DodgeW1001988Overview/dodge/w100/1988/base/

1988 Dodge W100

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 W100.

The 1988 Dodge W100 was a full-size pickup truck built on Dodge's traditional body-on-frame platform, designed for light-duty hauling and towing applications compatible with a variety of engine configurations, and it held a 4-quart engine oil capacity with filter service using 15W-40, 10W-30, or 5W-30 viscosity grades depending on operating conditions; this model year falls within a generation that has accumulated relatively low owner complaint data, with only two documented complaints across all model years and Power Train issues representing the most frequently reported concern among those, alongside two safety recalls issued during this production period, suggesting that while the platform earned a generally favorable long-term reputation for durability, these specific recall and complaint entries indicate that certain component-level vulnerabilities existed even in lower-mileage examples.

Model year198819871986197719761975

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
Wheelbase131.1 in

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.

Lubricants & capacities

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 15,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 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.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Parking Brake Linkage (lubricate)
Every 30,000 miCarburetor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 37,500 miBands (adjust) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miAir Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR Vacuum Control Solenoid Filter (replace) · EGR Valve (replace) · Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 75,000 miAlternator Brush Set (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 W100 dominate in one area — the power train, 1 of 2 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the power train are also the target of recall 87V-194 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.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
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.

Power Train1
Suspension,Tires1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

90V124000Structure:Body:BumpersReported 06/07/1990

IN A REAR END COLLISION, THE PICKUP BOX CROSSMEMBER COULD CONTACT THE FUEL PUMP MODULES FUEL LINE, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH WOULD BE IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 301. Remedy: INSTALL TWO PICKUP BOX REINFORCEMENT BLOCKER BRACKETS TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE TO ELIMINATE CONTACT WITH FUEL LINE.

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 W100. 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 W100 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 W100 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.