10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 30
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,226 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 Grand Caravan engine problems

engine problem

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1996 Dodge Grand Caravan Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #40

Sep 121999

Grand Caravan

  • miles

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

This is a dameged truck since the beginning, is a failure truck, I dont want

- Caguas, PR, USA

problem #39

Apr 152000

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Platte City, MO, USA

problem #38

Aug 012000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Like 1,000 of others, our engine cuts out any any speed causes lose of steering.

- Grapevine, TX, USA

problem #37

Sep 151996

Grand Caravan

  • miles

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

Reporting problem with engine stalling intermittently when A/C or defogger are used. Vehicle been in dealer's shop on six occasions, and deale R informed consumer that they are unable to duplicate the problem. Feel free to provide further details.

- Washington, NJ, USA

problem #36

Jul 281997

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Vehicle stops without wandering for no apparent reason while driving. Many occurrences but dealer cannot locate problem and denies any reports of similar occurences with other vehicles. This is a serious defect in the vehicle waiting for an incident to happen. Please investigate. There are several notices of this problem type under edmunds.com. Thank you.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #35

May 172000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Windshield wipers still engage by themselves originally repaired 05/99. Transmission went out AT30904 miles. Airbag light came on and horn stopped working had to replace click spring. Car stall while driving said it needed tune-up. When using ac or driving in rain and making a turn steering gets stiff and cannot control. Interior lights flash dealer could not duplicate. Power door locks lock and unlock by themselves. Had to replace axle due to it being bent when new transmission was put in. Had to get new tires because axle threw off balance. Keep replacing batteries. Drove car for 10 minutes and fan came on and stayed on after car was turned off.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #34

May 232000

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

While driving about 60mph engine cut off without warning. Mechanic said transmission needed to be replaced.

- Midland, MI, USA

problem #33

Mar 302000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Dear NHTSA, please look into this problem. We have had this van only 7 months!!! we have a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan SE that has 97,000 miles on the odometer. We took a trip in the last week to California to see our daughter when the engine check light came on. Even though we could not see or hear any problems, we took it to a dealer in reno, Nevada - (3223 mill St, reno, nv 89502 -- #(775)-323-3106). They said that the spark plugs needed replacing. At a cost of 300 dollars, we agreed in hopes that the light problem would be cured even though nothing seemed wrong. After picking up the vehicle the next morning, we noticed that the van was running terribly and would die when stopped. Frustrated that "no" problem with our van progressed to worse we returned to the dealer and asked them to check it again. After testing it again, they said the camshaft had to be replaced. Since we had to return home for work, we could not wait to get it fix. On returning home we took it into our trusted mechanic immediately. He checked the vehicle and said that we will need a new engine. Our complaint is that our engine should not of failed only after only 97,000 miles - it is ludicrous.

- Holmen, WI, USA

problem #32

Apr 222000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Belts became badly frayed and tattered prematurely; 3 days after replacement of the belts, the engine died on the freeway at 65 mph. The engine would not restart and we needed to be towed from the freeway to the dealer. The dealer claimed that they could not locate any problem and that the vehicle started right away.

- West Allis, WI, USA

problem #31

Jul 011999

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
All of these break downs have come with in the 9 month period there are other break downs that have not been said like the main comp (emc comp),3 sensors and about 5 recalls in this time period we contacted dealership to see if there was any major problems with this van prior to purchasing this van and to see if there was anything they could do and nothing was done.we feel this van was a lemon and will cont to have problems we ask that Dodge stand by there name and do something about this.

- Hewitt, TX, USA

problem #30

Aug 191999

Grand Caravan

  • miles

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

Have had to add 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles since 1996; dealer would not do anything about it until 8/99; they said it was normal oil usage; have used mobil 1 5W30 oil since new per owner's manual and had oil changed at mt. Ephraim Dodge regularly since new; they monitored oil usage and I brought in car to get oil added and recorded from 8/99 to present; I think the engine piston rings are defective.

- Gibbstown, NJ, USA

problem #29

Nov 031999

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While traveling 55 mph without indication vehicle stall.

- Walker, 00, USA

problem #28

Oct 291999

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Bolt that secures the rocker arm to the engine head were not drilled deep enough to allow even tension to secure the rocker arm shaft properly causing it to break and resulting in violent vibration. Nlm

- Warren, MI, USA

problem #27

Oct 181996

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Engine died 3 times. Called customer service rep. Audrey who was very rude and unhelpful.

- Rowlett, TX, USA

problem #26

Sep 081995

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Two letters dated 05/23/98 and 06/08/98 addressed to Mr. Robert eaton, CEO of Chrysler Corp. Was sent with a repair history schedule containing 24 itemized occurences depicting the associated repair order number, nature of repair, mileage, date-in and date-out, remarks as to results, warranted repair or not, location of repair and cost if applicable. Also depicted was the number of times we repeatedly returned the vehicle for brake repair which was six times within first six months and six times regarding electrical within the first six months of possession which all is evidenced by the given information on the repair history schedule I provided with the letters. I received a response back from customer service to no avail. I would be delighted to provide you at your request a copy of both letters which includes the repair history schedule I eluded to earlier.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #25

Jul 061999

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • miles
The engine shuts off intermittently at various speeds. Onboard computers give no indication of a problem. Dealer could not locate source of problem, installed electronic co-Pilot to capture data if van stalled again. Dealer wanted co-Pilot returned after.

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #24

Mar 191999

Grand Caravan

  • miles
No summary listed for this vehicle.

- Germantown, MD, USA

problem #23

Mar 141999

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Dealer said using 1 qt oil/1,000 miles is normal but it is not

- Alpine, NJ, USA

problem #22

Apr 011998

Grand Caravan

  • miles
We have had multiple problems in most components of this vehicle including but not limited to both rear sliding doors, front and rear wipers, coolant leakage, engine fan & belt malfunctions, intermittent stalling, transmission failure and continuous malfunction, multiple parking brake malfunction and adjustment problems, multiple interior light malfunction, rear quad seat attachment problem, and other more cosmetic related problems with cracking door panel & poorly installed carpet & seat covers.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #21

Jul 061998

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Engine would shut off during driving at normal speeds. Also steering wheel locks up, making it difficult to steer away from traffic.

- Washington, DC, USA

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