DodgeRamcharger1987Overview/dodge/ramcharger/1987/base/

1987 Dodge Ramcharger

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Ramcharger.

The 1987 Dodge Ramcharger, documented here in its service and reliability profile, pairs a 5-quart engine oil capacity with filter to a flexible viscosity menu of 20W-20, 15W-40, and 5W-30, giving owners latitude to match lubricant grade to climate and duty cycle. Against that straightforward maintenance baseline, the model year's reliability footprint is exceptionally light, with just five total owner complaints filed, zero recalls issued, and the gasoline fuel system standing as the lone concentrated trouble spot. For a researcher, the absence of recall activity and the narrow, single-system focus of owner grievances frames 1987 as a notably stable entry in the Ramcharger reference record, one where attention can settle on a defined, isolated subsystem rather than a broad pattern of failure.

Model year198819871986198519841983198219811980

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

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.6 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height70.1 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Curb weight4114 lb

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 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 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.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Parking Brake Linkage (lubricate) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCarburetor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 37,500 miBands (adjust) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 52,500 miAir Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Engine Breather Filter (clean) · Oxygen Sensor (replace) · PCV Valve (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 60,000 miDistributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR Valve (replace) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (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 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 1987 Dodge Ramcharger shows a modest complaint count of 5, with fuel system issues (2) and a single fire incident among the top areas, while crash complaints are absent. In the broader trend, complaints dropped to just 2 in 1990 before spiking sharply to 10 in 1991, which also triggered an investigation, though no recalls occurred in any of these years. This pattern places the 1987 model before the significant rise in reported problems, suggesting it may be a more reliable year within this generation. However, the fuel-related fire complaint and the later investigation into 1991 models hint at potential systemic concerns that could affect earlier vehicles. Overall, the 1987 Ramcharger appears to be a relatively sound purchase compared to the troubled 1991 model, but a careful inspection of the fuel system is strongly recommended.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 5 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline2
Steering1
Structure1
Suspension1

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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
90026882013-02-13Engine And Engine Cooling68069384A$, R8069384A$, 68086182A$, R8027067A$, RL002012A$ - Gasket, Cylinder Head Cover…

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 Ramcharger. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 1987 Ramcharger 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 1987 Ramcharger have open recalls?

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