Total Complaints
14 filings
DODGE DODGE · model year
1996 DODGE DODGE
14 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996DODGEDODGE carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 3 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 DODGE is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components with 2 filings, followed by steering:hydraulic power assist:pump (1) and engine and engine cooling:engine (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 1996 DODGE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
14
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
3
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20071220CrashFatalENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY SON DIED IN DEC 12,2002 IN A 1996 DODGE STEALTH TWO DAYS AFTER HE DIED I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. CAR LOST CONTROL ON FREEWAY AND WENT OFF ROAD AND ROLLED. HE JUST PUT A TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED CLUTCH, AND PUT IN NEW ENGINE THROUGH TRACY DODGE IN TRACY, CA. *TR
20071220CrashFatalPOWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
MY SON DIED IN DEC 12,2002 IN A 1996 DODGE STEALTH TWO DAYS AFTER HE DIED I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. CAR LOST CONTROL ON FREEWAY AND WENT OFF ROAD AND ROLLED. HE JUST PUT A TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED CLUTCH, AND PUT IN NEW ENGINE THROUGH TRACY DODGE IN TRACY, CA. *TR
20071220CrashFatalEQUIPMENT
MY SON DIED IN DEC 12,2002 IN A 1996 DODGE STEALTH TWO DAYS AFTER HE DIED I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. CAR LOST CONTROL ON FREEWAY AND WENT OFF ROAD AND ROLLED. HE JUST PUT A TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED CLUTCH, AND PUT IN NEW ENGINE THROUGH TRACY DODGE IN TRACY, CA. *TR
20050411ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
RIDING DOWN I 85 MY ENGINE JUST STOPPED DUE TO A TIMING BELT BREAKAGE. *AK
Mileage: 66,000
20050129FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
BOTH SIDES OF FUEL RAIL LEAKING THAT COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OR A EXPLOSEN OF MY CAR.*AK
Mileage: 13,000
20041227POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, 4 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE MINI VAN IT HAD TO BE SERVICED, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER THE 24 MONTHS/24000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE FOR $1495. 2ND VISIT ON 9/24/01 TRANS SLIPPING IN 3RD GEAR. PER MECHANIC THE SNAP RING SNAPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION WENT ON 8/26/02. IT NEEDED A REBUILT & RECONDITIONED 6710 TRANSMISSION & REBUILT/RECONDITIONED TORQUE CONVERTER ALSO A FILTER TOTALING $1588.99. ON 2/26/03 RETURNED BACK TO THE SHOP FOR A BLEW REAR DIFFERENTIAL & PASSENGER SIDE AXLE TOTALING $609.50. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME WARRANTY THAT I HAVE ON THE VAN BECAUSE THE VAN GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW AND I CAUSED IT TO BLOW, WHICH IS RIDICULES. NOW THE SHOP THAT I GOT THE WORK DONE AT IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND NOW AT A NEW LOCATION UNDER A NEW NAME WITH THE SAME PERSON THERE. I WAS TOLD THAT MY LIFETIME WARRANTY WOULDN'T BE COVERED AT THE NEW LOCATION AND THAT I WOULD HA
Mileage: 77,000
20030830VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER, MILEAGE, AND TACHOMETER RARELY WORK. SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER WILL FLUCUATE BACK AND FORTH,WILDLY, AND OTHER TIMES STICK ON A SPEED. AT TIMES THE TACHOMETER WILL WORK AND SO I CAN JUDGE MY SPEED. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING, UNTIL THE FUEL FILTER AND PUMP WERE CHANGED IN FEBRUARY, BUT IF ALL THE OTHER GAUGES ARE NOT WORKING, THEN IT ALSO STOPS.*AK
20000322SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
ALL THE ABOVE REPORTS WERE REPORTED AND ATTEMPTS WERE MADE THROUGH THE ORIGINAL DEALER. DUE TO EXTREMELY POOR SERVICE I SWITCH TO DON MEALEY ROYAL CHRYSLER, NOW AUTONATION. THE SERVICE WAS EVEN WORSE. I HAVEN'T HAD MY CAR MORE THAN ONE DAY IN OVER A WEEK.ALL THESE DATES ARE ESTIMATES AS MOST OF THE TIME HOLLER DODGE DID NOT EVEN GIVE ME A RECEIPT. THEY SHOULD HAVE THEM IN THEIR REPAIR RECORDS.SORRY MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS MJVICKERS@BIGFOOT.COM NOT VOM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
20000322ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ALL THE ABOVE REPORTS WERE REPORTED AND ATTEMPTS WERE MADE THROUGH THE ORIGINAL DEALER. DUE TO EXTREMELY POOR SERVICE I SWITCH TO DON MEALEY ROYAL CHRYSLER, NOW AUTONATION. THE SERVICE WAS EVEN WORSE. I HAVEN'T HAD MY CAR MORE THAN ONE DAY IN OVER A WEEK.ALL THESE DATES ARE ESTIMATES AS MOST OF THE TIME HOLLER DODGE DID NOT EVEN GIVE ME A RECEIPT. THEY SHOULD HAVE THEM IN THEIR REPAIR RECORDS.SORRY MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS MJVICKERS@BIGFOOT.COM NOT VOM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
20000322EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
ALL THE ABOVE REPORTS WERE REPORTED AND ATTEMPTS WERE MADE THROUGH THE ORIGINAL DEALER. DUE TO EXTREMELY POOR SERVICE I SWITCH TO DON MEALEY ROYAL CHRYSLER, NOW AUTONATION. THE SERVICE WAS EVEN WORSE. I HAVEN'T HAD MY CAR MORE THAN ONE DAY IN OVER A WEEK.ALL THESE DATES ARE ESTIMATES AS MOST OF THE TIME HOLLER DODGE DID NOT EVEN GIVE ME A RECEIPT. THEY SHOULD HAVE THEM IN THEIR REPAIR RECORDS.SORRY MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS MJVICKERS@BIGFOOT.COM NOT VOM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
19981014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PULLEY/CRANKSHAFT BROKE.
19970912SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED TWICE.
19970912SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED.
19970527STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT FAILED.
Compare 1996DODGEDODGE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 DODGE DODGE have?▼
The 1996 DODGE DODGE has 14 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 DODGE DODGE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 DODGE DODGE is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1996 DODGE DODGE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.