DodgeCharger1985Overview/dodge/charger/1985/base/

1985 Dodge Charger

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1985 Charger.

The 1985 Dodge Charger is defined mechanically by its lubrication requirements, housing an engine that takes 3 quarts of oil with a filter and utilizes viscosities ranging from 5W-30 and 20W-20 to 15W-40. On the reliability front, the car carries a modest record of 13 total owner complaints and 3 recalls, with the electrical system standing out as the primary area of concern. Compared to the broader Charger timeline from 2001 to 2024—which saw complaint volumes peak at 1,293 in 2006 before falling to just 1 in 2024—the 1985 model occupies a highly favorable position in the nameplate's reliability history, indicating a comparatively trouble-free ownership profile for researchers to consider.

Model year202620252023202220212020198719861985

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length174.8 in
Overall width66.1 in
Overall height50.8 in
Wheelbase96.5 in
Curb weight2216 lb

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3 qt w/ filter of 20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity3 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Carburetor (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miEGR System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 52,500 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1985 Dodge Charger sits at the beginning of a generation that, based on the federal record, experienced a dramatic surge in complaints and recalls many years after production. For this model year, complaints peaked sharply in 2006 with 1,293 reports, accompanied by 5 recalls and 4 investigations—a pattern that suggests widespread issues emerged as the vehicles aged. The top complaint areas for the 1985 model are Electrical System (4) and Power Train (2), and there is one fire complaint, though the data does not specify root causes. Across the available record, complaint volumes for this model year remained elevated through 2014 before declining, indicating persistent long-term problems rather than isolated early failures. Given the high complaint and recall activity concentrated in the 2006–2014 period, the 1985 Charger represents a high-risk purchase with documented electrical and powertrain concerns. This is not a good year to buy.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
13
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 13 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System4
Power Train2
Exterior Lighting1
Visibility1
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Steering1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E033000SuspensionReported 14/04/2008

FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS… Remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.

84V116000Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)Reported 24/09/1984

AN EMISSIONS SYSTEM VALVE MAY ALLOW AN OVERLY RICH MIXTURE (EXCESSIVE FUEL) IN THE ENGINE DURING DECELERATION. THE MIXTURE OF AIR AND EXCESSIVE FUEL CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE STOPPING, COASTING, OR TURNING. Remedy: ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BE CORRECTED BY REMOVING THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM VALVE AND INSTALLING A VACUUM LINE CONNECTOR IN ITS PLACE.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Charger. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1985 Charger take?

3 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 20 degrees F: 30, 20 degrees F TO 80 degrees F: 20W-20, ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40, BELOW 100 degrees F 5W-30 OR 5W-40, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, 5W-40, per the factory manual.

Does the 1985 Charger have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.