DodgeColt1976Overview/dodge/colt/1976/base/

1976 Dodge Colt

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1976 Colt.

The 1976 Dodge Colt occupies a distinct position in reliability records spanning 1990 to 1996, a timeframe that tracks the model's durability well beyond its production year. Complaint data from this period reveals a significant spike to 120 reported incidents in 1993—the highest concentration in the dataset—followed by a steep decline to merely 2 complaints by 1996, indicating a critical wear period around the seventeen-year mark followed by rapid attrition from active service. This trajectory positions the 1976 model year at the center of a documented longevity curve where structural and mechanical concerns peaked dramatically before subsiding as the remaining fleet diminished.

Model year199419931992198919881987198619851976

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length171.3 in
Overall width63.8 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase95.3 in
Curb weight2224 lb

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.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
0
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

76V124000Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 10/08/1976

Remedy:

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 Colt. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 1976 Colt have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.