RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Van

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest May 10, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Dodge Van, most frequently naming the engine, seat belts and brakes categories. 11 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine416.7%
  • Seat belts312.5%
  • Brakes312.5%
  • Body & structure28.3%
  • Transmission28.3%
  • Visibility28.3%
  • Suspension14.2%
  • Tires & wheels14.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 18
Engine
Filed May 10, 2007

SERPENTINE BELT FREQUENTLY COMES OFF, RESULTING IN NO POWER STEERING AND OIL PUMP FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10190409
Incident
May 8, 2007
Body & structureElectrical
Filed May 4, 2007

I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU OF MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THE DASH BOARD IS CRACKED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD MY GAUGES HAVE BEEN ACTING UP EVER SINCE MY DASH STARTED CRACKING MY AC COMES ON AND OFF MY RADIO COMES AND GOES MY HAZARD LIGHTS DON'T COME ON WHEN MY GAUGES DON'T WORK MY AIRBAG LIGHTS COME AND GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AND MY WINDOWS DON'T WORK WHEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON ANT THE RADIO GOES OUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY VAN IS AT THE REPAIR SHOP AT THIS TIME NOTHING WORKS ON IT NOT IT WILL NOT START WHEN IT STOPPED IT STOPPED DEAD IN THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC.*TR

NHTSA ID
10189769
Incident
May 3, 2007
Mileage
265,857 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 10, 2004

THE VEHICLE'S STRUT TOWER RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A STRUT TOWER RECALL. *NM *NM

NHTSA ID
10110997
Incident
Nov 12, 2004
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 13, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ON OR ABOUT 60-65MPH MY DUNLOP RADAIL ROVER AT TIRES WITH ONLY 6000 MILES ON THEM ARE SEPARATING. WENT BACK TO TIRE KINGDOM IN SEMINOLE FL AND HAD IT REPLACED. A MONTH LATER A SECOND TIRE ON MY VAN SEPARATED ALSO AND AGAIN RETURNED TO TIRE KINGDOM FOR AN ANSWER ONLY TO FIND NO ONE WILL DO ANYRTHING ABOUT IT EXCEPT TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES AT MY COST. WANT TO FIND OUT AFTER THE FIRESTONE INCIDENCE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THESE TIRES GO BAD ON THEM NUMBER ONE REASON BEING TO PROTECT THE SAFTY OF OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL AS MINE, THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
765571
Incident
Aug 5, 2002
Body & structureTransmission
Filed Jun 29, 2001

TRANSMISSION IS HARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK REAR DOOR LEAKED WATER AT TOP. DEALER FOUND FRONT CLUTCH SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, DEALER REPLACED ALL CLUTCHES AND SEALS AND REBUILD O/D ASSEMBLY, THE COOLER HOSE WAS REPLACED DUE TO A BUBBLE ON SIDE OF HOSE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
891757
Incident
Apr 29, 1996
Brakes
Filed May 18, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
745499
Incident
Apr 20, 2001
Transmission
Filed Mar 21, 2001

I SENT A DEFECT INVESTIGATION IN EARLIER TODAY BUT I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS ONE UNTIL NOW. WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION & HAD TO HAVE IT COMPLETELY OVERHAULED.

NHTSA ID
742812
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 21, 2001

THE WHOLE COOLING SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO. WE HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FIXED ONCE & JUST FOUND OUT THAT IT IS RUSTED AGAIN TODAY. IT WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME BY GOODYEAR (WHERE SON WORKS). IT COST ABOUT $1000.00 THE FIRST TIME TO FIX IT. THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING A GOOD WHILE BACK, WAS FIXED & STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. THE FUEL TANK PROBLEM WAS FIXED TWICE, BOTH TIMES UNDER WARRANTY IF I REMEMBER RIGHT. WE HAD IT FIXED AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP IN HAMILTON. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM EVERY SINCE IT WAS FIXED THE SECOND TIME THAT WHEN YOU PUMP GAS INTO IT IT CONSTANTLY STOPS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING KEEPING THE GAS FROM PUMPING IN PROPERLY. I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM WHEN FILLING UP WITH GAS. THE REASON WE HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FIXED AT GOODYEAR INSTEAD OF THE DEALERSHIP IS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LIKE THE JOB THEY DID BEFORE ON THE FUEL LEAK.

NHTSA ID
742804

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

08-049-20

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.

31-006-19

STRUCTURE

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

31-003-19

EQUIPMENT

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

3100619

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

3100319

STRUCTURE

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

3100519

STRUCTURE

Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge Van by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002180038.2
2001150039.5
2000190038.6
1999170043.1
1998240027.4
1997240037.3
1996Viewing180031.4
1995100138.2
1994900—
1993401—
1991510—
1990010—
1989110—
1979100—
1977801—
1976100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.