1987 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.
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Common 1987 Dodge Aries problems
The Dodge Aries 1987 was a mid-size car that was part of the K-car lineup, which also included the Plymouth Reliant and Chrysler LeBaron. While the K-cars were known for their reliability, there were some common problems reported by owners of the Dodge Aries 1987.
One of the most common problems was related to the engine, specifically the 2.2L inline-four engine that was the base engine for the Aries. This engine was known to have cam problems, which were resolved by valvetrain redesigns.
Another common problem was related to the car's electrical system. Some owners reported issues with the electronic tuned radios, which were optional on all Chrysler, Plymouth, and Dodge cars and trucks for 1982. These radios, known as the Quartz Lock radios, had a high defect rate and were harder to work on due to numerous grounds to the radio chassis.
The K-cars were also known for their mundane mechanicals, which were not as modern as the company's own Horizon and Omni. While the K-cars had a more solid feel and a smoother ride than their predecessors, they were not quite as bulletproof as some owners would have liked.
Despite these common problems, the Dodge Aries 1987 was a popular car that brought traditional engineering to the front-wheel drive layout. It was versatile and spawned numerous inexpensive-to-produce variants, including the first modern minivans, the Caravan and Voyager.
How many miles per gallon does a 1987 Dodge Aries get?
Aproven 2.2-liter elec- tronically fuel injected engine is teamed with a five- speed overdrive transaxle to deliver remarkable mileage ratings of 25 EPAestimated city mpg, 32 estimated highway.
How many miles does Dodge last?
How long do Dodge Journeys last? According to motorandwheels.com, a typical Dodge Journey will last 130,000-180,000 miles. Those who take excellent care of the car report them making it to 200,000 miles or more. Many factors will influence longevity, and one of the most influential is you.
How many miles should a gallon last?
Modern cars typically travel between 20 and 35 miles on a single gallon of gas, depending on what factors are present. Hybrid and electric cars sport MPGe ratings that equate their range with the number of gallons of gas used across a measured distance.
Are Dodge engines reliable?
Pros of the Hemi Engine
The Hemi engine is renowned for its power and durability. It's a great choice for performance vehicles, as it can provide plenty of power for acceleration and can handle tough terrain. It's also reliable, and with proper maintenance, it can last for years.
Is Aries a car?
The Ariès was a French automobile manufactured by La Société des Automobile Ariès in Asnières-sur-Seine. The firm was founded in 1902 by Baron Charles Petiet.
Is Aries rich or poor?
Aries. Aries are second among the wealthiest astrological signs due to their immense energy and ambition. They are great leaders with a natural inclination towards competition and are always proactive and decisive when it comes to taking action.
Are Aries good at driving?
Known for their courageousness, determination and passion, Aries are considered to be very confident drivers.
Is Aries good quality?
Aries, the first sign in the zodiac chart, is known for its dynamic and adventurous nature. Ruled by Mars, Aries individuals possess leadership skills, optimism, creativity, energy, and bravery. However, they may also exhibit attention-seeking behavior, impulsivity, stubbornness, and restlessness.
1987 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
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Dodge Aries vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1987 Dodge Aries complaints
The NHTSA has received 19 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Dodge Aries.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-06-10
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1B3BD36DXHC
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: 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.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1B3BD36DXHC
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: TWO OF THE FRONT LOWER MOTOR MOUNTS WERE MISSING, AND THE OTHER TWO WERE LOOSE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO VIBRATE. *AK
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-05-01
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: 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?
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-05-05
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-05-05
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: RADIATOR FAILED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-05-05
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: BATTERY FAILED TWICE.
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1987-09-01
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: SWAY BAR FAILED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1987-09-01
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: HEAD GASKET FAILED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1987-09-01
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: LIFTERS FAILED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1987-09-01
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: RADIATOR FAILED.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1987-09-01
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: MICHELIN TIRES FAILED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1987-09-01
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: BATTERY FAILED TWICE.
EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1987-09-01
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: EQUIPMENT
- Summary: AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *DSH
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1987-09-01
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: STRUTS FAILED. *DSH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1987-09-01
- VIN: 3B3BD31K4HT
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: BRAKES FAILED SEVEN TIMES.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, UNKNOWN CAUSE. TT
WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-08-24
- VIN: 1B3BD39D1HF
- Components: WHEELS
- Summary: WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, 20 MPH, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BENT RIGHT OUT AT 90 DEGREES; FRAME CRADLE CRACKED IN HALF; PULLED OUT TRANMISSION, ETC.
1987 Dodge Aries recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1987 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.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1987 Dodge Aries problems:
1987 Dodge Aries Reviews - Carsurvey.org
Mar 4, 2004 ... The car is more reliable than any other car on the planet. As long as you keep up with regular maintenance, and replace the head gasket, this ...
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Aug 11, 2014 ... Common area problems for vapor lock are bad gas, a bad gas cap, purge valve near the emissions canister, or the emissions canister itself. The ...
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Nov 24, 2010 ... K-Cars - My 1987 Dodge Aries K ... could be a TPS that has a bad spot (very common) ... that'll give you more mechanical skills for future problems.
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Nov 3, 2018 ... ... (Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant) were average in reliability for their time ... engine issues and a blown motor was a fairly common problem.
Q&A: Troubleshooting Common Issues with 1987 Dodge 600 SE ...
Aug 10, 2009 ... What causes intermittent death in my '87 Dodge 600 SE? - Answered by a verified Dodge Mechanic.
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