Dodge Grand Caravan 1996–2000
3rd generation (NS)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20264,635 complaints, 1,200 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 65,000 and 122,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 42 complaints (3.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 40,000
- 25%
- 65,000
- Median
- 90,551
- 75%
- 122,000
- 90%
- 158,182
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 30 | 2.5% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 7 | 0.6% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 11 | 0.9% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 11 | 0.9% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 17 | 1.4% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 15 | 1.2% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 20 | 1.7% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 31 | 2.6% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 33 | 2.8% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 31 | 2.6% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 40 | 3.3% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 49 | 4.1% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 40 | 3.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 63 | 5.2% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 39 | 3.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 68 | 5.7% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 68 | 5.7% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 58 | 4.8% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 54 | 4.5% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 69 | 5.8% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 40 | 3.3% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 29 | 2.4% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 28 | 2.3% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 57 | 4.8% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 30 | 2.5% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 30 | 2.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 23 | 1.9% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 14 | 1.2% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 20 | 1.7% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 37 | 3.1% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 18 | 1.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 11 | 0.9% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 11 | 0.9% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 13 | 1.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 9 | 0.8% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 13 | 1.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 8 | 0.7% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 42 | 3.5% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 4,635 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996–2000 Dodge Grand Caravan, and 1,200 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 65,000 and 122,000 miles. The median is 90,551 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine and its cooling system (13.5% of complaints, typically around 87,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (12.6% of complaints, typically around 72,000 miles), the airbag system (11.7% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles).
1 recall campaign cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine and its cooling system87,000median 87,000 miles, middle half 62,000 to 119,000
- Transmission and driveline72,000median 72,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 95,000
- Airbag system86,000median 86,000 miles, middle half 66,000 to 113,000
- Electrical system95,000median 94,850 miles, middle half 65,000 to 131,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit96,000median 96,000 miles, middle half 58,000 to 115,000
- Fuel system108,000median 108,000 miles, middle half 87,000 to 140,000
- Throttle and speed control89,000median 89,000 miles, middle half 65,000 to 106,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and its cooling system | 626 | 13.5% | 87,000 | 62,000–119,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 586 | 12.6% | 72,000 | 50,000–95,000 |
| Airbag system | 544 | 11.7% | 86,000 | 66,000–113,000 |
| Electrical system | 519 | 11.2% | 95,000 | 65,000–131,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 334 | 7.2% | 96,000 | 58,000–115,000 |
| Fuel system | 274 | 5.9% | 108,000 | 87,000–140,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 245 | 5.3% | 89,000 | 65,000–106,000 |
| Suspension | 232 | 5.0% | 103,000 | 83,000–135,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 215 | 4.6% | 85,000 | 60,000–109,000 |
| Steering | 212 | 4.6% | 90,000 | 53,000–147,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 90,551 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 13.5% of complaints (626 reports, 201 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 87,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 62,000 and 119,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 12.6% of complaints (586 reports, 155 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 72,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 49,600 and 95,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 11.7% of complaints (544 reports, 133 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 66,000 and 113,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 11.2% of complaints (519 reports, 133 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 94,850 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 65,000 and 131,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 7.2% of complaints (334 reports, 60 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 96,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 58,000 and 115,000 miles.
The fuel system accounts for 5.9% of complaints (274 reports, 45 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 108,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 87,435 and 140,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 1996 model year drew the most — 1,860 complaints — while 2000 drew the fewest at 558. The median year sits at 761.
That makes 1996 an outlier: roughly 2.4 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 4,635 complaints filed against this generation, 187 reported a crash; 208 reported a fire; 182 reported an injury; 18 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.0% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 65,000 and 122,000 miles, with a median of 90,551. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and its cooling system and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 72,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission
41TE / A604 Ultradrive automatic failure is the signature defect of this generation: solenoid pack faults, planetary and clutch pack failure, often well before 100,000 miles.
Engine
3.3L and 3.8L head gasket and intake plenum gasket leaks causing coolant loss and overheating.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1,860 | 178 |
| 1997 | 857 | 182 |
| 1998 | 761 | 283 |
| 1999 | 599 | 239 |
| 2000 | 558 | 318 |
Recalls (1)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 10V270000 | 2010-06-08 | Seats |
What owners reported
Serpentine belt or tensioner clip has had to be repaired 4 times (towed every time) electrical problems since the beginning; turn the key and the windshield wipers start going, turn the key off and the wipers "keep" going, take the key totally out of the ignition and the wipers go and the "dinging" alarm that tells…
1996 · 500 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Built from 1,200 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page