DodgeStealth, Stealth ES, Stealth RT DOHC,24V1996Overview/dodge/stealth-stealth-es-stealth-rt-dohc-24v/1996/base/
B7 platform

1996 Dodge Stealth, Stealth ES, Stealth RT DOHC,24V

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Stealth, Stealth ES, Stealth RT DOHC,24V.

The 1996 Dodge Stealth lineup—spanning the ES and 24-valve DOHC RT trims on the B7 platform—requires 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil with a filter for engine servicing, though the powertrain stands as the model year's top complaint area. Despite this focus, the category generated only a single owner complaint alongside one recall, placing 1996 at the absolute lowest point of the model's complaint history across its 1991–1997 production run. Compared to the peak of 101 complaints in 1992, this makes the 1996 Stealth the most trouble-free year of the generation, meaning researchers are evaluating a vehicle that represents the most reliable point in the nameplate's lifespan.

Model year19961994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 25 · 520 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05175567AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, front wiper blades, serpentine belt and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 25 · 520 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-55VR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05175567AB
Engine air filterMR571471 discontinued
Fuel filterMB658136 discontinued
Spark plugMS851502 alt MS851336
Front wiper bladesMB622957 discontinued · alt MB622955
Serpentine belt05096319AA discontinued · alt 05096316AA
ThermostatMD174234 discontinued · alt MD184011

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API engine oil, DIAMOND SP OR DIAMOND SP III in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 85-100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.3 Pints
Differential Gear OilDIAMOND SP OR DIAMOND SP III
Differential Gear Oil Capacity0 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil20W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 5W-30

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs15 ft-lbs
Clutch Pressure Plate BoltsCover bolts: 11.0-15.0 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings38 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings38 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts130-137 DOHC Turbo ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts135 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts55 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts55 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-100 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts36.0-40.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub166 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub203 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.67-.81 DOHC ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance11,300-15,300 ohms
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque20.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Standard BCI Group Number25
Standard BCI Cranking Performance520 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)43.0-45.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)34.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance13-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance2-3 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle36-43 ft-lbs / 87-101 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle36-43 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil.

180.0 ft. lbs.80 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts 360 degrees360 degrees
380.0 ft. lbs.80 ft. lbs

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 60,000 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 5,000 miClutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDistributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTiming Belt (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 1996 Dodge Stealth, Stealth ES, Stealth RT DOHC,24V dominate in one area — the power train, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the power train are also the target of recall 02V-143 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 power train 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
12
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

02V143002Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)Reported 14/05/2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT BY MITSUBISHI MOTOR CORPORATION FOR DAIMLERCHRYSLER, A CONDITION EXISTS THAT ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSFER CASE FOR INDICATIONS OF OIL LEAKAGE. VEHICLES THAT HAVE NO OIL LEAKAGE WILL HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE OIL CHANGED. VEHICLES THAT HAVE OIL LEAKAGE…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 12 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
08-049-202020-04-22Electrical SystemCharging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
31005192019-11-20StructureUse of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
31006192019-11-20StructureRepair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…
31003192019-11-20StructureUse of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
31-006-192019-11-20StructureRepair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…

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 Stealth, Stealth ES, Stealth RT DOHC,24V. 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 1996 Stealth, Stealth ES, Stealth RT DOHC,24V take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 Stealth, Stealth ES, Stealth RT DOHC,24V have open recalls?

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