3rd generation (NS) · NS · 4,635 complaints, 1,200 with mileage
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.
43% of failures occur beyond 100,000 miles — a wear pattern. The car generally reaches substantial mileage before trouble starts.
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.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 626 | 13.5% | 87,000 | 62,000–119,000 |
| Power Train | 586 | 12.6% | 72,000 | 49,600–95,000 |
| Air Bags | 544 | 11.7% | 86,000 | 66,000–113,000 |
| Electrical System | 519 | 11.2% | 94,850 | 65,000–131,000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 334 | 7.2% | 96,000 | 58,000–115,000 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 274 | 5.9% | 108,000 | 87,435–140,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 245 | 5.3% | 89,000 | 65,000–106,500 |
| Suspension | 232 | 5.0% | 103,000 | 82,600–135,000 |
| Visibility | 215 | 4.6% | 85,000 | 60,000–109,000 |
| Steering | 212 | 4.6% | 90,000 | 53,000–147,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1,860 | 178 |
| 1997 | 857 | 182 |
| 1998 | 761 | 283 |
| 1999 | 599 | 239 |
| 2000 | 558 | 318 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
For a buyer, a late-failure pattern shifts the question from whether to when. 43% of reported failures occur beyond 100,000 miles, so an example approaching that figure is approaching the range where other owners started reporting problems. The middle half of all failures falls between 65,000 and 122,000 miles.
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.
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.
3.3L and 3.8L head gasket and intake plenum gasket leaks causing coolant loss and overheating.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 10V270000 | 2010-06-08 | Seats |