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1985 Dodge Colt

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1985 Colt.

The 1985 Dodge Colt carries a 4-quart oil capacity with filter, serviced using 20W-20, 15W-40, or 5W-30 viscosity grades, and generated minimal service records with zero recalls and only one documented owner complaint directed at the Engine & Engine Cooling systems. This single reported issue stands in stark contrast to the model line's later trajectory, which saw complaints surge to 120 by 1993 before tapering to just two in 1996, placing the 1985 model year in a pre-escalation period of relative mechanical calm. For researchers examining the Colt's durability arc, this low-complaint baseline year predates the documented volatility of the early 1990s, offering a reference point for the model's reliability profile before the spike in owner-reported problems.

Model year1994 1993 1992 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qt w/ filterOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified

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 20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
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 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil	20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt w/ filter

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.

Every 7,500 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Air Injection System (inspect) · Air Intake Duct (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
At 60,000 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Timing 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 required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter 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 needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The 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.

The federal record for this generation spans 1990 to 1996, meaning the 1985 target year predates the available year-by-year arc and falls entirely outside the documented trend. Within the 1990–1996 window, complaints remain generally low (2 to 22 per year) with a notable anomaly in 1993 (120 complaints), while recalls are sparse (0 to 2 annually) and investigations taper off by 1996. For the 1985 model year specifically, the federal data is extremely sparse, documenting only a single complaint in the Engine & Engine Cooling category, with zero crash or fire complaints; the data does not specify a root cause. Because the 1985 model precedes the main federal record and shows minimal isolated complaint activity, it is difficult to assess its reliability against the later generation trend. However, based strictly on the available numbers, 1985 appears to be a low-complaint year, making it a cautiously viable purchase provided the buyer thoroughly inspects the engine cooling system, though the limited federal data necessitates extra independent scrutiny.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’96

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

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 Colt. 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.

Vehicles taking 4 qt w/ filter

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1985 Colt take?

4 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.

Does the 1985 Colt have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.