DodgeRamcharger1983Overview/dodge/ramcharger/1983/base/

1983 Dodge Ramcharger

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Ramcharger.

The 1983 Ramcharger, a full-size SUV from Dodge, requires 5 quarts of oil with filter and accepts viscosities of 20W-20, 15W-40, or 5W-30. Its reliability record shows just one owner complaint, specifically in the structure area, and zero recalls, positioning this model year as a notably trouble-free entry in the Ramcharger lineage.

Model year198819871986198519841983198219811980

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

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 Capacity5.0 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE MOPAR PART NO. 4318055 OR EQUIVALENT

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.

The supplied year-by-year federal record covers only 1990 and 1991, showing a low but rising pattern of two complaints increasing to ten, alongside zero recalls, a single investigation in 1991, and five TSBs in each of those later years. The dataset contains no year-by-year entries for 1983 or for adjacent model years, so generational trend comparison is impossible from the supplied record. For 1983 itself, the available data indicate a minimal federal footprint of one Structure complaint and zero crash or fire complaints, while recalls, investigations, and TSBs for that year are not itemized. Because surrounding-year counts are absent, the data does not specify whether 1983 represents a high or low point in the generation. Based strictly on the limited federal record provided, 1983 appears to be a good year to buy, as it registers zero crash and fire complaints and only one Structure complaint, though the incomplete surrounding-year dataset warrants caution.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
2
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
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

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
90026882013-02-13Engine And Engine Cooling68069384A$, R8069384A$, 68086182A$, R8027067A$, RL002012A$ - Gasket, Cylinder Head Cover…
1903931993-04-01SteeringSTEERING COLUMN COUPLER SERVICE. *TW

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

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VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Ramcharger. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 1983 Ramcharger 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 1983 Ramcharger have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.