FaultScore

1996 Dodge Caravan airbag problems

255 of the 2,178 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Caravan are about the airbag system — 12% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 102,103 miles.

D

255

Complaints

28

Crashes

2

Fires

19

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 196 76.9%
Frontal 51 20.0%
Sensor/Control Module 6 2.4%
Side/Window 2 0.8%

Airbags across every Dodge Caravan year

1991 12 1.0%
1992 34 2.7%
1993 40 3.2%
1994 105 8.4%
1995 73 5.9%
1996 255 20.5%
1997 154 12.4%
1998 100 8.0%
1999 120 9.6%
2000 71 5.7%
2001 43 3.5%
2002 61 4.9%
2003 14 1.1%
2005 49 3.9%
2006 28 2.3%
2008 42 3.4%
2009 26 2.1%
2010 17 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Birmingam, AL

AIR BAGS

I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE FROM OWNER IN DEC. 2013 AND START HAVING PROBLEM THE OWNER I PURCHASE IT FROM PURCHASE IT FROM A BANK BACK IN 2006. THEY DID KNOW ABOUT AN RECALL OR ETC. ABOUT THIS VEHCLE. THE ELECTRIC HAS PROBLEM AND AIRBAGS, THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AND FUEL INJECTION AND ETC,. WHERE CAN I CAN GET HELP FOR THESE PROBLEMS.ETC.,.

NHTSA complaint #10562062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Bridgewater, MA 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT DOING 3 OR 4 MPH, WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NEVER HIT ANYTHING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES ON HER FOREARM. THE CONTACT DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYTHING COULD BE, AND GOT RID OF THE VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10180595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 178,000 miles Naperville, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MAY 7, 2005, I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER CAR WAS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ACCORD HIT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN JUST IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INFLATED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT. THROUGH THE COURSE OF HAVING THIS CAR, THE "AIRBAG" LIGHT WAS AN ISSUE ALMOST FROM DAY ONE. WHEN I WOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BILL KAY CHRYSLER IN NAPERVILLE, THEY WOULD CHECK IT AND FIND NOTHING WRONG. FINALLY I WAS TOLD TO IGNORE THE "AIRBAG" LIGHT THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY SENSOR THAT COULD NOT BE FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10120732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,258 miles SAN Diego, CA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' FOR DODGE CARAVAN 1996, CLOCK SPRING BROKEN. *BF THE CONSUMER DID NOT FIND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL, UNTIL THE REPAIRS WERE ALREADY MADE. #02V293000

NHTSA complaint #10117180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BIG Stone GAP, VA

AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK, AND THE CRUSIE CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION......A CLOCKSPRING MALIFUNTION FROM ALL REPORTS....AND DEFINETLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAZARD. WILL ATTEMPT TO REPLACE BUT AT A HIGH COST....

NHTSA complaint #10111909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Covert, MI Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST AND NECK INJURIES., AND FRONT END SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10103612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shenandoah, PA

AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERABLE WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO USE THEM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RECALL(04V480000) FOR THE CLOCK SPRING WAS NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10101592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 119,000 miles Hoven, SD

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT AND CONSEQUENCES AS STATED IN RECALL 04V2800000 FOR THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. BUT THIS MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10099560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 173,000 miles Owensboro, KY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10083649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbus, WI

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

1996 DODGE CARAVAN'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY.*MR THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CONSUMERS CLAIM, THEY STATED THE INSPECTION SHOWED IMPACT TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10082167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

AIR BAGS

I COMPLAINED TO THE CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT REQUESTING THAT THEY FIX A DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT FOR FREE AND RECOMMENDED THAT I FIX IT ASAP SINCE ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IT IS A DEFECT AND I HAVE EVEN READ IT AS A RECALL IN OTHER DOCUMENTS. THE AIRBAG AND THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. TEXAS WILL NOT EVEN SAFETY APPROVE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT THIS BEING FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10080588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,000 miles Olympia, WA

AIR BAGS

IN 2003, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, IN MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN, AND THE HORN STOPPED WORKING, WHICH BOTH HAVE CREATED AN UN-SAFE OPERATING VEHICLE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THE "RECALL" FOR THE CLOCK SPRING, BUT ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS AS MY VEHICLE WAS OVER 70,000 MILES. NOW 2004 AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND NOW THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 95,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SERIOUS SAFETY AND POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY AND SHOULD NOT COST THE CONSUMER ANY MONEY WHATSOEVER.

NHTSA complaint #10073145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 155,000 miles Columbus, WI

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING RECALL 02V293000 ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A ACCIDENT. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10073913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 123,511 miles Valley, AL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE CLOCK SPRING RECALL 02V293000 AND FUEL TANK FILLER NECK RECALL 96V002000 PARTS WILL TAKE 3-4 DAYS TO BE ORDERED, WHEN THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT, IT HAS BEEN 3 WEEKS AND THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. ALSO, VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE MOTOR TO GO BAD.

NHTSA complaint #10068549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 106,000 miles Fairfax, VA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

WHILE DRIVING HORN/CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10067068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hollywood, FL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD.

NHTSA complaint #10064905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dearborn, MI

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

WHILE DRIVING (SRS) LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASH BOARD AND REMAINED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURN OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN ARE MALFUNCTIONING. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10061408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Plainfield, IL

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10057700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Vilonia, AR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

THE HORN ON MY 1996 CARAVAN HAS STOPPED WORKING; THE AIR-BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME; THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS STARTING TO FAIL.*AK I SAW THE REPORT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ON NEWER MODELS. I THINK THE RANGE OF MODEL YEARS NEEDS TO BE BROADENED. I HAVE ALSO SEEN REPORTS OF OTHER 1996/1997 MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS ON INTERNET AUTO REPAIR WEB SITES.

NHTSA complaint #10056434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR CLOCKSPRING RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. *MR THERE WAS A CLUNK NOISE, THEN THE CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BEING BROKEN, OIL LEAKED DUE TO THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON. RECALL#02V293000 *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10050485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mason City, IA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V293000 / WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THIS RECALL. HAVE HAD VEHCILE LONG ENOUGH TO GET A RECALL THE WAS DONE IN THE YEAR 2000 ON SOME O-RINGS ON FUEL INJ RAILS AND INFORMED. WHY NOT ON THIS ONE? THE ORIG RECALL THAT I HAD FIXED AND WAS INFORMED WAS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 00V268000.

NHTSA complaint #10049438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,300 miles Highlands Ranch, CO

AIR BAGS

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH ON SUNNY GOOD WEATHER THE ENGINE STALLED WHITHOUT ANY WARNING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10043218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,335 miles Cmch, NJ

AIR BAGS

CLOCKSPRING MECHANISM

NHTSA complaint #10039369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,600 miles Warner Robins, GA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS LIT AND CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS.

NHTSA complaint #10029086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 124,187 miles Masury, OH

AIR BAGS

WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE CLOCKSPRING MECHANISM OF OUR DODGE CARAVAN WHICH AFFECTS THE AIRBAG, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WE BOUGHT IT AT DODGE CITY IN HERMITAGE, PA, THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT UNLESS WE ALSO PAID FOR OTHER REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10025710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marion, IA

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER RAN OVER POT HOLE TRAVELING 30 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10026259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palmdale, CA

AIR BAGS

THE VEHICLES CLOCKSPRING FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED THE INVOICE FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT THE CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE FULL REIMBURSEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. *MR *SCC *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10021558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miami, FL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED, PUDDLES OF GAS IS FORMED UNDER IT. THIS HAPPENED ANYTIME VEHICLE WAS PARKED. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GAS AND NO ONE KNEW WHY. ALSO THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND WINDOW WIPERS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10021767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Landisville, PA

AIR BAGS

I SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CLOCK SPRING REPAIR (SAFETY RECALL) IN MY THEN 1996 DODGE CARAVAN ON JANUARY 28, 2003. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER SINCE. I HAVE TELEPHONED AND SENT THEM A SECOND LETTER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT BUT AGAIN HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM. I AM DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED THAT THEY TAKE THIS POSITION. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THEIR ATTENTION. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10018991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,607 miles Salem, OR

AIR BAGS

A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO ILLUMINATE. *MR *AK *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10018244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Dodge Caravan problems

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