1996 DODGE CARAVAN

2178 complaints filed with NHTSA.

2178
Complaints
74
Crashes
66
Fires
102
Injuries
9
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS196
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION138
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN111
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL103
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY99
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE88
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER76
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP63
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE63
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH61
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL51
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR49
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP42
UNKNOWN OR OTHER42
CHILD SEAT39

Recent Complaints

20150608CrashSERVICE BRAKES

WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE I TOUCHED BREAK AND THE VAN ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. THE VAN JUMPED THE CURB AND WAS HEADING TOWARD 3 PEOPLE, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH TO HIT A LIGHT POLE INSTEAD OF THEM. THE VAN QUIT RACING FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN REVVED UP AGAIN. THE LIGHT POLE FELL AND I WAS AGAIN HEADED TOWARD THE PEOPLE. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BREAK AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VAN, BUT NOT BEFORE HITTING THE PEOPLE. LUCKILY THEY WERE JUST BRUISED BECAUSE I JUST BUMPED THEM

20150608CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE I TOUCHED BREAK AND THE VAN ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. THE VAN JUMPED THE CURB AND WAS HEADING TOWARD 3 PEOPLE, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH TO HIT A LIGHT POLE INSTEAD OF THEM. THE VAN QUIT RACING FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN REVVED UP AGAIN. THE LIGHT POLE FELL AND I WAS AGAIN HEADED TOWARD THE PEOPLE. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BREAK AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VAN, BUT NOT BEFORE HITTING THE PEOPLE. LUCKILY THEY WERE JUST BRUISED BECAUSE I JUST BUMPED THEM

20150608CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE I TOUCHED BREAK AND THE VAN ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. THE VAN JUMPED THE CURB AND WAS HEADING TOWARD 3 PEOPLE, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH TO HIT A LIGHT POLE INSTEAD OF THEM. THE VAN QUIT RACING FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN REVVED UP AGAIN. THE LIGHT POLE FELL AND I WAS AGAIN HEADED TOWARD THE PEOPLE. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BREAK AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VAN, BUT NOT BEFORE HITTING THE PEOPLE. LUCKILY THEY WERE JUST BRUISED BECAUSE I JUST BUMPED THEM

20100917FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN HE WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT HAD JUST REFUELED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A SMALL FIRE FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE MECHANIC REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT A POTENTIAL RECALL ON THE VEHICLE

Mileage: 156,398

20080905FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HER VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE NEAR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 192,400.

Mileage: 192,400

20070823SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

FRONT STRUT MOUNTS ON EVERY 96 THRU 00 CARAVAN, VOYAGER, CHRYSLER MINIVANS THAT I'VE LOOKED AT,HAVE SERIOUS RUST PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY THE LEFT SIDE, RESULTING IN THE STRUT ITSELF BREAKING THROUGH AND HITTING THE BOTTOM OF THE HOOD, AND RESULTING OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE REPAIR COST TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED IS VERY COSTLY,$300-1000 TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM ON ALL 96 THRU 00 MINI-VANS BEFORE SOMEBODY HAS A

Mileage: 50,000

20070621CrashTIRES

1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE IN THE LEFT LANE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE . *MC *JB

20070124AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT DOING 3 OR 4 MPH, WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NEVER HIT ANYTHING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES ON HER FOREARM. THE CONTACT DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYTHING COULD BE, AND GOT RID OF THE VAN. *AK

Mileage: 180,000

20061220FirePOWER TRAIN

TL* - THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM HER CAR. SHE PULLED HER CAR OVER AND GOT OUT AND THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT SAID THAT SHE CAN GET A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT. THE CONTACT ALSO SAID THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. THE SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS 96V006000.

20060117FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1996 DODGE CARAVAN CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS AND SAW SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *NM

20050512CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MAY 7, 2005, I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER CAR WAS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ACCORD HIT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN JUST IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INFLATED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT. THROUGH THE COURSE OF HAVING THIS CAR, THE "AIRBAG" LIGHT WAS AN ISSUE ALMOST FROM DAY ONE. WHEN I WOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BILL KAY CHRYSLER IN NAPERVILLE, THEY WOULD CHECK IT AND FIND NOTHING WRONG. FINALLY I WA

Mileage: 178,000

20050308FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE LEAKING FUEL RAIL. *BF RECALL #00V268000. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS NOT TOLD OF ANY RECALL. *JB

20050119CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BOUGHT USED 1996 DODGE IN SEPT 2003 AND HAVE REPLACE BRAKES, ROTOR, AND CALIPERS 6 TIMES. MECHANICS DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE. BRAKES ALSO LOCK WHEN I PRESS ON THEM AND HIT BUMP AT SAME TIME CAUSING VAN TO SLIDE WITH ME AND MY INFANT IN IT. HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTORS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THE DODGE COMPANY TO RECALL THESE DODGE CARAVANS, THIS SITE HAS ABOUT 50% ON COMPLAINTS ON BRAKES AND ROTORS. *NM

Mileage: 96,000

20041213CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST AND NECK INJURIES., AND FRONT END SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. *AK

Mileage: 150,000

20040728CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 173,000

20030814FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH WITH TWO PASSENGERS, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VENT NEAR THE REAR SLIDING DOOR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE CURB AND WAITED 2 MINUTES, THEN CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD TO TRY TO FIND THE PROBLEM FOR THE SMOKE. NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND, BUT WHILE GETTING BACK INTO VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE SPEWING FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WHEELS. CONSUMER BARELY REMOVED PASSENGERS FROM VEHICLE WHEN VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

Mileage: 115,000

20030626FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Mileage: 122,000

20030421FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE USED, AND SINCE THEN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING, AND AT THE ODDEST TIMES. ALSO, MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY HORN STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE OF IT. SUDDENLY, ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING. I TOOK IT TO GET IT SERVICED AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKING. THE SERVICE MEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL. I WAS TOLD BY OTHER MECHANICS, AFTER THE FIRE THAT I DESCRIBE BELOW, THAT IF THE VEHICLE BURNS OIL,

Mileage: 120,000

20030212CrashAIR BAGS

THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL AND FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

Mileage: 99,000

20030207FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHILE BACKING UP, SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND BURNED VAN COMPLETELY. PH

Mileage: 160,000