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 Grand Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving approximately 5 MPH downhill in the snow, the brakes locked and the vehicle began to slide. The contact released the brake pedal and the vehicle accelerated. She reapplied the brakes, but they locked again. The contact struck a tree head on and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle sustained major damage, but was still able to be driven. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the error codes revealed that the vehicle was not in a crash, which is possibly why the air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The current mileage was 200,552 and failure mileage was 200,500.
While driving 55 MPH the consumer hit a deer. When getting out of the vehicle the owner notice a fire in the engine compartment. No report of air bag deployment. As a result the vehicle burned to the ground. No injuries reported. Please provide additional information.
The vehicle was involved in a collision yet the driver's side air bag failed to deploy. The passenger side air bag opened but was deflated. Consumer received letter regarding faulty air bags after accident.
Chrysler's improper action on air bag recall #02V293000 . When symptoms appeared 2 years prior to this recall, the dealer replaced both the clock spring and air bag, based on Chrysler's best service information. At the time I complained to a regional service representative stating that air bags rarely go bad and only need to be replaced after activation. He agreed by compensating half of the total repair cost. Lo and behold this recall shows up identifying this safety issue. I submitted the proper paperwork to Chrysler to participate in the recall and they denied the air bag portion of my repair stating it was not part of the recall. I feel total consideration should be given to the entire repair as this was their original solution to this safety issue. …
The van will start then immediately turn off. It does this more when it is hot outside. If you let the vehicle sit for about 4 hours in the shade it will start and get you to your next destination. If the weather is too hot it won't start until the weather changes to cooler. I have replaced the starter, two computers, got the circuit board cold soldered. Replaced the battery and can't remember all the rest. It still has this problem. It seems to be very common. There is a web site topix.com that has a forum just for this problem. No one has been able to fix it completely. Some one some where has got to know how to fix this problem. Also the clock spring is under recall. Once you get the recall done after a few years the spring breaks again and they don't fix it again. So I no longer have a horn or airbags that work.
Vehicle's air bag failed on 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan. In April 2001 the vehicles air bag light illuminated and remained on. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who indicated that the air bag failed. The dealer replaced the air bag along with the clockspring. The consumer paid $842.92 for the replacement. In January 2001 the consumer received a recall notice related to the clockspring assembly. The manufacturer was contacted and reimbursed the consumer $152. Which they deemed was enough to cover the clockspring assembly. The consumer contested the amount of the reimbursement but has not heard from the manufacturer regarding the matter.
- 96 Dodge Grand Caravan w/3.8 v6 and 41te 4spd transmision - 2 transmission failures - 1st went to about 125000, then kept hitting the "limp home mode" - 2nd has "torque converter lockup" problem, shops say rebuild again, after only 38000 miles. - fan relay went out before recall was issued, had to replace the radiator out of pocket. - had clock spring replaced after component failure relating to it (horn, cruise etc) - union city ga dealer attempted to fix the fuel return line issue, botched it up and caused major leak when refueling. They re-fixed it after much complaining.
I have a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan and my airbag light stays on, horn and cruise control has gone out. I have 3 other friends with the same problem and I feel this should be a recall fix if so many other same year vehicles have the same exact problem. I even found a website with many others listed having the same problem. I have recently returned from kuwait in the middle east and when I began driving my van again this problem was identified. This is definitely a safety hazard. Please let me know if I can take to a dealer near me to have fixed free of charge?
Clock spring has failed (diagnosed by dealer). This is not covered under extended warranty. I feel that this is a safety issue that should be covered by the dealer. It appears that this is a somewhat common failure. Request that this matter be looked into as the cost of repair is somewhat high at $88.06 for the part and 136.80 for labor. I think that this item is currently under investigation. Thank you for your help. * scc ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****750168
"air bag" light is illuminated (known problem), the cruise control will activate upon pushing the button, but the cancel button when pushed does not deactivate the cruise control...the deactivation of the cruise control requires the brake to be applied. Control of the vehicle on wet roads, using cruise control, and having to deactivate the cruise control via the brakes....can be a bit of a challenge...thanks!! - steve dowling.
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
Airbag complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 211 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan, 18% of the model year's 1,157 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (26 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Dodge Grand 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 Grand Caravan airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 96,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 2 fires and 12 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.