DodgeD3501988Overview/dodge/d350/1988/base/

1988 Dodge D350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 D350.

The 1988 Dodge D350 is a medium‑duty truck that requires a modest 4‑quart oil change with filter, and its powerplant can be serviced with any of the common viscosities—15W‑40, 10W‑30, or 5W‑30—offering flexibility for varying climate conditions. Across the model year, owners reported only two complaints, with tire issues emerging as the most frequent concern, while a single recall underscores the generally low incidence of systemic problems. This combination of straightforward maintenance requirements and an exceptionally low complaint count places the 1988 D350 near the top of its generation’s reliability rankings, suggesting a durable platform for researchers studying long‑term durability.

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

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length210.6 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height72 in
Wheelbase131.1 in
Curb weight4262 lb

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
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) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 12,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Breather Filter (clean) · Fast Idle Cam (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 18,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 24,000 miAir Injection System Air Pump Filter Element (replace) · Bands (adjust) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miChoke System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 36,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 48,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 D350 dominate in one area — the tires, 1 of 2 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the tires, 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 tires 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
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Tires1
Structure1

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 D350. 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 D350 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 D350 have open recalls?

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