Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1976 W300.
The 1976 Dodge W300 represents a workhorse full-size pickup from an era when American trucks were built with straightforward, durable engineering, and while specific powertrain details vary across configurations, this model year falls within a generation known for its straightforward mechanics and chassis robustness; according to available owner feedback, the model year recorded only two total complaints, with tires emerging as the sole issue noted, a remarkably low complaint rate that suggests this particular variant has aged relatively well despite its nearly five-decade lifespan, though the presence of two recalls indicates that owners should still verify that any necessary safety or compliance repairs were completed during the vehicle's history.
Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith) |
| Why | Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module |
| When needed | After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement |
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool |
| Also required | The vehicle's four-digit PIN code |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1976 Dodge W300 dominate in one area — the tires, 2 of 2 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 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.
All 2 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
DUE TO A COMBINATION OF DISC BRAKE PAD WEAR AND TURN STOP WEAR ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THERE MAY BE AN INCREASE IN BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND A REDUCTION IN FRONT BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS FOLLOWING A FULL TURN. ALSO, A FRAME… Remedy: UPON INSPECTION DEALER WILL REPLACE EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT TURN STOP BRACKET TO CORRECT THE FRONT BRAKES. IF FRAME IS CRACKED IT WILL BE WELDED AND A ROD REINFORCEMENT WILL BE…
THE FRONT RAIL EXTENSION MAY EXPERIENCE FATIGUE CRACKING NEAR THE AREA WHERE THE POWER STEERING GEAR ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. IF THE CRACK PROGRESSES THROUGH MOST OR ALL OF THE RAIL SECTION, STEERING SYSTEM FREE PLAY… Remedy: AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE WELD REPAIRED AND A REINFORCEMENT ROD WILL BE INSTALLED OVER THE CRACKED AREA.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.