DodgeD1501988Overview/dodge/d150/1988/base/

1988 Dodge D150

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 D150.

The 1988 Dodge D150 calls for four quarts of oil with a filter and accepts viscosities of 15W‑40, 10W‑30, or 5W‑30. Owner feedback totals seven complaints, with structural issues cited most often. Two recalls were recorded for this year, placing it in a relatively strong point within the D150’s reliability history.

Model year198819871986198519841983198219811980

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length210.6 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height69.3 in
Wheelbase131.1 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt w/ filter of 15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, Front: 90 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilFront: 90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4 Pints,
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt w/ filter
Power Steering FluidUSE MOPAR PART NO. 4318055 OR EQUIVALENT

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.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Parking Brake Linkage (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCarburetor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 37,500 miBands (adjust) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miAir Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR Vacuum Control Solenoid Filter (replace) · EGR Valve (replace) · Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 75,000 miAlternator Brush Set (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.

Owner complaints about the 1988 Dodge D150 lead in one area — the structure, 2 of 7 reports (29%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the structure are also the target of recall 90V-124 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the structure pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
7
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 7 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Structure2
Suspension2
Seat Belts2
Steering1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

90V124000Structure:Body:BumpersReported 06/07/1990

IN A REAR END COLLISION, THE PICKUP BOX CROSSMEMBER COULD CONTACT THE FUEL PUMP MODULES FUEL LINE, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH WOULD BE IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 301. Remedy: INSTALL TWO PICKUP BOX REINFORCEMENT BLOCKER BRACKETS TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE TO ELIMINATE CONTACT WITH FUEL LINE.

87V194000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)Reported 26/12/1987

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY CONTAIN A PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLY THAT MAY STICK IN THE TOOTH BUTT UNENGAGED POSITION. Remedy: ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLIES REPLACED.

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 D150. 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 1988 D150 take?

4 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 20 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 D150 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.