Dodge Raider Reliability

Owners filed 13 complaints about the Raider: 1.08 per production run against 3.73 for the market, fewer complaints than most cars. The year to avoid is 1987; the cleanest year old enough to judge is 1989.

NHTSA owner complaints · 13 complaints · 1987–1989 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

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 Seat Belts, with 9 complaints.

Dodge Raider years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Dodge Raider — complaint rate by model year
Model yearPer runComplaintsRunsEnough history?
1989144yes
1988133yes
19871.265yes
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Among the 3 Dodge Raider 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.

FIG.03·Dodge Raider — what fails and when
SystemComplaintsTypical ageCrashFire
Seat Belts9———
Visibility2———
Electrical System1—1—
Service Brakes1—1—
Hydraulic1—1—
Vehicle Speed Control1—1—
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Raider's vehicle class.

FIG.05·Dodge Raider — rivals in the same class
Same class as the RaiderComplaints on recordRecall campaignsYears built
Toyota 4-Runner6,0631711984–2026
Ford Bronco1,7711481981–2026
Jeep Cherokee20,3152221981–2026
Nissan Pathfinder7,5231491986–2026
Honda Passport1,723631994–2026
Jeep Wagoneer445661981–2025
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Dodge Raider reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.08 against 3.73 for the average car.

Which Raider 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 Raider problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age. The most reported system is Seat Belts, followed by Visibility.

Will the warranty cover Raider problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 0% of reported failures fall inside it.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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