1996 Dodge Grand Caravan LE review from North America
"Bad year for an OK mini van"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
We got this van used and within three months had to replace the a/c condenser which was about $800.
The clutch on the a/c compressor was next to go, but that was only $85.
The rear a/c - heat unit developed a stuck valve which caused it to blow hot & cold at the same time, which was about $300.
The transmission has a steady amount of leakage, I have to top it up every few months. I keep expecting to have to get it rebuilt, but haven't had to yet.
There was a stuck vacuum part that had to be replace for about $200.
The electrics are flaky on this vehicle, in addition to the windshield wipers sometimes randomly coming on & the right rear vent window only working intermittently the display on the clock/radio sometimes flickers and blanks out completely.
General comments?
Despite the fact that we refer to this van as "the lemon", there are a lot of things we like about it. It's comfortable, roomy and nice to drive. It wasn't too expensive, so even with the money we've had to spend it's been an okay value. We are certainly sold on mini-vans, and since a lot of our issues seem to be "first year" problems which aren't as bad in later models we'll consider another Grand Caravan in the future.
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| 1996 - Grand Caravan SE 3.3L V6 This thing will run forever |
|
| A high maintanance headache |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.3 V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 2 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 50000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 65000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Escort |
| Date of Entry | 20th June, 2002 |