The 1996 Dodge Caravan has 16 recalls, the most serious being multiple fire risks tied to the fuel system, where sparks, leaks, or fuel vapors near ignition sources can result in an engine compartment or fueling fire.
Several of these fire-related concerns overlap: a static charge can build up on the fuel filler tube and spark during refueling, the fuel tank rollover valve can allow liquid fuel to reach the vapor canister and leak, fuel rail O-ring seals on 3.3L and 3.8L engines can degrade and leak under the hood, and fuel can also leak at the fuel pump module where it attaches to the tank. A separate engine concern involves an oil gallery plug in the cylinder head that does not seal properly, allowing oil to leak onto hot engine surfaces.
On the occupant safety side, the clockspring assembly behind the steering wheel may have been wound incorrectly during assembly, which can cause the airbag warning light to illuminate and eventually leave the driver's airbag unable to deploy. Rear bench seat mounting bolts can become brittle and fracture in a crash, allowing the seat to break free. Several recalls affect vehicles with integrated child seats: the mounting bolts securing the child seat to the seat frame can break in a crash, the shoulder harness can become difficult to release when the latch plate gets contaminated, and the shoulder belts can retract and lock after buckling. The radiator fan relay can also fail and allow the engine to overheat.
