1996 Dodge Caravan LX review from North America

This car has two sets of problems.

First, the car seems to be inflicted with an electrical poltergeist. Windshield wipers come on when you hit a bump in the road. When you turn on the ignition, one in five times the ABS light on the dash will stay on, and I'll know that all of the electrical devices are not working. I'll have engine power, but no windows, and no power to dash instruments.

The second set of problems concerns the anti-lock breaks. At low speeds, the brakes don't always hold. More than once in heavy traffic, I have applied the brakes under 15 MPH, and nothing happens. Pumping the brakes brings them on line. Also, when braking at any speed, hitting a bump while breaking can make the brakes let go.

We have had one accident in bumper to bumper traffic when the brakes did not hold.

Although I love the van's interior for its roomy and comfortable cabin, I would not buy Dodge again. The service people are wonderful and efficient, but I believe that they are working against poor engineering design. Is it really necessary to drive every electrical system off of one 18 foot long belt that is prone to break? It is frustrating to be dead in the water in February because an air conditioning compressor seized up and tore the belt!