RecallMyCar

1996 Dodge Caravan Recalls, Complaints & Specs

9 safety recalls list the 1996 Dodge Caravan, and owners have filed 1,403 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

9
safety recalls
1,403
owner complaints to NHTSA
57 / 47
complaints citing a crash / fire
16–20
MPG combined (EPA)

9 safety recalls for the 1996 Dodge Caravan

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 02V293000 Reported 1,500,521 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    On certain MINI vans, the clockspring assembly may have been wound incorrectly during the vehicle assembly process.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. An extended lifetime warranty will also be placed on this component for all affected vehicles, regardless of mileage.…

  2. Fuel injection system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 00V268000 Reported 1,163,000 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a seal on the vehicle fuel rails to prevent external leakage of fuel from the fuel rail crossover tube, should the existing o-rings continue to degrade. Owner notification began on january 25,…

  3. Fuel pump (fuel system)

    NHTSA 99V216000 Reported 635,469 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: minivans. Fuel can leak from the fuel tank at the interface of the fuel pump module attachment.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module attaching nut with a nut that includes tighter design tolerances. The sealing o-ring will also be replaced.

  4. Child seat

    NHTSA 98V185000 Reported 157,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will clean the latch mechanism. An extender will be added to the emergency release anchor for the child seat safety belts so that the release clips are more visible and accessible to the operator in the event…

  5. Integrated child seat (seat belts)

    NHTSA 96V136000 Reported 200 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    The bolts which secure the integrated child seat modules to the seat frame can break.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the integrated child seat module bolts.

  6. Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)

    NHTSA 96V002000 Reported 265,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    A static electric charge can build up on the ungrounded metal section of the fuel filler tube.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a ground strap for the fuel filler tube.

  7. Gasoline (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 96V006000 Reported 40,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    In certain vehicles, the engine cylinder head oil galley plug does not seal properly and engine cylinder head oil is not adequately retained.

    Remedy: Dealers will install an expansion plug and retaining bracket over the cylinder head oil galley plug.

  8. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 95V236000 Reported 80,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    The fuel tank rollover valve can allow fuel to pass into the vapor canister resulting in the potential for fuel leakage.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank filler tube with a filler tube that has an additional rollover valve. The associated rollover valve vapor hoses will be rerouted.

  9. Seats

    NHTSA 95V225000 Reported 20,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    The bolts which secure the rear bench seats to the seat risers may be embrittled and fracture.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear bench seat to riser bolts.

1,403 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Dodge Caravan have filed 1,403 complaints with NHTSA; 57 describe a crash and 47 describe a fire. Reports cite 67 injuries and 9 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 94,303 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 207 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a strong gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle,”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 3, 2023 · Fuel system, gasoline

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 8, 2015 · Service brakes

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan (Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD, Caravan/Grand Caravan 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined16–20 mpg
City / Highway14–18 / 20–24
FuelRegular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.4/3/3.3/3.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd

Compare Dodge Caravan model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Caravan model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1984 Dodge Caravan318
1985 Dodge Caravan349
1986 Dodge Caravan149
1987 Dodge Caravan069
1988 Dodge Caravan2103
1989 Dodge Caravan2191
1990 Dodge Caravan3278
1991 Dodge Caravan9617
1992 Dodge Caravan9913
1993 Dodge Caravan8949
1994 Dodge Caravan3644
1995 Dodge Caravan1489
1996 Dodge Caravan91,403
1997 Dodge Caravan7714
1998 Dodge Caravan5629
1999 Dodge Caravan5555
2000 Dodge Caravan4470
2001 Dodge Caravan3257
2002 Dodge Caravan4245
2003 Dodge Caravan3195
2004 Dodge Caravan165
2005 Dodge Caravan4537
2006 Dodge Caravan2173
2007 Dodge Caravan081
2008 Dodge Caravan2302
2009 Dodge Caravan2118
2010 Dodge Caravan2172
2011 Dodge Caravan078
2012 Dodge Caravan087
2013 Dodge Caravan030
2014 Dodge Caravan020
2015 Dodge Caravan023
2016 Dodge Caravan02
2017 Dodge Caravan11

Checking a specific 1996 Dodge Caravan

How do I know if my 1996 Dodge Caravan has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 9 campaigns currently list the 1996 Dodge Caravan; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V268000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Dodge models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.