Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
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).
Tl contact owns a 1996 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the shocks underneath the driver's side of the vehicle were going straight through the metal, which holds the wheel in place. The failure causes the vehicle to hesitate at times. While driving over small bumps in the road at 15 MPH, the vehicle suddenly veered to the opposite side of the road. The contact has taken the vehicle to the dealer a few times, but they stated that there was only a kit used to seal the shocks in place; however, it is a temporary remedy and the failure would most likely recur. There is currently not a permanent repair for this defect. The failure mileage was 90,000 and current mileage was 115,000.
Front strut mounts on every 96 thru 00 Caravan, voyager, Chrysler minivans that I've looked at,have serious rust problems, especially the left side, resulting in the strut itself breaking through and hitting the bottom of the hood, and resulting of loss of control of the vehicle when this happens. The repair cost to have this repaired is very costly,$300-1000 to make the vehicle safe to drive. I would like to see the NHTSA look into this problem on all 96 thru 00 Mini-vans before somebody has a failure while driving with their family, and have a fatal accident. Please cure this problem before and not after people are killed due to this structural front strut tower failure.
I own an 1996 Dodge grand Caravan. The strut towers, especially the driver side, are rusting horribly and will need repair to avoid a catastrophic failure. If the rust gives way, the struts will go up through the tower which best case causes huge damage to the vehicle and worst case could result in a fatal traffic accident. Reading around the internet, this is a common problem from 1996 through 2000 vans and repair kits are back ordered at dealerships around the nation. Daimler/Chrysler is fully aware of this problem and a recall should be issued as this is a huge safety issue for their customers.
Lower left ball joint failed without warning during low speed (2 MPH) driving, causing the wheel to fall off, also destroying part of the sway bar and the left drive shaft. At highway speed, such a failure would have resulted in complete loss of control. The vehicle was in the dealership the prior day for routine maintenance and the dealership also performed state safety inspection four months prior. There was no evidence of ball joint wear or damage prior to the failure.
While getting service on my 1996 Dodge grand Caravan se VIN/[redacted] rust was observed on the body strut mgt tower located in the left front of the vehicle this tower is a main part of the front suspension system. Failure of this part of the vehicle due to rust out from the inside can cause the front suspension to collapse at normal driving speeds.
The strut shock tower that supported the suspension system rusted through from the inside out. At the time that rust was noticeable the tower had already failed. This could have caused the front end to drop while driving. The manufacturer was aware of this problem and supplied a repair kit under the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty.
While driving, the consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. Consumer took the vehicle to the gas station and the mechanic informed the consumer that the lower ball joints were worn out. The front axle broke while driving, the sway bar bushings were replaced as well as the rear shocks.
Left front strut mtg tower rusted through by the time the rust was seen the metal in the strut tower had failed Chrysler refused to do anything stating it was over 3 year 36,000 mile for manifacturers deffect repair yet this is known as a common problem and can cause loss of control if it fails on the highway.
I took ownership of my used 1996 Dodge grand Caravan in 2000, and since then have replaced minor mechanical failures such as the starter, water pump, serpentine belt, tires (twice), wiper blades, bulbs, brakes (twice) as well as the rotors. At present I am dealing with the following problems: peeling paint, wipers engaging and not going off even though they are not turned on, hard jerks every now and again (possibly from transmission), and the breakage of a stabilizer bar bushing in the front suspension.
Both right and left strutt towers had rusted amost completely through. If the van had not overheated, we wouldn't have known that we had a problem. We were told that we needed some parts replaced, but not the importance of these parts. We were lucky that the strutt towers didn't give way, and that we, or no one esle was hurt, when we went in for the repairs, we were told that we would not be allowed to take the vechile off the lot.
Suspension complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1996 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the suspension of the 1996 Dodge Caravan, 4% of the model year's 1,403 complaints. The component named most often is front (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Dodge Caravan suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 1996 Dodge Caravan, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Caravan suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 10 injuries to suspension 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.