Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 D250.
The 1981 Dodge D250 registers a remarkably sparse reliability footprint, having generated only one documented owner complaint—centered specifically on tires—alongside two separate factory recalls over its production run. This combination of minimal grievances and regulatory interventions positions the model year toward the more stable end of the D250’s timeline, indicating that while mechanical failures were rare enough to leave rubber wear as the solitary reported defect, the manufacturer still faced sufficient quality concerns to mandate corrective action on distinct components. For researchers tracing the model’s durability arc, this data profile suggests a vehicle that largely skirted the systemic maladies common to its era, though the paired recalls serve as a concrete reminder that low complaint volume does not equate to an absence of manufacturing oversight issues.
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 1981 Dodge D250 dominate in one area — the tires, 1 of 1 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 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Remedy: INSTALL PROPER MOUNTING HARDWARE AND SEAT BELTS.
ALTERED VEHICLES EITHER DO NOT HAVE REAR COUCH SEAT BELTS INSTALLED, VIOLATING FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION, OR HAVE REAR COUCH SEAT BELTS WHICH DO NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR… Remedy: MISSING REAR COUCH SEAT BELTS WILL BE INSTALLED AND IMPROPER ANCHORS WILL BE CORRECTED WITHOUT CHARGE.
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.