AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOSLY, THE HORN NO LONGER WORKS, CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS, FRONT INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER COME ON WHEN THE FRONT DOORS ARE OPENED, COOLING FANS WILL NOT RUN EVEN WITH A/C ON, HOOD LATCH DOESN'T ALWAYS RELEASE THE HOOD. *AK
1996 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
WAS DRIVING, AND WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN, WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP. HAD CHECKED VEHICLE & NOTICED PULLEY BELT HAD CAME OFF. TENSION BRACKET HAD FAILED (SERPENTINE BELT). ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
REAR MAIN SEAL, CAM PLUGS, VALVE COVER GASKETS FAILED. ALL AT ONCE WITH NO WARNING. *AK
ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS ON PASSENGER SIDE DO NOT WORK LOCKS PROPERLY WHEN BUTTON IS PRESSED. TAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO RELEASE DOOR LOCK. *AK
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR THE 4TH TIME SINCE JULY 2000. AIRBAG LIGHT JUST BEE FIXED, NOW DOOR IS STUCK OPEN AND HAS TO BE CLOSED FROM INSIDE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON OF THEIR OWN ACCORD. GET IT SORTED DODGE. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE AND SOMETIMES COME ON BY THEMSELVES, OBSTRUCTING VIEW OF DRIVER. VEHICLE AT DEALER'S FOR REPAIR. *AK O2 SENSOR, IGNITION SWITCH, KEY CYLINDER, AND A/C BLOWER RESISTOR AND WIRING KIT ALL REPLACED. *SLC
TENSIONEER PULLY FELL OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENS CONSUMER LOSES TENSION ON FAN BELT/POWER STEERING/POWER BRAKES, AND THEN VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STOP OR STEER. *AK
RIGHT BEFORE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO OVERDRIVE THERE IS A JERKY MOTION. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, AT 40 -45 MPH. ALSO, TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REBUILT, AND AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER SAYS IT'S DUE TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT, BRAKES REPLACED TWICE, ROTORS REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS NUMEROUS TIMES. NOISE IN ENGINE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO SERPENTIN BELT AND TENSIONER FAILURE. *YH
WHEN PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY DRIVESHAFT BROKE. HAD IT REPAIRED FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. THEN WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, DRIVESHAFT BROKE AGAIN. EACH TIME IT WAS AT LOW SPEED. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE BREAKAGE EACH TIME. WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP EACH TIME. *AK
THE CLOCK SPRING CONTROLING THE HORN, AIRBAG, AND CRUISE CONTROL BROKE RECENTLY MAKING THE AIR BAG SYSTEM USELESS. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OF THE GRAND CARAVANS. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AND REPAIRED SO IT WILL NOT MAKE THE SAFETY SYSTEM OF THE CAR IN OPERATIVE WHEN IT FAILS.*AK
RECALL 98V2185000; DEALER DID NOT GIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY CLEAN THE BUCKLE . PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY REMEDY OF RECALL. THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED, AND THE CLIPS WERE NOT EASILY REMOVED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER HAD RECALL 00V268 REPAIR COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE GAS TANK BURSTED INTO FLAMES A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE. *SLC
CONSUMER STARTED THE ENGINE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 33-0270-578. *SLC
BELT TENSIONER LOCKED UP TWICE IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL AND POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE POWER STEERING BELT WAS THROWN OFF THE BELT TENSIONER AND DESTROYED TWICE, ONCE IN MARCH 2000 AND AGAIN IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING FUEL FUMES/ORDER LEAKAGES COMING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA ON THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH BUSY CITY INTERSECTION. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN CARAVANS. HE SAID NO, BUT HE HAD SEEN IT HAPPEN. COST OF REPAIR: $1507.63. WHEN I QUESTIONNED THIS, HE SAID I SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE, ABOUT 4 OR 5 HOUSES DOWN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 49-3238-941. *SLC
TRANSMISSION GEAR CRACKED AND TEETH BROKE OFF. VAN NOW MOVES IN PARK. ALSO OCCASIONAL GEAR JAMS AND VAN JERKS TO A STOP WHILE MOVING FROM 1 TO 10 MPH.*AK
REPEATED FAILURE OF SERPENTINE PULLEY REPAIRED, BUT WHY IS IT FAILING AGAIN. *AK
HOW CAN RADICAL FAILURES LIKE THIS GO ON UNADDRESSED? CHRYSLER IS SATISFIED TO SELL CARS THAT FAIL AS LONG AS THEY DON'T GET SUED. THE PROBLEM IS NOT NEW AND IS VERY FREQUENT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED, CONSUMER EXITED VEHICLE TO FIND VEHICLE ON FIRE, FIRE SEEMED TO COME FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT THE ENGINE AREA, DUE TO THE FUEL LINE RUBBING AGAINST THE RIGHT FRAME RAIL, THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE, CLAIM 16-N141-453. *SLC
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER YOU LOSE YOUR POWER STEERING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CLAIMS THAT THIS MODEL VAN HAS THAT PROBLEM. IF NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK
IN FIRST INCIDENT, ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE VAN WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. IMMEDIATLY TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. AFTER THIS ATTEMPT ,ELECTRICAL POWER TO ALL OTHER COMPONENTS (LIGHTS, RADIO/ ETC.) WAS LOST. AFTER APP. 1/2 HOUR WITHOUT POWER ,ENGINE RESTARTED WHEN AGAIN ATTEMPTED. IN SECOND INCIDENT, WHILE TRAVELING APP. 50 MPH,AGAIN, ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING.ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART (NO CRANK) . AFTER 15-20 MINUTES, ENGINE WOULD RESTART. TAKEN TO DEALER, WHERE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AS VAN WAS NOW RUNNING OK. DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY LOSE POWER.EULY
SLIDER DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED 8 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED, FIRST SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, NOW THEY CHARGE ME $25 FOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS PLACED INTO THE "PARK" POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN NEUTRAL; WHEN PUT INTO THE "REVERSE" POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO DRIVE. IT WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK OR REVERSE.*AK
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. *MJS
AT 48,000 MILES VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING OR AT A STOP POSITION. BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK *JB
I STILL HAD OTHER COMPNENTS REPLACED IN MY VEHICLE, BUT YOU DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR ALL MY INFORMATION.
REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELTS HAVE BROKEN AWAY FROM ITS HOUSING MOUNT. THIS OCCURRED AFTER THE SHOULDER STRAPS WERE USED WITH CAR SEATS. DELAER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
THIS IS A DAMEGED TRUCK SINCE THE BEGINNING, IS A FAILURE TRUCK, I DONT WANT IT
PE96-051, AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME WHICH COULD MEAN FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
DAY CARES VEHICLE USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN HAS A INTEGRAL CHILD SEAT. HARNESS STRAP TIGHTENS UP & IS VERY HARD TO RELEASE. IT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, IT COULD BE TIME CONSUMING & DANGEROUS TO THE CHILD TRYING TO GET THEM OUT. DEALER HASN'T RESPONDED TO THE PROBLEM.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES , WHEN I SIGNAL FOR EITHER A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN !
A CRACK WAS FOUND IN THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK BY THE DEALER WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR CORRECTION OF A FUEL SYSTEM RELATED RECALL. EITHER THEY CRACKED THE TANK DURING THE REPAIR OR IT WAS ALREADY CRACKED. IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT A GAS TANK SHOULD CRACK. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS DRIVEN CAREFULLY. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM AND THEY SAID NO. HOWEVER, AFTER HAVING THE TANK REPLACED I FOUND OUT THAT A NEW TANK HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR REPLACEMENT. WHY WOULD DODGE NEED TO REDESIGN THE TANK IF IT WAS DESIGNED PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE? IF OTHER TANKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF CRACKING, THERE IS CERTAINLY A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM FOR OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE OCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS. THANKS.*AK
THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS BEEN IN A SJOP SPECIALIZING IN TRANSMISSIONS DEFYING ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE THE SECOND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED JANUARY, 1999. THE MECHANICS ARE AT A TOTAL LOSS TO EXPLAIN WHY A SIMPLE THING LIKE A TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY IN JANUARY, 1999 AND HAS BEEN EFFECTIVELY DESTROYED BY SOMETHING UNIDENTIFIABLE NOW. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILED ON AUGUST 3, 2000 AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE TO THIS WRITING. THE CAR WOULD STOP AT HIGH SPEED IN HIGHWAYS TRAPPING ME AND MY CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, LIETRALLY TERRORIZING ME AND MY CHILDREN. THIS WOULD HAPPEN AFTEN AND THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE OCCURRED EARLY WHNE THE COLUMN-MOUNTED SHIFT WOULD WITHOUT WARNING POP OUT OF GEAR, LEAVING THE CAR EITHER IN NEUTRAL OR WITH THE ENGINE TURNING OFF. ALL THIS WAS VERY TROUBLING BUT CHRYSLER SAID IT WAS "NORMAL." THAT SUMMARIZES MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TOTALLY DANGEROUSLY UNRELIABLE VEHICLE. THE ONLY THING THAT HASN'T FAILED HAS BEEN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THAT I OR ANY PASSENGERS OR OTHER DRIVERS (MY OLDER CHILDREN DRIVE) COULD HAVE DIED IF THE GAS IGNITED WHEN I FOUND THE DISCHARGE OF GAS AS INDICATED BY THE RAPIDLY DROPPING GAS GAUGE INTO THE ENGINE CREATING AN INCREDIBLY NOXIOUS ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ALERTING ME TO THE POTENTIAL HAZARD. CHRYSLER SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED TWO RECALLS ON THIS FAILED FUEL SYSTEM. I HAVE JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER- THIS AT FOUR YEARS OLD. CLEARLY CHRYSLER KNOWS A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS DANGERO
WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL, THE MINIVAN ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN TO OVER 90 MPH. THE CRUISE CONTROL CANNOT BE DISENGAGED BY APPLYING THE BRAKES NOR BY PRESSING CRUISE BUTTON OR CANCEL. IF PUT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE RACES TO OVER 7000 RPM. THE VAN MUST BE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THEN THE CRUISE/THROTTLE CAN BE MANUALLY DISENGAGED UNDER THE HOOD. ON 6/23/98, THE CABLE-THROTTLE CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE CRUISE FAILED AGAIN REQUIRING REPLACEMENT A SECOND TIME ON 10/03/00 AT FAMILY AUTO CENTER, MUSKEGON, MI. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED TO INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION AND HOPEFULLY A SAFETY RECALL. INSTEAD, I WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. MR. MARC GOSS, SERVICE MANAGER AT FAMILY AUTO, IS PLANNING TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH A CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE LATER THIS MONTH. HE IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS SHOWN ANY CONCERN TO THIS POINT.
THE TURN SIGNAL IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN WITH THE VAN SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. THEY JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN WON'T WORK. NO LIGHTS, NO FLASH, NO NOTHING. THEN FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THEY DECIDE TO WORK. WE JUST BOUGHT A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING AND MY WIFE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. HER DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SEBRINGS TURN SIGNAL EITHER. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE ONLY BECAUSE, DURING A RAIN STORM I COULD NOT SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS OF MY INTENT TO CHANGE LANES BEFORE I GOT TO MY EXIT. THIS WAS NOT A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE. AND YES, YOU GUESSED IT, THE NEXT DAY THEY WORKED FINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER.
WHILE DRIVING SPEED CONTROL ACTIVATED WITHOUT MANUAL OPERATION. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, AND HEADLIGHTS COULD NOT BE MANUALLY TURNED OFF.PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING IN THE PHOENIX AREA MAKING A NORMAL LEFT TURN AT A STREET INTERSECTION, SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL JAMMED, SO THAT I WAS UNABLE TO STRAIGHTEN UP AT THE END OF THE TURN AND HAD TO BRAKE SHARPLY AND STOP, ELSE HIT CARS ON THE LEFT WAITING FOR THEIR LIGHT! IN THE FEW SECONDS OF THIS PROCESS I FELT A "CLICKING-GRINDING" OF WHAT SOUNDED LIKE BROKEN PLASTIC INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING. HAD I BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, THE DEFECTIVE PART AND JAMMED STEERING WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR FATALITIES. INSPECTION SHOWED A BROKEN WHITE NYLON OR PLASTIC PIECE IN THE NAMED TURN-SIGNAL SWITCH MODULE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE. PART.*AK
REAR CARRIER WELD BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR, AND TRANSMISSON DID NOT GO INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
COMPLETE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL AND TCM REPLACEMENT, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. *SLC
CONSUMER TOLD BY DEALER THAT RECALL 99V-216 OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE SEAL DOES NOT APPLY TO HIS PARTICULAR STYLE OF MINIVAN, HANDICAPPED CONVERSION CREATED DIFFERENT FUEL TANK SETUP. NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS A CLICKING AND POPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE THIRD TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. FIRST TIME A NEW SPRING WAS PUT INSIDE STEERING COLUMN. SECOND TIME STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. FINALLY, RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF DRIVER. DEALER HAS REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, AND THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE PARKED IN CARPORT, CLAIM 03-3171-084. *SLC
IDLE TENSION PULLEY BROKEN WHILE TRAVELING. TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM INTO NEUTRAL ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. MULTIPLE INCIDENTS, DEALER CLAIMS IGNORANCE.*AK
THE MOUNTING BOLT FOR THE SPRING TENSIONER OF THE SERPENTINE BELT SUDDENLY FAILED, RENDERING THE CAR INOPERABLE. LOOSE FAILED PARTS THEN DAMAGED AN AUXILIARY PULLEY IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (POWER STEERING PUMP). INSPECTION OF FAILED BOLT SHOWS NO SIGN OF WEAR, CRACKS, WEAKENING, ETC. BOLT FAILURE WAS SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED, AND COMPLETE. I SUSPECT POOR QUALITY OF METAL IN BOLT'S COMPOSITION TO BE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY DEALER WITH COST COMING OUT OF MY POCKET DESPITE EVIDENCE OF FAULTY MATERIAL AND MY APPEAL FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO DEALER AND CHRYSLER REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. REVIEWING CONSUMER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON NHTSA WEB SITE, I FIND NO LESS THAN A DOZEN IDENTICAL PROBLEMS DESCRIBED ON 1996 MODELS ALONE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES RESULTING FROM MY INCIDENT AND EFFECTS ON THE ENGINE AS A WHOLE REMAIN TO BE SEEN. FURTHERMORE, THE BOLT APPEARS TO BE MADE OF ALUMINUM (DESPITE ITS CRITICAL FUNCTION AND DELICATE LOCATION). I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE ME CONCERNING THIS SITUATION. HOPEFULLY, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIAL, CHRYSLER WILL DO THE RIGHT THING BEFORE INJURIES/FATALITIES OCCUR AS A RESULT OF FAILURES OF THIS ENGINE COMPONENT. THE FAILED PART IS IN MY POSSESSION AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION/TESTING IF YOU WISH. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE TO CONSUMERS. CHUCK TOLAND
CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 3-4 TIMES. ORIGINAL OWNER SHOWED THAT RECALLS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. CONSUMER HAS HAD OTHER DEALER TO VERIFY THAT WORK WAS DONE RIGHT. FUEL TANK LEAKED & HAD A ODOR THAT CAME FROM IT. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. A MECHANIC WAS GOING TO CHANGE PURGED CANISTER TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER BELIEVED THAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM. PREVIOUS OWNER COULD HAVE OVER FILLED THE TANK WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN THE REASON.*AK
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan → · Every Grand Caravan year → · How the figures are calculated →