The Dodge 600 is a midsize car built from 1981 to 1988 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Between 1983 and 1988 it grew 13 cm longer and gained 19 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the 600 is
The Dodge 600 is a midsize car that Dodge built from 1981 to 1988 — 8 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 1987. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Dodge range: Challenger, Dart, Avenger.
Where the 600 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 10 600s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1B3 | 1984-1987 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Dodge VIN decide which of these 2 lines your 600 belongs to. What every character in a 600 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Dodge 600 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
600 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the 600's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the 600 that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-1986 | 457 cm | 255 cm | 1161 kg | - | - |
| 1987-1988 | 470 cm | 262 cm | 1180 kg | +13 cm | +19 kg |
Between 1983 and 1988 the 600 gained 13 cm in length (+2.8%) and 19 kg in weight (+1.6%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the 600 that is 19 kg against 13 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Dodge 600 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment 600 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Dodge 600 have? Power & range
The Dodge 600 is offered with 1 powertrain — 2.2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Dodge 600, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.2L · 4-cyl | Automatic 3-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The 600 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Dodge 600. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | 600 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 19 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 22 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Dodge 600?
The 600 is a midsize car, built from 1981 to 1988 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Dodge 600 made?
Across 10 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the 600 have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 1987. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the 600 grew 13 cm longer and gained 19 kg.
What is the Dodge 600 warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the 600 reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific 600?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Dodge
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 1983–2026 | 133 | 98 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Ram | 1994–2012 | 188 | 17 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Challenger | 1981–2026 | 77 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Dodge Durango | 1995–2026 | 160 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Viper | 1992–2017 | 45 | 16 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Caravan | 1984–2008 | 208 | 35 mpg | 3.5/5 |
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