10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,876 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #33

Mar 172001

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Consumer was driving at approximately 25 to 40 mph when clock spring caused loss of cruise control/ horn, and airbag light was illuminated. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Mandeville, LA, USA

problem #32

Feb 152001

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Airbag light stayed on/ horn and cruise control stopped working.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #31

Jan 312001

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Consumer was traveling at approximately 30 to 35 mph when and metallic banging noise was emitted from engine. Consumer lost control of acceleration & gear shifting. No accident. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Chillicothe, OH, USA

problem #30

Feb 022001

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Clock spring fatigued completely disabling drivers airbag, horn and cruise control.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #29

Dec 152000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
The airbag, horn, & cruise control failed. Took to dealer - told clock spring assembly failed. Will cost about $400 to fix. Was told this is a very common defect. Would like some assistance from Chrysler. This is our family car for a family of six. Unsafe to drive in this condition.

- Rockwall, TX, USA

problem #28

Jan 101998

Grand Caravan

  • miles
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.

- Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #27

Jun 231998

Grand Caravan

  • miles
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.

- Norton Shores, MI, USA

problem #26

Sep 282000

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • miles
While driving speed control activated without manual operation. Air bag warning light remained illuminated, and headlights could not be manually turned off.

- North Rose, NY, USA

problem #25

Aug 252000

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • miles
PE96-008; airbag light started to come on intermittently. After ward lost horn and cruise control function. At that point, consumer took vehicle to dealer, and was told that cause was a defective airbag clock.

- Derby, KS, USA

problem #24

Dec 151999

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The tackometer and speedometer flatlined to 0 then returned to normal, the horn and cruise control, have stopped working and the airbag light stays on most of the time. The transmission had a total failure in the highway and had to be rebuilt. The wipers occasionally come on by themselves and cycle a couple of times and then stop and occasionally stop in the middle of the windshield (this has been tothe dealer in madison heights, va several times for repair under warranty, but not since the warranty expired. The left speakers on the sound suystem periodically go off and on while the system is on. The starter went out and had to be replaced the end of June, 2000.

- Lynchburg, VA, USA

problem #23

Apr 181997

Grand Caravan

  • miles
04/1997 - windshield wipers randomly turn on and off. Interior lights also go on and off randomly. Dealer said, "couldn't determine cause." 01/1999 - cruise control and horn stopped working. Air bag light constantly on. Mechanic said, "due to air bag problems"

- Mansfield, MA, USA

problem #22

Jun 102000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Once van is started, the airbag light stays on plus the horn and cruise control will not work. I have not taken it to a dealer yet. I have posted this problem on the Chrysler internet newsgroup website and it appears that many other minivan owners are having or had the same problem. The fix for the problem seems to be to replace the clock spring. Will NHTSA force Chrysler to do a recall on this problem? thanks

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #21

Jul 242000

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving the tackometer and speedometer flat lined to zero. Also, transmission indicator light went out. Consumer shut engine off and restarted vehicle. Air bag warning light remained illuminated/ horn and cruise control were inoperable.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #20

Apr 102000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Air bag disabled drivers side, horn disabled, cruise control disabled.

- Galloway, OH, USA

problem #19

Aug 011999

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Clock spring in steering wheel needed to be replaced again (est $250). This is the second time within 18 months. This switch controls cruise control, horn, and air bag functions. When it fails, those functions don't work. Particularly the air bag and horn are major safety issues. The front wipers would activate for no reason (startling driver) - repaired at owners expense by dealer. Door locks have always acted spooky. Immedialtley locking after unlocking with fob or with key. Dealer found door drivers door switch shorted. Repaired at owners expense (est $160). Local dealer notified of all problems - have not contact manufaturer directly.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #18

May 202000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Coolant gauge, tach, and speedometer all flatline at same time and return intermittently, air bag warning light stays on and horn and cruise control stopped working at same time. Drivers side sliding door lock works when it wants to. Windshield wipers work when they want to when it is cold outside. No fuel leaks until recall repair made then leak developed when tank filled ( dealer fixed). Radio does not switch from am to fm unless button pushed 3 or 4 times. Just one big electrical lemon.

- Galloway, OH, USA

problem #17

May 012000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Vehicle experiencing a malfunction within clock spring. Also, air bag/ horn and criuse control failed to operate properly. Dealer /manufacture. Notified, and informed consumer that part was not covered under recall, and any repairs would be at consumer's expense.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #16

May 102000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Drivers air bag, horn and speed control shorted out and inoperable

- Lemont, IL, USA

problem #15

Mar 022000

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Crusie control inoperative. Nlm

- Bellefonte, PA, USA

problem #14

Mar 052000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Air bag light now stays on. Cruise control no longer works as does horn. Will need to replace the clock spring in the steering wheel.

- Cary, NC, USA

Read the next 13 complaints »