1986 Dodge Aries problems
The Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries are mid size cars introduced for model year 1981 as the first "K-cars" manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation. The Reliant and Aries were the smallest cars to have the traditional 6 passenger 2 bench seat with column shifter seating arrangement favored by customers in the United States (Chrysler marketed the car as being able to seat "six Americans"), similar to larger rear-wheel drive cars such as the Dodge Dart and other front-wheel drive cars such as the Chevrolet Celebrity. The Reliant was powered by a then-new 2.2 L I4 SOHC engine, with a Mitsubishi "Silent Shaft" 2.6 L as an option (this engine also featured hemispherical combustion chambers, and all 1981 models equipped with it featured "HEMI" badges on the front fenders). The Reliant was available as a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, or as a 4-door station wagon, in three different trim lines: base, Custom and SE ("Special Edition"). Station wagons came only in Custom or SE trim.
As rebadged variants, the Reliant and Aries were manufactured in Newark, Delaware, Detroit, Michigan, and Toluca, Mexico — in a single generation. After their introduction, the Reliant and Aries were marketed as the "Reliant K" and "Aries K". The Aries was sold as the Dart K in Mexico, and as the Michigan in Japan. The Reliant replaced the Plymouth Volaré/Road Runner, while the Aries replaced the Dodge Aspen.
The Reliant and Aries were selected together as Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year for 1981. Initial sales were brisk, with both Reliant and Aries each selling over 150,000 units in 1981, with cumulative sales of million Aries and 1.1 million Reliant units over the nine-year run.
Social links
Common 1986 Dodge Aries problems
The Dodge Aries, introduced in 1981, is a mid-size car that was marketed by the Chrysler Corporation as a more efficient alternative to traditional American sedans. While the car was successful in its time, there are several common problems that owners have reported, particularly with the 1986 model.
One of the most common issues with the 1986 Dodge Aries is related to the engine. The base model of the 1986 Aries came with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 97 horsepower and 122 pound-feet of torque. However, this engine was known for having issues with cam problems, which were resolved by valvetrain redesigns.
Another common problem with the 1986 Dodge Aries is related to the transmission. The car was available with either a manual or automatic transmission, but the automatic transmission was more common. The three-speed automatic transmission was known to have issues with reliability, particularly as the car aged. Additionally, the transmission could slip in higher gears, which could lead to a loss of power and decreased fuel efficiency.
The suspension system of the 1986 Dodge Aries is another area where owners have reported problems. The car used a new flex arm system in the rear suspension, which was designed to provide a smoother ride and better handling. However, this system was known to have issues with wear and tear, particularly as the car aged. Additionally, the front suspension used struts with rack and pinion steering, which could also wear out over time and lead to decreased handling and ride quality.
The interior of the 1986 Dodge Aries was known for its comfort and convenience features, but owners have reported issues with the seats and upholstery. The cloth seats and vinyl upholstery were known to wear out over time, particularly with heavy use. Additionally, the seats themselves were known to be uncomfortable for some drivers, particularly on long trips.
Finally, the exterior of the 1986 Dodge Aries was known for its durability and reliability, but owners have reported issues with the body and paint. The car's body was known to have issues with rust and corrosion, particularly in areas where the car was exposed to salt and moisture. Additionally, the paint was known to fade and chip over time, particularly in areas where the car was exposed to sunlight and harsh weather conditions.
In conclusion, the 1986 Dodge Aries is a car that has several common problems that owners have reported. These issues include engine problems, transmission issues, suspension problems, interior problems, and exterior problems. While the car was successful in its time, these issues have led to a decrease in the car's overall reliability and longevity.
What year did the Dodge Aries come out?
1981
1981–1989 Dodge Aries (often referred to as the Aries K, owing to strong publicity for the K cars; 1981 models are badged as such.)
How much horsepower does a 1985 Dodge Aries have?
Specifications for Dodge Aries 4-door 2.6 Automatic, 102hp, 1985.
What is the fastest Dodge ever?
2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170
A Dodge special-edition vehicle like none other, the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is the quickest vehicle ever produced in the brand's 100-plus-year history.
What is Dodge's strongest engine?
Dodge Connection 1500 Hemi (1,500 HP)
The Direct Connection 1500 Hemi Race Crate Engine makes 1,500 horsepower and over 1,000 pound-feet of torque. It has the special distinction of being the most powerful engine offered by an American automaker.
Is the Dodge 2.4 a good engine?
The FCA 2.4 TigerShark is standard in many vehicles, including the Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Renegade, and the discontinued Dodge Dart. It's a reasonably decent engine with higher-than-average reliability and fuel economy scores, but the redesign during the Fiat-Chrysler merger has introduced a few lingering issues.
What year was the Dodge Aries made?
1981
Plymouth Reliant
| Dodge Aries Plymouth Reliant | |
|---|---|
| Model years | 1981–1989 |
| Assembly | Newark, Delaware (Newark Assembly), United States (sedans and wagons) Detroit, Michigan (Jefferson Avenue Assembly), United States Fenton, Missouri (Saint Louis Assembly), United States (2-door sedans only) Toluca, Mexico (Toluca Car Assembly) |
Is 2.4 a big engine?
About 2.4 litre engines
As we touched on above, 2.4 litre engines are typically four-cylinders - and are usually the largest of their kind. By contrast, most 2.5 litre engines have five or six cylinders.
How long will a 2.4 L engine last?
With proper oil changes and maintenance, a 2.4L TigerShark engine should last between 130,000 and 200,000 miles. However, the oil consumption issues and piston ring failures can severely limit the lifespan of these engines before they need significant repair or fail completely.
1986 Dodge Aries car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Dodge Aries problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Steering problems
- Electrical system problems
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1986 Dodge Aries vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1986 Dodge Aries complaints
The NHTSA has received 4 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1986 Dodge Aries.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE DRIVEN SINCE INCIDENT. *CJ
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-01-14
- VIN: 1B3BD2605GS
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: BOLTS WERE LOOSE WITHOUT NUTS THAT HOLD THE RACK AND PINION TO THE FRAME FELL OUT TT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-01-14
- VIN: 1B3BD2605GS
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: REPLACED BATTERY. TT
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-01-08
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1B3BD39K2GF
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: ENGINE RUNNING OPENED DOOR VEHICLE SLIPPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. TT
1986 Dodge Aries recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1986 Dodge Aries.
- Manufacturer: FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS PRODUCTS
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: 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.
- 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.
- Manufacturer: CHRYSLER CORPORATION
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
- Summary: BATTERY CAP VENTS MAY BE PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY BLOCKED WITH PLASTIC FLASHING. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A BUILD UP OF INTERNAL GAS PRESSURE COULD OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN CASE RUPTURE, PARTICULARLY DURING POST CHARGING. SHOULD A PERSON BE IN THE VICINITY OF THE BATTERY WHEN THE CASE RUPTURES, THEY MAY BE INJURED BY THE RELEASED GASES AND/OR ACID.
- Remedy: REWORK BATTERIES BY PROBING BOTH VENT ORIFICES TO ELIMINATE ANY VENT OBSTRUCTION.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1986 Dodge Aries problems:
How reliable was the Chrysler k car? - Quora
Nov 3, 2018 ... The Chrysler K cars (Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant) were average in reliability for their time ... engine issues and a blown motor was a fairly ...
Q&A: 1986 Dodge Aries K Car - Power Loss Light | JustAnswer
May 22, 2008 ... Diagnosing this type of problem can be a challenge without having the proper test equipment to communicate with the vehicle's computer, but we ...
Chrysler K Car Memories? - Airliners.net
Very common problem with those. Mines caught ... I am surprised to hear of the problems people had with their Reliants and Aries K. ... The 1983- ...
i need help with my 1985 dodge aries k car | Allpar Forums
Jun 17, 2021 ... ... aries has a 2.2l i4 non turbo. And a a 460 transmission ... The problem with the L-body parts is ... 1986 F350, many modifications 1986 LeBaron ...
The Chrysler K-Car Club • View topic - Dodge Stalls on Cold Start?
Dec 15, 2010 ... Car Information: Dodge Aries K 1988 ... common problem section on this board. Go ... Tires and Tits, Rock on. Butch: Car Fan: Posts: 647: Joined: ...
Other years of Dodge Aries
Are you having problems with your 1986 Dodge Aries?
Leave your review of 1986 Dodge Aries