1988 Dodge Aries Problems
- Complaints
- 11filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 55,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 24 mpgcombined, 2.2L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 28 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Dodge Aries (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1988 Dodge Aries. The part named most often is steering, with 3 complaints (27% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and engine cooling (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 55,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Steering3 27%
- Electrical system2 18%
- Engine cooling1 9.1%
- Other or unknown1 9.1%
- Seat belts1 9.1%
- Seats1 9.1%
- Suspension1 9.1%
- Vehicle speed control1 9.1%
Example complaints
Steering: “I had a mechanics shop replace the rack and pinion assembley and it keeps coming loose from the frame, when I go around a bend in the road the car feels like it whants to straihgten out and the steering wheel has to be turned as mucn as 45 degrees to maintain proper control. When the road straitens out the steering wheel always ends up in a different position.”
NHTSA complaint #760954, filed 2002-04Electrical system: “Engine check light came on, opened hood and fire was shooting from the electrical wires near the fuel injection, vehicle burned to the ground. ****dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis****761962”
NHTSA complaint #10008815, filed 2002-05, 55,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 55,000 and 55,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1988 Dodge Aries version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries FWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 22 | 30 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Aries FWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 22 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Aries FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 20 | 25 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Aries Wagon FWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 22 | 30 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Aries Wagon FWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 21 | 26 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Aries Wagon FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 20 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1988 Dodge Aries in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
- EA91010Trans park system failureClosed · Dec 10, 1990
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1988 Dodge Aries.
Other model years of the Dodge Aries
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 10 | — | 1 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 11 | 55,000 | 0 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 9 | 60,950 | 0 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Dodge Aries have?
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1988 Dodge Aries as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 Dodge Aries is reported most often?
Steering is named most often, in 3 complaints (27% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.
Has the 1988 Dodge Aries been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1988 Dodge Aries get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Dodge Aries (Aries, 2.2L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 22 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1988 Dodge Aries reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 55,000 miles and the middle half falls between 55,000 and 55,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.