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 Intrepid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Takata recall: I was involved in a head on collision in which the airbag deployed and a piece of metal went through my eye causing immediate blindness and subsequent loss of the left eye. The piece of metal was pull out in the er. There were no other injuries. This happened on a city street in detroit mi traveling about 20 MPH. I've been wearing a prosthetic eye since.
The airbag light will not go off it stays on all the time when it is on the heater windows horn and rear back up lights and rear defroster do not work with no heater/defroster it is near impossible to keep the ice off the inside and outside of the windows even while having the passenger constantly trying to scrape off the ice it just instantly re freezes causing very dangerous and hazardous driving conditions due to this the car went off the road and crashed into a deep ditch the air bags did not deploy and we had to be towed out of the ditch with a hoist and a lift and back to the road by a commercial wrecker from what I have seen and heard when searching the internet for information this problem is most likely caused by the clock stop the same problem which prompted a recall on Dodge and Chrysler Mini vans of the same year why wasn't this car recalled too? …
My 1996 Dodge Intrepid, while moving forward at approximately 20 - 25 miles per hour struck an abruptly stopped vehicle. The airbag deployed late. Even while wearing my seatbelt, my forehead struck the top of the steering wheel, causing injury, and directly after thus my airbags deployed.
I was involved in a car accident (I was the driver)in which my car was impacted by another vehicle (1997 full-size Dodge van). The point of impact was the driver's side, the left front end of my vehicle (Dodge Intrepid, 1996). The impact was so strong that it caused the battery to break in half, among other damages. I was using the seat belt, and saw the airbag light come-on; but the air bag did not activate. I have not gone to the dealer with this information. Will do so, once the insurance company has completed its report. My car has been declared a total loss because the repair costs exceed the market value of the vehicle. I did not suffer major injuries as a result of this accident, even though the force of the impact did cause the seat belt to tighten its greeep and this did caused some brusing and severe chest and side pain. …
Vehicle skidded on black ice, hitting head on telephone, and another vehicle swiped consumer's vehicle. Consumer's vehicle was going approximately 35mph before sliding. Dealer was no help in giving information about deployment of the airbag. An independent investigator stated that the impact was absorbed by the vehicle's crush points and that the threshold for air bag deployment was not met, 1 person was injured in accident.
While driving approximately 45 to 50 MPH consumer hit side of car ahead, neither air bag deployed until vehicle came to a complete stop. Airbag only deployed half way. Driver sustained head and facial injuries. The seat belt failed, and pulled the driver the door and hit windshield.
While approaching an intersection a car turned in front of consumer's vehicle and consumer hit vehicle on passenger's side, and neither airbag deployed. Hasn't contacted dealer or manufacturer. Dealer was told us air bags do not deploy unless accidnt is head -on.
While driving at 30 MPH consumer rear ended another vehicle and none of the air bags deployed. Then, while sitting there consumer was rear ended by another vehicle at 50 MPH, and the air bags still did not deploy. Contacted dealer.
Driver hit a tree head-on in wet conditions at 30mph, and neither driver's nor passenger's airbags deployed properly. Airbags just oozed out of the steering wheel. Airbags did not have air in them. Dealer has not seen vehicle.
Consumer states her son was driving when an auto turned in front of him, which caused damage to left front fender, middle of hood, and passenger side front. Neither side air bag deployed. No injuries was sustained. Nlm
Airbag complaints in other Intrepid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Dodge Intrepid?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Dodge Intrepid, 7% of the model year's 505 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Dodge Intrepid airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1996 Dodge Intrepid, though it has 2 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 Intrepid airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 125,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 23 crashes, 0 fires and 18 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.