1978 Dodge D100 Club Cab recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-21. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
5 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Steering
What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. AN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT CONTAINING A MISMATCHED POT COUPLING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THIS COUPLING MAY HAVE AN OVERSIZED SERRATION DIAMETER. AN OVERSIZED SERRATION COULD PREVENT THE COUPLING FROM ADEQUATELY TIGHTENING ONTO THE GEAR OR SHAFT SPLINES.
What could happen:
The fix: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A REPLACEMENT SHAFT COUPLING.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 D100 CLUB CAB.
- Book a repair at any authorized Dodge dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 78V038000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Summary: AN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT CONTAINING A MISMATCHED POT COUPLING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THIS COUPLING MAY HAVE AN OVERSIZED SERRATION DIAMETER. AN OVERSIZED SERRATION COULD PREVENT THE COUPLING FROM ADEQUATELY TIGHTENING ONTO THE GEAR OR SHAFT SPLINES.
Consequence:
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A REPLACEMENT SHAFT COUPLING.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT TRUCKS AND UTILITY TRUCKS.SYSTEM: STEERING; STEERING SHAFT COUPLING.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: COUPLING SLIPPAGE COULD OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT INLOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.NOTE: IF SLIPPAGE OCCURS, A RASPY NOISE WILL BE APPARENT IN THE STEERINGSYSTEM, ACCOMPANIED BY EXCESSIVE FREE PLAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED.
2. Fuel system
What's wrong, in plain English: Fuel lines, tank or pump. Fuel problems usually mean a leak, and leaks mean fire risk.
What could happen:
The fix: DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK VENT SYSTEMS FOR BLOCKAGE AND CORRECT, IF NECESSARY. FUEL TANKS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR CRACKING OF THE FRONT PANEL AND REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 D100 CLUB CAB.
- Book a repair at any authorized Dodge dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 78V036000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Summary:
Consequence:
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK VENT SYSTEMS FOR BLOCKAGE AND CORRECT, IF NECESSARY. FUEL TANKS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR CRACKING OF THE FRONT PANEL AND REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT TRUCKS.SYSTEM: FUEL; FUEL TANK.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THE FUEL TANKS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY CONTAINCRACKS WHICH MAY PERMIT FUEL OR VAPOR LEAKAGE INTO THE CAB INTERIOR. THIS ISDUE TO INTERNAL PRESSURE BUILDUP CAUSED BY BLOCKAGE OF THE TANK VENT SYSTEM.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT WHEN LEAKAGE OCCURS, AFIRE COULD RESULT AND CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO PASSENGERS.
3. Brakes
What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. DUE TO IMPROPER MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION THE HYDRO-BOOST FLUID RETURN HOSE MAY NOT BE CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING THE TEMPERATURES AND/OR PRESSURES EXPERIENCED WITH THE HYDRO-BOOST SYSTEM. ALSO, THE HYDRO-BOOST FLUID HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN MISLOCATED, ALLOWING THE ASSEMBLY TO CONTACT THE FRAME SIDE RAIL. ABRASION RESULTING FROM CONTINUED CONTACT ALONG WITH IMPROPER MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION MAY CAUSE PRESSUR…
What could happen:
The fix: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A HYDRO-BOOST FLUID RETURN HOSE CONSTRUCTED FORM THE PROPER MATERIAL, POSITIONING THE HOSE ASSEMBLY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN IT AND THE FRAME SIDE RAIL.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 D100 CLUB CAB.
- Book a repair at any authorized Dodge dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 78V188000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Summary: DUE TO IMPROPER MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION THE HYDRO-BOOST FLUID RETURN HOSE MAY NOT BE CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING THE TEMPERATURES AND/OR PRESSURES EXPERIENCED WITH THE HYDRO-BOOST SYSTEM. ALSO, THE HYDRO-BOOST FLUID HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN MISLOCATED, ALLOWING THE ASSEMBLY TO CONTACT THE FRAME SIDE RAIL. ABRASION RESULTING FROM CONTINUED CONTACT ALONG WITH IMPROPER MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION MAY CAUSE PRESSURE HOSE FAILURE. EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE HYDRO-BOOST FLUID LEAKAGE, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST FOR THE STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING OR BRAKING WILL NOT OCCUR SINCE BOTH SYSTEMS WOULD REVERT TO MANUAL OPERATION.
Consequence:
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A HYDRO-BOOST FLUID RETURN HOSE CONSTRUCTED FORM THE PROPER MATERIAL, POSITIONING THE HOSE ASSEMBLY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN IT AND THE FRAME SIDE RAIL.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT TRUCKS.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRO BOOST SYSTEM.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: INCREASED STEERING EFFORT AND INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCES CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
4. Steering
What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. IMPROPER ROUTING OF THE "HYDROBOOST" HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD ALLOW A TUBULAR SECTION TO CONTACT THE FRAME SIDE RAIL. ABRASION FROM THE CONTACT COULD RESULT, CAUSING A LEAK IN THE HOSE ASSEMBLY.
What could happen:
The fix: THE DEALER WILL REROUTE "HYDROBOOST" HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLIES AND ANY DAMAGED HOSES WILL BE REPLACED.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 D100 CLUB CAB.
- Book a repair at any authorized Dodge dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 78V141000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Summary: IMPROPER ROUTING OF THE "HYDROBOOST" HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD ALLOW A TUBULAR SECTION TO CONTACT THE FRAME SIDE RAIL. ABRASION FROM THE CONTACT COULD RESULT, CAUSING A LEAK IN THE HOSE ASSEMBLY.
Consequence:
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REROUTE "HYDROBOOST" HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLIES AND ANY DAMAGED HOSES WILL BE REPLACED.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT TRUCKS.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; HYDROBOOSTER.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: LEAKING COULD CAUSE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST FOR THESTEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. AN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT AND INCREASEDSTOPPING DISTANCES WOULD BE REQUIRED AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT,WITHOUT WARNING.
5. Fuel system
What's wrong, in plain English: Fuel lines, tank or pump. Fuel problems usually mean a leak, and leaks mean fire risk. THE FUEL TUBES (FUEL TANK TO PUMP) ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY BE ROUTED SUCH THAT TUBE TO UNDERBODY REINFORCEMENT FLANGE INTERFERENCE MAY RESULT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. TUBE ABRASION CAUSED BY SUCH INTERFERENCE MAY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
What could happen:
The fix: DEALER WILL REROUTE THE FUEL TUBE OR INSTALL A NEW FUEL TUBE, IF DAMAGED, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 D100 CLUB CAB.
- Book a repair at any authorized Dodge dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 77V212000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Summary: THE FUEL TUBES (FUEL TANK TO PUMP) ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY BE ROUTED SUCH THAT TUBE TO UNDERBODY REINFORCEMENT FLANGE INTERFERENCE MAY RESULT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. TUBE ABRASION CAUSED BY SUCH INTERFERENCE MAY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence:
Remedy: DEALER WILL REROUTE THE FUEL TUBE OR INSTALL A NEW FUEL TUBE, IF DAMAGED, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT TRUCKS.SYSTEM: FUEL; FUEL LINES.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: LEAKING FUEL IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOURCE OF IGNITIONCOULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE AND PASSENGER INJURIES.
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Digital tire pressure gauge
- 1978 Dodge D100 Club Cab owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Brakes (1), Hydraulic (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (1)
10/26/1999 · Brakes · crash
THE BRAKES FAILED IN A ACCIDENT. CONSUME RWAS DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND HE APPLIED BRAKES, VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO ANOTHER CAR COMING UP THE HILL. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SYSTEM DIDN'T KICK IN AT ALL. *AK