Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Dodge Caravan, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags251
- Engine and engine cooling215
- Fuel system, gasoline215
- Electrical system213
- Power train185
- Service brakes, hydraulic139
- Visibility121
- Vehicle speed control115
- Steering65
- Latches/locks/linkages61
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 67 injuries and 9 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Dodge Caravan failed the safety check 0.61% of the time — 58% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 141,772 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 11.6–13.3 L/100 km (about 18–20 mpg US), CO₂ 267–306 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caravan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 9.6 | 11.6 |
| Caravan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.1 | 12.5 |
| Caravan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.7 | 12.8 |
| Caravan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 14.7 | 10.5 | 12.8 |
| Caravan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 10.7 | 13.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
11 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Dodge Caravan.
| 2002201 6 Nov 2002 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the clockspring assembly may have been backwound during the vehicle assembly process. This could illuminate the air bag warning lamp and m… |
| 2000215 3 Oct 2000 | Fuel System On certain vehicles equipped with the 3.3L or 3.8L engine the Nitrile "O-ring" seals used in the fuel rail may degrade over time and extended exposure to elevat… |
| 1999199 29 Oct 1999 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the Solid State Radiator Fan Relay (SSR) may fail to operate due to electrical and.or thermal over-stress, allowing the vehicle to overheat… |
| 1999154 19 Aug 1999 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, fuel may leak from the tank at the interface of the fuel pump module attachment due to a combination of process and assembly variations. F… |
| 1998168 26 Aug 1998 | Seats And Restraints NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT. THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT SAFETY BELT LATCH MECHANISM MAY BECOME CONTAMINATED CAUSING THE SEAT BELT RELE… |
| 1998080 20 Apr 1998 | Structure NOTE: RUNNING BOARD KITS SOLD IN THE 1996 CALENDAR YEAR AND USED ON 1996-97 CHRYSLER BUILT MINIVANS. A TIRE JACK TOP-ADAPTER, USED IN THE KITS TO PREVENT JACK … |
| 1996116 23 Jul 1996 | Seats And Restraints THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE CHILD SEAT TO THE SEAT FRAME MAY BREAK. THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. CORRECTION: SEAT BO… |
| 1996009 10 Jan 1996 | Engine AN ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY RETAINED. INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE PLUG MAY RESULT IN OIL LEAKAGE WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE… |
| 1996004 9 Jan 1996 | Fuel System AN ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE MAY BUILD UP IN THE VEHICLE'S PLASTIC FUEL TANK AND UNGROUNDED FUEL FILLER TUBE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. UNDER THE RIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE… |
| 1995227 14 Dec 1995 | Fuel System UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE MAY ALLOW LIQUID FUEL TO PASS INTO THE VAPOUR CANISTER RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL LEAKAGE. IN TH… |
| 1995213 1 Dec 1995 | Structure THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE REAR BENCH SEATS TO THEIR SEAT RISERS MAY BREAK DUE TO EMBRITTLEMENT. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN STOP, THE SEAT MAY SEPARA… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK AT THE INTERFACE OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ATTACHMENT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT WHEN THE SAFETY BELT LATCH PLATE BECOMES CONTAMINATED.
THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT MODULES TO THE SEAT FRAME CAN BREAK.
A STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE CAN BUILD UP ON THE UNGROUNDED METAL SECTION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE.
IN CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY AND ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL IS NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINED.
THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE CAN ALLOW FUEL TO PASS INTO THE VAPOR CANISTER RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL LEAKAGE.
THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE REAR BENCH SEATS TO THE SEAT RISERS MAY BE EMBRITTLED AND FRACTURE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 1996 Dodge Caravan: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635678 | CONCERNS WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LAMP ON INTERMITTENTLY OR CONSTANTLY. *TT |
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 634077 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 632201 | SUBJECT REGARDING TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE HOSE CLAMP SERVICE. *TT |
| 632197 | SUBJECT REGARDING CAMSHAFT / BEARING SERVICE. *TT |
| 630800 | SNOW/WATER INGESTION INTO REAR BRAKE DRUM. *YD THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES 05-001-02 DATED MARCH 4, 2002. *TT |
| 628194 | EXPERIENCING A POP/TICK SOUND HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *TT |
| 625650 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 620914 | EXPERIENCING A SQUAWK / CREAK / GROAN SOUND FROM FRONT SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH / BUMPY ROADS. *TT |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT |
| 619122 | ON SOME VEHICLES, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH DEEP OR BLOWING SNOW / WATER, THE SNOW / WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS CAUSING RUST TO DEVELOP ON THE REAR BRAKE DRUM AND SHOE FRICTION SURFACES. THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO TEMPORARY FREEZING OF THE REAR BRAKE LININGS TO THE DRUMS. *TT |
| 618413 | INFORMATION ON SERVICE PUBLICATION UPDATES. *JB |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 616727 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 615691 | EXPERIENCING A CHATTER SOUND COMING FROM THE SLIDING DOOR POWER LOCK ACTUATOR(S) WHEN THE POWER LOCK FEATURE IS REPEATEDLY ACTIVATED. *TT |
| 615688 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 612610 | A CONDITION EXIST WHERE THE ROOF PANEL SURFACE EXHIBITS WAVINESS OR DEPRESSION(S) NEAR THE FRONT OF THE CHARACTER FEATURES OR SKID STRIP FOR ROOF RACK EQUIPPED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 612160 | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS |
| 610639 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS PROCECURES TO REMOVE WAVINESS OR DEPRESSIONS FROM THE ROOF PANEL SURFACE. *TT |
| 610635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 610018 | A CONDITION WHERE A CLICK / RATTLE SOUND MAY BE HEARD COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE VHICLE IS IN MOTION. *TT |
| 609998 | VEHICLE OPERATOR MAY COMPLAIN OF POOR AM RADIO RECEPTION. *TT |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 609989 | CONCERNS WITH THE PCV VALVE FREEZING UNDER EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING
AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING
DC MINIVAN FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAK
POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM
POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY
INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP
FUEL TANK LEAKS
DEFECTIVE AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR
SLIDING DOOR LATCH FAILURE
INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP
FUEL LEAKS FROM THE GAS TANK
SLIDING DOOR LATCH FAILURE
SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION
FUEL LEAKEAGE FROM ROLLOVER VALVE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation