Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
Traveling south at 55mph. Car from west side street pulled out onto highway. Stopped in the slow lane that I was in.turned my wheel to left to avoid hitting other stopped car right in door. I hit her car in front of drivers door. Then we hit my passanger side with other car. Two impacts first head on then on side. Passanger side air bag deployed drivers side did not. As the driver I sustained chest and arm fractures. Contacted Dodge . Investogator came out and looked at van. Report from Dodge said the van worked as it should. How does one air bag go off and not the other. Why bother haveing two. Both had seat belt on.
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.
During a full frontal impact at 30-35 MPH (estimated), neither front air bag deployed. The initial review by the body shop indicates the extent of damage is significant enough to cause the vehicle to be totaled. The extent of injuries to my wife (driver) are unknown at this time as they have developed over the course of the day (pain in left wrist and hand, right elbow, and chest). She will be seeking medical attention.
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.
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.
Consumer was traveling about 20mph on street, passing onto highway. When another vehicle veered into her driver's side door, causing a collision, and forcing passenger's side airbag to go off. But driver's side airbag didn't deploy, the consumer was hit by a vehicle which was going paaroximarely 40-50 MPH, vehicle was deemed a total loss. Nlm. Two people were injured in accident.
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. 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.
I was driving approximately 35 MPH. I hit a slight dip in the road and my driver's side air bag deployed, causing a tragic accident. When the police arrived my child's seat was not restrained in the rear seat. They closed the highway for 5 hours looking for a baby, who May have climbed out one of the broken windows, they thought. Thank god, she was at home.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
On certain Mini vans, the clockspring assembly May have been wound incorrectly during the vehicle assembly process.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. An extended lifetime warranty will also be placed on this component for all affected vehicles, regardless of mileage.
NHTSA investigations
Air bag clockspring
There is no summary currently available
Defective air bag crash sensor
Cfas sent a follow-up letter on December 12, 1996, to change the intent of the petition to airbag aggressivity and deployment variability.NHTSA received the letter on 12/12/96; accordingly, the petition due day was changed to April 12, 1997.cfas petitioned the agency to conduct an investigation to determine whether the airbag crash sensor and/or deployment systems for the 1991-92 Chevrolet corsica/beretta, 1990-92…
Airbag complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 251 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Dodge Caravan, 18% of the model year's 1,403 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (51 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Dodge Caravan airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-293 (frontal, Nov 7, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Caravan airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 27 crashes, 2 fires and 24 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.