Total Complaints
17 filings
DODGE LANCER · model year
1987 DODGE LANCER
17 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987DODGELANCER carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 LANCER is exterior lighting:turn signal with 2 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:drum (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1987 LANCER, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
17
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19991126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
EFFECT BEGAN 07/26/1999 AND OCCURS 3+ TIMES PER MONTH. MAY CLEAR AFTER REACHING FULL OPERATING TEMPERATUE AT 60+ MPH (20 MINUTES). DEALER VERY HELPFUL, AND RESET IDLE SPEED REGISTER SEVERAL TIMES. "TEST DROVE, CHK AIS MOTOR O.K., HIGH IDLE REMAINS O.K.; RESET ALL VALUES" IN REGISTERS. (INV. DOCS90153). FOR 20 MINS. OR SO, MINIMUM SPEED IS 25-30MPH IS 1ST GEAR. I AM JUST CONCERNED WE WILL GET SOMEONE HURT, IF WE CAN'T DETERMINE WHAT'S CAUSING THIS.
19971204FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
STRONG GASOLINE SMELL.
19971105FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHEN DRIVER STOPPED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND WHEN HE OPENED UP THE HOOD THE FIRE FLEW OUT AND BURNED THE ENTIRE HOOD UP. *AK
19970603EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TURN SIGNAL MODULE FAILED. ALSO, WHENSWITCH IS PULLED OUTWARD, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OUT. IN ADDITION, REAR DOOR POWER LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK/LOCK FULLY; REAR BRAKE FAILURE, AND TWO FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. *AK
19970603FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
TURN SIGNAL MODULE FAILED. ALSO, WHENSWITCH IS PULLED OUTWARD, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OUT. IN ADDITION, REAR DOOR POWER LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK/LOCK FULLY; REAR BRAKE FAILURE, AND TWO FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. *AK
19970603SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
TURN SIGNAL MODULE FAILED. ALSO, WHENSWITCH IS PULLED OUTWARD, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OUT. IN ADDITION, REAR DOOR POWER LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK/LOCK FULLY; REAR BRAKE FAILURE, AND TWO FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. *AK
19970603EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
TURN SIGNAL MODULE FAILED. ALSO, WHENSWITCH IS PULLED OUTWARD, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OUT. IN ADDITION, REAR DOOR POWER LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK/LOCK FULLY; REAR BRAKE FAILURE, AND TWO FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. *AK
19961227EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TURN SIGNAL FAILED; ALSO, HEADLIGHTS/PARKING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, AS WELL AS POWER DOOR LOCKS/REAR BRAKES AND TWO FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK
19961227FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
TURN SIGNAL FAILED; ALSO, HEADLIGHTS/PARKING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, AS WELL AS POWER DOOR LOCKS/REAR BRAKES AND TWO FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK
19961227EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TURN SIGNAL FAILED; ALSO, HEADLIGHTS/PARKING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, AS WELL AS POWER DOOR LOCKS/REAR BRAKES AND TWO FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK
19961227EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TURN SIGNAL FAILED; ALSO, HEADLIGHTS/PARKING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, AS WELL AS POWER DOOR LOCKS/REAR BRAKES AND TWO FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK
19961227STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TURN SIGNAL FAILED; ALSO, HEADLIGHTS/PARKING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, AS WELL AS POWER DOOR LOCKS/REAR BRAKES AND TWO FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK
19961227SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
TURN SIGNAL FAILED; ALSO, HEADLIGHTS/PARKING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, AS WELL AS POWER DOOR LOCKS/REAR BRAKES AND TWO FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK
19951207POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
REAR AXLE BEAM FAILED TWICE. *AK
19951130FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE FUEL SYSTEM.TT CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TWICE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE GAS ODOR, BUT ON BOTH OCCASIONS THEY STATED THEY FIXED THE OIL LEAK, CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS HOSE STAYING ON TO THE LINE.*JB
19950711FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
WHILE DRIVING IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. CAME FROM A ROTTEN GAS LINE WHICH ALLOWS GAS TO DRIP ON THE MANIFOLD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19950217SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOR NOT LOCKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TT
Compare 1987DODGELANCER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 DODGE LANCER have?▼
The 1987 DODGE LANCER has 17 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 DODGE LANCER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 DODGE LANCER is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM.
Is the 1987 DODGE LANCER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.