DodgeD2501986Overview/dodge/d250/1986/base/

1986 Dodge D250

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 D250.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1986 Dodge D250 is a model-year entry defined by a three-speed automatic transmission and an engine that requires five quarts of oil with the filter, specified across 20W-20, 15W-40, and 5W-30 viscosity grades, while carrying EPA fuel-economy ratings of 10/12/11 mpg. In reliability records, this year is notably low-key: only one owner complaint has been logged, the electrical system is the top cited area, and no recalls are on record. That places the 1986 D250 toward the quieter end of the model’s reliability history, meaning researchers should expect minimal documented systemic issues rather than a broad pattern of failures.

Model year19881987198619851984198319821981

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy10/12/11 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined10 / 12 / 11 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt w/ filter of 20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, Front: 90 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilFront: 90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4 Pints,
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 15,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Line (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 10,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miChoke System (inspect) · Choke Vacuum Pulloff Valve (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Breather Filter (clean) · PCV System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 18,000 miEmission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 22,500 miSteering Linkage (inspect)
Every 24,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Parking Brake Linkage (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCarburetor (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fast Idle Cam (inspect)

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.

Owner complaints about the 1986 Dodge D250 dominate in one area — the electrical system, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system 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.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

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

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 D250. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 D250 take?

5 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 1986 D250 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the D250 get?

EPA figures are 10 city / 12 highway / 11 combined mpg.