RoadVitals

1987 Dodge Aries

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jun 16, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 14, 2008
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Dodge Aries, most frequently naming the engine, driver assistance and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine423.5%
  • Driver assistance211.8%
  • Electrical211.8%
  • Brakes211.8%
  • Steering15.9%
  • Suspension15.9%
  • Tires & wheels15.9%
  • Transmission15.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
08E033000

SUSPENSION

Apr 14, 2008
6,903 units potentially affected
The defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
The risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS PRODUCTSView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE91065ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STEERING GEAR BOLTS LOOSEN

Opened Apr 16, 1991
Closed Aug 30, 1991

There is no summary currently available

STEERING
EA91010ClosedEngineering Analysis

TRANS PARK SYSTEM FAILURE

Opened Dec 10, 1990
Closed Dec 31, 1991

There is no summary currently available

POWER TRAIN

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 9
Fuel system
Filed Jun 16, 2004
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FUMES WERE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL RAIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10079393
Incident
Jun 10, 2004
Transmission
Filed Feb 27, 2004

WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THIS NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. ALSO, THE 4 BOLTS THAT HELD TRANSMISSION IN PLACE FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10060949
Mileage
62,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 17, 2004

TWO OF THE FRONT LOWER MOTOR MOUNTS WERE MISSING, AND THE OTHER TWO WERE LOOSE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO VIBRATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10059159
Mileage
59,900 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 15, 1999

MOM HANDED THE CAR OVER TO ME WITH 58,000 MILES AND SAID SHE ALWAYS HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THE CAR OUT OF PARK ESPECIALLLY ON AN INCLINE. I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS AS WELL AND HAD THE CABLE REPLACED IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH DODGES AND SUGGESTED I APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE I PUT IT INTO PARK. AT $160. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM SOLVED UNTIL IT STARTED AGAIN, THIS TIME STRANDING ME IN A PARKING LOT SEVERAL MILES FROM HOME. THE REPAIR THIS TIME WAS DONE AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. UPON RECEIPT, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE IS NO GUARANTEE ON THIS AS IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH DODGE FOR YEARS. THE "REPAIR " LASTED ONE DAY. I AM PRESENTLY USING THE CAR AND AT MY DESTINATION I APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE KEYS REMAIN IN THE COLUMN. I HAVE TO KEEP ANOTHER SET OF KEYS ON ME TO LET MYSELF INTO THE CAR. NOT GOOD. MY MOM PURCHASED A 1999 DODGE STRATUS AND GUESS WHAT? SHE HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL LETTERS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEMS IN THE NEW DODGES. I WOULD THINK THEY COULD GET IT RIGHT AFTER 12 YEARS. IN THE MEANTIME, I WANTED TO GIVE MY DAUGHTER THE CAR, BUT DON'T FEEL VERY CONFIDENT OR SAFE IN PASSING THE PROBLEM ON THE HER.

NHTSA ID
713337
Incident
May 1, 1999
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 18, 1997

IF OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW 20 DEGREES THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO START AND IS PRONE TO ENGINE FLOODING. ONCE IT IS STARTED, THERE IS AN ENGINE "MISS" THAT IMPROVES AS ENGINE WARMS UP. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED CONTROL. WHEN SIGNALING A LANE CHANGE, WITH SPEED CONTROL ON, THE ENGINE SPEED UP. IT WILL INCREASE SPEED BY FIVE TO EIGHT MPH. ARE THERE ANY RELATED RECALLS?

NHTSA ID
546763
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed May 31, 1996
Crash reported

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
505309
Incident
May 5, 1996
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+3 more
Filed Apr 10, 1996

BRAKES FAILED SEVEN TIMES.

NHTSA ID
503325
Incident
Sep 1, 1987
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 8, 1995

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, UNKNOWN CAUSE. TT

NHTSA ID
976335

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge Aries by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1990001—
1989102254.0
1988111247.5
1987Viewing912—
1986323—
1985223—
1984222—
1983243—
1982243—
1981244—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.