Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags211
- Power train209
- Electrical system197
- Engine and engine cooling177
- Fuel system, gasoline174
- Vehicle speed control124
- Visibility99
- Service brakes, hydraulic95
- Steering75
- Suspension60
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 41 injuries and 7 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 Grand Caravan failed the safety check 1.20% of the time — 18% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 141,508 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 11.6–14.4 L/100 km (about 16–20 mpg US), CO₂ 267–331 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Caravan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 9.6 | 11.6 |
| Grand Caravan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.1 | 12.5 |
| Grand Caravan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.7 | 12.8 |
| Grand Caravan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 14.7 | 10.5 | 12.8 |
| Grand Caravan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 10.7 | 13.3 |
| Grand Caravan AWD · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 16.8 | 11.4 | 14.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
10 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Dodge Grand 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… |
| 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 Grand Caravan: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 6089744 | EMISSIONS RECALL STATING THAT THE RADIATOR FAN RELAY MAY NOT TURN ON THE RADIATOR COOLING FANS. *TT |
| 10220101 | Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts. |
| 10220099 | Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts. |
| 10220097 | Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage. |
| 10191460 | Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling. |
| 10175735 | Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary. |
| 10169247 | Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts. |
| 10169245 | Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage. |
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
INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP
FUEL LEAKS FROM THE GAS TANK
SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION
FUEL LEAKEAGE FROM ROLLOVER VALVE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation