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 →
SUDDEN LOUD NOISE AND SHORT MOMENT OF LOCKED FRONT WHEELS, ENGINE STALLED AND AFTER WHEN I STOPPED, HUGE OIL LEAK FROM THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER TRANSMISSION DISASSEMBLY BIG HOLE IN TRANS HOUSING AROUND 3" IN DIAMETER TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER SIDE,DAMAGED TORQUE CONVERTER, PIECES OF DIFFERENTIAL PARTS WENT OF THE HOLE. HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FOR VERIFICATION, PICTURES.
THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS, THE COMING ON OF WIPERS BY THEMSELVES AND SHORTING OUT THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE STALLING WERE A FAULT OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *YH
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. MANY OTHER 1996 GRAND CARAVAN OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME FAILURE, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE CLOCK SPRING HAS FAILED. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. I'M CERTAIN MANY MORE OWNERS WOULD REPORT THIS IF THEY WERE AWARE OF SO MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM, BUT GIVE THE MODEST COST OF REPAIR ($250 EST.), MOST PEOPLE HAVE PROBABLY PAID FOR THIS REPAIR WITHOUT REPORTING IT SINCE THE POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS ARE SO SERIOUS (NO HORN OR AIR BAG!!) GIVEN THE MODEST COST OF REPAIR AND THE SERIOUS INJURY THAT COULD RESULT FROM NOT CORRECTING THIS, DODGE SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. ISN'T THIS WHAT NHTSA IS FOR? PLEASE HELP FORCE DODGE TO BE RESPONSIBLE. SIMILAR MODELS AND OTHER MODEL YEARS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME PART, AS WELL. PLEASE RESPOND, AND LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE DODGE TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION.*AK
LEAK AIR COND SYM CAUSED 5 MO. AND 2 YR CHILD TO BECOME SICK FROM R134 BLOW IN FACE. *AK
THE SWAY END LINK BAR FAILED. NLM
VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE SEALING O RING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT HAS COME ON/ HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. DEALER STATED CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERABLE UNTIL IT WAS FIXED. *YH
NO HORN, NO CRUISE CONTROL, CLICKING IN COLUMN. AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. *AK
TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO OPERATE. DEALER CANT FIND PROBLEM OR DUPLICATE PROBLEM. ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIS AND NEED TO SIGNAL A TURN. VERY HAZARDOUS.*AK
AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, AS WELL. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
THE THREE COMPONENTS HAVE CEASED TO WORK, APPARENTLY DUE TO THE CLOCKSPRING. FROM INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THESES VEHICLES.*AK
WHILE DRIVING UNDER RAINY CONDITION WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. TOOK VEHICLE DEALER, AND THE STATED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AT 65MPH AND WITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT,CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
EA 01007; AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND STAYS ON. HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE NOT OPERATING AS WELL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A APPPOIONTMENT WAS MADE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
FRONT CRASH AT 40 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK
REPLACED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION EVERY 2 YEARS AT 37,000, 100760, AND AT 147654. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AS TRANMISSIONS DO NO TYPICALLY FAIL EVERY 24 TO 28 MONTHS. THE NTHSA SHOULD FORCE DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TO STAND BEHIND A KNOWN DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND REPLACE THESE AT NO CHARGE WHEN FAILURES OCCUR FREQUENTLY. THIS IS A KNOWN PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THE CHRYSLER/DODGE MINIVANS AND HAS BEEN REPORTED ON EXTENSIVELY. ACTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AS IT IS UNLIKELY DAIMLER-CHRYSLER WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILTY ON THEIR OWN.*AK
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING.*AK
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, HORN STOPPED WORKING, AND CRUISE CONTROL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE, HOWEVER PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE. THE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT SHUT PROPERLY. PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT LOCK DUE TO DOOR LOCK MOTOR FAILURE. DRIVERS WINDOW MAKES NOISE DUE TO REGULATOR FAILURE. *YH
EVEN AFTER FUEL RAIL RECALL 00V268000 AND REPLACEMENT OF FUEL LINE AT ELBO, MORE ITEMS OF REPLACEMENT, INCLUDING TANK, WERE NECESSARY TO STOP LEAKS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
RECALL 99-V2-216-000/ MANUFACTURER 'SID RECALL 895 CONCENING FUEL LEAK FROM TANK IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS FILLED. CONSUMER NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO PULL OFF FROM THE GAS STATION AFTER PAYING, AND NOTICED AT LEAST HALF WAS ON THE GROUND. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND NEVER LOCATED CAUSE OF PROBLEM.VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED FOR A RECALLS IN JANUARY AND APRIL OF 2002 FOR FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON/HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. DEALER STATED CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT
TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 72000 MILES.*AK THE HINGES ON THE DOOR WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT ROTOR WAS TURNED. *YH
BATTERY EXPLODED AT FIRST START, ORIGINAL PART.*AK
AT 57K MILES, THE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE AIRBAG. THIS CAUSED FAILURE OF HORN & AIRBAG.THE MANUFACTURER SAID IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CASES OF THIS. BUT EACH REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AT NO COST AND CHARGED OVER $300 FOR THE SAFETY REPAIR. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS NOT COVERED. IT CAN CAUSE FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS FOR NOT ONLY US, BUT OTHERS AS WELL. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT APPEARS THAT CHRYSLER HAS PUT A PRICE ON SAFETY ALLOWING THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS TO RISK INJURY OR DEATH. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. THANKS, I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V268, HOWEVER VEHICLE HAD FAILURES PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STARTED LOSING POWER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 20 MPH, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOT ONLY DID THE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY NEED REPLACING, BUT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. *SLC
THE PISTON RING IN THE ENGINE HAD EXCESSIVELY WORN. *YH
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DURING SERVICE MECHANIC STATED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING ON DASHBOARD DUE TO CLOCK SPRING MALFUNCTIONING.*AK
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL IN DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 0V26800 FOR FUEL LEAK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY REPLACED SEAL. , BUT RECALL LETTER STATED IF FUEL WAS LEAKING FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY WOULD BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
POWER WINDOW MOTORS AND REGULATORS ARE DEFECTIVE. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR & REGULATOR ON 1/26/01 AND AGAIN ON 3/15/02. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR AND REGULATOR ON 6/4/02. MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR DEFECTIVE POWER WINDOW MOTORS AND REGULATORS. THESE DEFECTS ARE ALL TOO COMMON.*AK
EA 01 007 AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING: CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING, ALSO THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER NOTIFIED. *JB DEALER STATED IT COULD BE A BAD WIRE INT HE STEERING COLUMN OR THE CLOCK SPRING, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM UNLESS STEERING WHEEL IS TAKEN APART. *TT
THE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE CAUSED SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO STOP FUNCTIONING INCLUDING THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG DODGE VEHICLES AND AM UPSET THAT THEY FIRST CHARGE A SIZABLE DIAGNOSTIC FEE ONLY TO DETERMINE THAT THIS COMMON PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED RATHER THAN OFFERING A FREE PART REPLACEMENT WHICH WOULD RENDER THE DIAGNOSTIC UNCESSARY. THE AIR BAG AND HORN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY DODGE TO BE SAFETY COMPONENTS AND IF THIS CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY IS A COMMONLY DEFECTIVE PART, IT SHOULD BE REPLACED AS PART OF A RECALL PROGRAM.*AK
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON ALL DAY, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION OF AIR BAGS/ HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL.*AK
AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED; HORN INOPERATIVE; CRUIZE CONTROL INOPERATIVE. DEALER REPLACED THE "CLOCKSPRING" ($297). TURNS OUT EVERY '96 CARAVAN OWNER I KNOW HAS HAD THIS FAIL, AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE HORN WOULDN'T HAVE WORKED IF I'D NEEDED IT UNTIL THE DEALER POINTED IT OUT.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*JB BATTERY, BATTERY CABLE, ALARM SYSTEM, STARTER AND CRANKSENSOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER STATES COMPUTER POSSIBLY CAUSING STALLING. *TT
WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND THEN A LOUD POP. WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE OFF CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY WAY TO CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
FUEL RAIL LINE IS LEAKING FLUID, AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE HAS A HOLE ON TOP OF GAS TANK, AND TANK IS LEAKING GASOLINE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
MY HUSBAND WOULD BE DRIVING AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. EVERYTHING ON THE DASH WENT OUT. ABOUT 2 TO 3 SECONDS LATER IT CAME BACK ON BUT BARELY WORKING. THE CAR BEHIND US ALMOST HIT US. WHEN THE CAR RE-STARTED THE DASH LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING AND THE INSTRUMENTS WERE NOT READING RIGHT. ONTOP OF THAT WE COULD NOT TURN THE AIR OR RADIO OR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE IT MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. PRIOR TO THIS IT HAPPEN TO MY HUSBAND TWICE ON THE SAME DAY. IN MARCH WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ON TOP OF OTHER ISSUES. WE ONLY HAD THIS MINI VAN FOR A YEAR AND WE ALREADY HAD TO REPAIR THE AIR CONDITIONER 2X , FUEL PUMP BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING, THE FIRST TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROMBEM AND SAID IT WAS AN OVERFILL OF GAS, SECOND TIME THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. ALSO OUT OF POCKET FOR BRAKES, AND ROTOR. WE WERE HOPING FOR SOME KIND OF EXCHANGE FOR THIS. DURING THE YEAR WE HAD THIS MINI VAN THE DEALERSHIP CHANGE HANDS AGAIN. NOW THE CURRENT OWNER IS GETTING COMPLAINTS FROM CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE A VEHICLE FROM THERE LAST YEAR, PER OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE SALES MANAGER. THEY HAD TO RE-RUN OUR CREDIT AND TAKE ALL OUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ALL OVER AGAIN. NEXT MORNING I WAS TOLD THAT THE BANK /LENDER WANTS $2500.00 UPFRONT AS GOOD FAITH, BECAUSE WE STILL OWE ON THE VEHICLE. LIKE I SAID EARLIER THE CAR IS FINACE FOR 5 YEARS. ALSO THE PART THAT IS NEEDED COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN $385 TO 209 APPROX. AND LABOR $300.00 OR SO. SO WE WO
THERE IS A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING INTO CAB OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT A FIRE MAY START. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
RECALL 00 V 268 000/FUEL LEAKAGE: DEALER: ED MOSES DODGE, SCOTTDALE, AZ; PHONE 480-607-8584 WAS UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL REPAIRS, NO PARTS AVAILABLE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS WERE FINALLY REPLACED ON MAY 16, 2002.*JB
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER DETERMINED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, IN WHICH THE REAR SEAT BELTS BECAME DISLODGED, NOT SECURING THE INSURED'S CHILDREN IN THEIR CAR SEATS, THERE WERE 4 INJURIES.(CLAIM#25-5524-222)*JB
THE CONSUMER STATES TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE FUEL LEAK RECALL(NHTSA ID#00-V-268-000 MANUFACTURER RECALL ID# 895). THE VEHICLE HAD A LEAK AT THE TOP SEAM OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMER STATES EACH TIME THE TANK WAS FILLED THE SMELL OF GAS LINGERED FOR AT LEAST TWO DAYS. THE PROBLEM DID NOT START UNTIL THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *JG
NHTSA 00 V 268 000/ MANUFACTURERS RECALL 895 CONCERNING FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER, SUPER STORE GREENVILLE, GREENVILLE, MI, PHONE# 616/754-3635 UNABLE TO HONOR MANUFACTURERS RECALL, NO PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK *YH
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL (00V268000) NOTICE FOR FUEL RAIL REPLACEMENT. RECALL NOTICE STATED THAT REPLACEMENT WOULD TAKE UP TO 1 AND 1/2 HOURS, HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP TOOK UP TO 6 HOURS TO REPAIR. ALSO CONSUMER IS REQUESTING PAPER WORK FOR STATE INSPECTION THAT WAS PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. *TT
CLOCK SPRING FAILURE FROM DEALER DIAGNOSIS. APPEARS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM. AIRBAG IS SAFETY ITEM. *AK
AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT CLOCK SPRING IN THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *AK HORN WOULD NOT OPERATE. *YD
HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, AIRBAG HAVE STOPPED WORKING - CLOCK SPRING PROBLEM???*AK
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 →