Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 B200.
The 1978 Dodge B200 is a single model-year entry in Dodge's full-size van lineup, a designation that places it within the manufacturer's light commercial vehicle family. Its reliability record is unusually thin—just one owner complaint on file, with tires identified as the lone issue area—though three recalls were nonetheless issued against the model. For researchers tracking dependability across the van's history, this near-empty complaint file paired with a three-recall footprint marks the 1978 B200 as one of the quieter entries in the lineage, though the recall count still warrants individual investigation before broader conclusions are drawn.
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 1978 Dodge B200 dominate in one area — the tires, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 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 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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 INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES", IN THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF FITTING CERTAIN ADULT PASSENGERS WHEN THE SEAT IS IN THE FULL… Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER UNIBELT ASSEMBLY WITH AN ASSEMBLY HAVING A LONGER BELT WEBBING.
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 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.