The 1987 draws 1.67 complaints per run and the 1989 1, a 1.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age, so 100% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 6 complaints.
Dodge ARIES years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 5 | 5 | yes | |
| 1988 | 6 | 6 | yes | |
| 1987 | 5 | 3 | yes |
Among the 3 Dodge ARIES years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1987, 1988, 1989; the three worth hunting are 1989, 1988, 1987.
What actually fails — and at what age
Systems by number of complaints, with the age at which each typically goes. The age column is the useful one — it tells you what to expect next on a car you already own, and what to inspect on one you are about to buy.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | — | — | — | |
| Structure | — | — | — | |
| Suspension | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | — | — | 1 | |
| Gasoline | — | — | 1 | |
| Steering | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts | — | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the ARIES's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 1.08 for the ARIES. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the ARIES | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Dodge ARIES reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.08 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which ARIES years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1987, 1988, 1989. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1989, 1988, 1987. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do ARIES problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, followed by Engine and Engine Cooling.
Will the warranty cover ARIES problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 0% of reported failures fall inside it.
Is the ARIES more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
Yes: 1.08 complaints per production run for the ARIES against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.
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