DodgeD2501987Overview/dodge/d250/1987/base/

1987 Dodge D250

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 D250.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1987 Dodge D250 is presented as a heavy‑duty pickup whose engine requires five quarts of oil with filter and accepts viscosities ranging from 20W‑20 to 5W‑30, delivering EPA‑rated fuel economy of 9/11/10 mpg and paired with a three‑speed automatic transmission. Reliability data show a single owner complaint, concentrated in the structural area, and one recall issued for the model year. This limited complaint count and singular recall position the 1987 D250 toward the better‑end of the model’s reliability history, suggesting a comparatively trouble‑free example for researchers.

Model year19881987198619851984198319821981

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy9/11/10 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length209.8 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height72.8 in
Wheelbase131.1 in
Curb weight3926 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined9 / 11 / 10 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt w/ filter of 20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, Front: 90 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilFront: 90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4 Pints,
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40

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 18,000 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 6,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate)
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) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 12,000 miChoke System (inspect) · Choke Vacuum Pulloff Valve (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · PCV System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 18,000 miEmission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 22,500 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Parking Brake Linkage (lubricate)
Every 24,000 miAir Injection System Air Pump Filter Element (replace) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCarburetor (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fast Idle Cam (inspect)

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 1987 Dodge D250 dominate in one area — the structure, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the structure, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 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.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

87V040000Power Train:Clutch AssemblyReported 26/03/1987

PLASTIC HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM COMPONENTS ARE SUBJECT TO EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT DAMAGE DUE TO PROLONGED COLD, HIGH SPEED IDLE OPERATION. Remedy: INSTALL PROTECTIVE HEAT SHIELDS BETWEEN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND AFFECTED CLUTCH SYSTEM COMPONENTS.

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 D250. 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 1987 D250 take?

5 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 1987 D250 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the D250 get?

EPA figures are 9 city / 11 highway / 10 combined mpg.