Overview & Reviews
A complete redesign yields a cavernous interior, best-in-class driveability and new innovations such as the optional driver-side passenger door. And although the all-wheel-drive version is discontinued for now, Caravan dethrones the Ford Windstar and once again reigns as king of the minivans.
User Reviews:
Showing 11 through 20 of 61.00-
Reliability Issues - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
By Sani - September 7 - 2:00 amMy dad bought a new Honda Odyssey this year and sold me this car, since I couldnt fit a car seat for my new baby into my 1992 Toyota Celica. He had the transmission rebuilt and then drove it up from Florida to Missouri with a trailer of furniture - well under the 3,000 pound limit. Now, the car needs a $3,000 ABS part, and the transmission needs to be rebuilt again, after less than 5,000 miles. The wipers operate randomly, which others in the reviews have noted, and the Infinity radio/CD/tape doesnt work - the buttons have to be pushed very hard, and then they sometimes operate other functions. Im fixing it and selling it - and buying a nice, reliable used Camry.
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236,000 miles of reliable usefulness! - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
By joejackson - July 17 - 5:16 pmBought this Grand Caravan new in 1996 and have put 236,000 miles on it so far. Fabulous vehicle for hauling people and stuff. Great comfortable highway cruiser too. Averaged 22+ mpg at 75 mph on long trips. Hauled kids to school and events, college kids belongings, 4x8 sheets of plywood, and apartment loads of furniture easily. Many ski trips in the snow. The much maligned transmission has been great. Worked perfectly for 140,000 miles, then had it rebuilt (for $1500) and it has now gone another 100,000 miles and still working fine. If that is a bad transmission design, then I sure hope I get something as good on our next vehicle! No other major repairs.
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Great Van - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
By MMMMMM - April 3 - 2:00 amWe love having a mini van it great and very pratical. Ive put 50k on it, but the van has 148000. Just starting to leek fluid. Only repair was a water pump. Great family vehicle and travel vehicle.
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Grand Caravan Truly Great - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
By L B Room - March 27 - 10:00 amThe 1996 Grand Caravan 3.0 Engine I purchased in August 96 has really been a fun vehicle. Reliable until 250,000 when I put in a lower priced transmission - mistake. At 300k I changed it for the original again and the vehicle is going strongly again even with occasional light towing. Another thing to watch out for is the fuel pump which went at 306K Kms. The Forest Green with tinted glass remained stylish and ahead of the competition in my view. Great job! Still looks and drives as good as new.
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Nice Car - Bad Track Recored - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
By memoj - February 17 - 10:00 amThis is a nice over all vehicle but has had numerous electical failures, (wipers, sound system, cruise, ABS, a/c fan) We had to rebuild the transmission at 80k miles. The maintenance and repair record make this an expensive veh to own. Maybe that is why Chrysler is going to a 7 yr/100k mile warrant, to encourage people like me to come back.
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Do NOT try to tow anything with this - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
By DeanWag - February 17 - 10:00 amI have an small trailer that can hold maybe 1000# I have destroyed in the last 3 years 3 transmissions and the current one is showing signs. Odd electrical probles occur intermently like front wipers do one swipe ect.
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Dont Buy! Dodge Grand Caravan - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
By Hieu Le - November 12 - 9:20 amWe bought the 1996 Grand Caravan 2 years ago. when we bought it, its only got 65K miles on it. Now it got 81K miles on it. Transmission and water pump failed twice. Electrical problem, make me crazy sometime. We keep losing money for it every for like 11 months. We are afraid to buy a Dodge again.
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Bought used Grand Caravan - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
By Happy with Caravan - October 22 - 6:30 amWe neded a van for our family due to an accident which totalled our previous Plymouth Voyager. I bought a 96 Grand Caravan (Dodge)with a 3.8L V-6. A ton of room! Five of us, plus grandpa, ride comfortably with pleny of cargo room. Interior lighting is excellent with well-placed lights. We haul furniture, and bulky loads by removing the rear seat. Handling on freeway is superb. Have replaced battery, brakes and a set of tires at 159K, & change fluids regularly. We got a good one!
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1996 Dodge Grand Caravan - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
By Patrick - September 26 - 7:43 amThis is not the first Chrysler Van that we have owned. All in all the only thing that worries me about the van is the transmission (4-spd auto) whichis known to be trouble. Fuel economy is very poor, well below the Chevy Venture. But all in all, this van is worth the extra money at the pump. Ride quality, design, and comfort is tops with us. We have owned 1993-2002 Chrysler vans and have enjoyed and have had good luck with all (trading most in with mileage above 150,000). We all reall love our Caravan!
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Not a bad car - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
By stekicar - August 21 - 4:03 amI bought it used with 99,164 miles on it (3.0 liter engine). After 102,000 miles, oil started leaking (real reason: valve cover gasket). Serpentine belt ran off the steering servo. Put on a Goodyear belt, and now everything is OK. Water pump started leaking at 134,000 miles. Got totally mad and fixed everything by myself. I am affraid of transmision problems but nothing so far. Van runs like new now. Average 18/24 mpg.
