Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Charger.
The 1983 Dodge Charger represents the final chapter of the original rear-wheel-drive platform era, with its maintenance specifications calling for 3 quarts of engine oil with filter and compatibility with a range of viscosities including 20W-20, 15W-40, and 5W-30 to accommodate varying operating conditions; these oil specifications reflect the model's transition between seasonal viscosity standards common in American vehicles of that period. When examining the Charger's broader reliability trajectory across the 2001-2024 complaint data compiled for the model line, the 2006 model year recorded the highest complaint volume at 1,293 instances, while the 2024 model year shows just 1 complaint, representing the lowest recorded figure in this dataset—a trajectory that demonstrates substantial improvement in quality and customer satisfaction over nearly two decades of production evolution.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 173.6 in |
| Overall width | 66.5 in |
| Overall height | 50.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 96.5 in |
| Curb weight | 2227 lb |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 3 qt w/ filter of 20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil.
| Engine Oil | 20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 3 qt w/ filter |
| Engine Oil | 20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4 qt w/ filter |
| Engine Oil | 20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4 qt w/ filter |
| Engine Oil | 20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 3.0 qt |
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.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THROTTLE MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE FLOOR CARPET. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROD EXTENDS BELOW THE BASE OF THE FOOT PAD AND CONTACTS THE FLOOR CARPETING WHEN PEDAL IS… Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REMOVE EXCESS ROD MATERIAL EXTENDING BELOW THE FOOT PAD AND ANY SHARP ROD END EDGES WILL BE SMOOTHED.
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.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
3 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.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.