VehicleVerdict

1996 Dodge Caravan airbags problems

The 1996 Dodge Caravan has 255 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

255

Airbags complaints

12%

Share of year

28

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Related recalls

02V293000AirbagsNovember 7, 2002 · 1,500,521 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

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. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

What owners report

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55-60 MPH VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND FORCED INTO A GUARDRAIL, DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT, SHE GOT ANOTHER VAN FROM THE DEALER IN JULY 2001 AND SHE WAS IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 2001 THAT SAME…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · June 13, 2001 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 1996 Dodge Caravan have?

NHTSA has 255 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Caravan airbags — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1996 Dodge Caravan airbags?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the airbags: 02V293000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.