 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system:horn-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

320
00
434
01
291
02
86
03
92
04
22
05
7
06
6
07
18
08
4
09
5
10
4
11
4
12
2
14
4
15
1
16
2
22

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

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 (11 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.

95I004000Sep 1995

SEAT BELTS:INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT

95V225000Feb 1996

SEATS

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

95V236000Jan 1996

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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

+ 6 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 (11)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

EA01007ClosedOpened Feb 2001 · closed Nov 2002

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

EA99013ClosedOpened Jun 1999 · closed Aug 2001

POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

PE00032ClosedOpened Aug 2000 · closed Feb 2001

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING

AIR BAGS

+ 6 more in the full report

The worst model year for the Dodge Grand Caravan is the 2011 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is electrical.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,860 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 11 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 Grand Caravan Model Years

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View all Dodge Grand Caravan years →

1996 Dodge Grand Caravan: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan is related to the airbags, with 181 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?
The 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan has 1,860 complaints, 40 crash reports, and 68 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 Grand 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 Grand Caravan have any recalls?
Yes, the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan has 11 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Dodge Grand Caravan problems start?
Based on 179 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 98,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 90–120K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 1996 Dodge Grand 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 1,860 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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