DodgeD1001978Overview/dodge/d100/1978/base/

1978 Dodge D100

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 D100.

The 1978 Dodge D100 is documented as having generated only a single owner complaint, a figure that underscores its relative durability among its contemporaries. That lone grievance centered on the electrical system, and the model year was subject to five separate recalls, reflecting a focused but limited scope of service actions. Positioned toward the more reliable end of the D series timeline, the 1978 D100’s modest complaint record suggests that, for researchers, it represents a baseline of dependable performance within the generation’s overall reliability narrative.

Model year19881987198619791978197719761975

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.

The 1978 Dodge D100 shows only one recorded complaint, an electrical system issue, with no associated crash or fire incidents. In the broader context of the available federal record, the 1990 model year had zero complaints but one recall and one investigation, while 1992 had one complaint and one investigation, indicating that later years saw some regulatory attention despite minimal owner-reported problems. The 1978 model year predates these recorded actions and has no recalls or investigations in the dataset, though the data does not specify whether this reflects a genuine lack of issues or simply a gap in reporting for earlier years. The single electrical complaint suggests an isolated concern rather than a widespread defect. Based on this limited record, the 1978 D100 appears to be a relatively uneventful year, but a thorough inspection of the electrical system is advisable before purchase.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

78V038000Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle BarReported 17/02/1978

AN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT CONTAINING A MISMATCHED POT COUPLING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THIS COUPLING MAY HAVE AN OVERSIZED SERRATION DIAMETER. AN OVERSIZED SERRATION COULD PREVENT… Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A REPLACEMENT SHAFT COUPLING.

78V036000Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank AssemblyReported 17/02/1978

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK VENT SYSTEMS FOR BLOCKAGE AND CORRECT, IF NECESSARY. FUEL TANKS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR CRACKING OF THE FRONT PANEL AND REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.

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 D100. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 1978 D100 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.