4.5

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,058 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Dodge Caravan electrical problems

electrical problem

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1996 Dodge Caravan Owner Comments

problem #6

Jan 232006

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 144,345 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In 2003 BCM replaced for my windshield wipers would not operate. Over $600. Last year my battery cables and battery were smoking and I was lucky I got to the dealer just in time as black smoke was gushing out from under my hood.... another $600 repair. In January 2006 electrical system craziness. Check engine light was on and it could not be smoged. They reprogrammed the module and I was able to get it smoged 2 days later the check engine light came on and the car would turn over and die....I returned and was told I needed a PCM module replaced $719. Getting the car back was one electrical mishap after another....the gauges went crazy...taken back to dealer....reprogrammed....and then told they were not sure how to fix it...then got the car back and the clock and radio intermittently went on and off.. the computer shutting down and not allowing the remote to open the locks using the key the alarm would go off and I could not shut it off until the computer came back on and I could use the remote....I was then told by the service manager that I needed a body control module(BCM) which I replaced in 2003. He was nasty and rude. I told the general manager I really did not believe they knew what they were doing....for each time I brought the car in with one problem they returned it to me with another. He could also not guarantee that if I paid another $550 for a new BCM that it would solve all the problems.......after 6 weeks and four trips to the dealer having my car over 2 weeks I was frustrated and angry....and after reading on the internet countless other Dodge Caravan owners have the same problems I am outraged Dodge has ignored its responsibility to its consumers..when I dropped it off the clock, radio, locks and alarm were the problem..but an hour after I picked it up it started raining and guess what....the windshield wipers were not operating.

- Livermore, CA, USA

problem #5

Oct 192000

(reported on)

Caravan

  • miles
Vehicle will stall without prior warning. Consumer must wait for while in order to restart vehicl., dealer and mechanic cannot determine cause. Throttle body, idle speed motor, computer changed, a solenoid replaced, but defect keeps occurring.

- Iselin, NJ, USA

problem #4

Mar 281999

Caravan

  • miles
4 trips to dealer to correc. -now it needs body computer.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #3

Jun 231998

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving at any speed, the transmission went out, and the computer made the vehicle shift. The computer went out and the vehicle started up, and sometimes the vehicle will delay. Consumer states prior to the transmission going out, the engine would make the same noise every time, transmission hesitates before going into gear, finally on 20-Oct-98, vehicle was hooked up to a computer showing faulty transmission.

- Berlin, WI, USA

problem #2

Jul 151998

(reported on)

Caravan

  • miles
Fuse blows when vehicle is in park. ECM module is defective. Vehicle must be started in nuetral gear. Owner notes of service bullentin for problem.

- Utica, MI, USA

problem #1

Jul 131997

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving at 55mph the defective computer module was inoperative, causing the vehicle to stall and had no power, almost caused an accident.

- Ownings Mills, MD, USA

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