DodgeD2501988Overview/dodge/d250/1988/base/

1988 Dodge D250

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 D250.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1988 Dodge D250 pairs an automatic 3-speed transmission with EPA ratings of 10/12/11 mpg, while routine engine service calls for 4 quarts of oil with the filter in viscosities spanning 15W-40, 10W-30, and 5W-30. Reliability records for this model year are comparatively light, with just 4 owner complaints, 1 recall, and steering flagged as the top complaint area. That modest complaint footprint makes the 1988 D250 a relatively uneventful entry in the model's documented reliability history.

Model year19881987198619851984198319821981

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
EPA fuel economy10/12/11 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length210.6 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height72.8 in
Wheelbase131.1 in
Curb weight3926 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined10 / 12 / 11 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 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 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 Injection System (inspect) · Air 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 miEngine Air Filter Element (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 18,000 miEngine Assembly (leak inspection) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 22,500 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Parking Brake Linkage (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 24,000 miAir Injection System Air Pump Filter Element (replace) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCarburetor (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fast Idle Cam (inspect) · Spark Plugs (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 D250 dominate in one area — the steering, 2 of 4 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the steering, 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 steering 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
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
4
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 4 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Steering2
Electrical System1
Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

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 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 1988 D250 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 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 10 city / 12 highway / 11 combined mpg.