Total Complaints
3 filings
FORD EXPLORER · model year
1987 FORD EXPLORER
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987FORDEXPLORER carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 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 EXPLORER is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 1 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (1) and tires (1). 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 13 investigation files overlapping the 1987 EXPLORER, 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.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010510TIRES
TIRE "DETREADED" AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING MAJOR FENDER AND ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO TAILLIGHT. FORTUNATELY THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: HYKC FRX TIRESIZE: P205 75 R1)
20010420TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A SLAPPING NOISE. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE, AND AND WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE NOTICED THAT LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P23575R16, THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
19960909SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCK UP UPON ENGAGEMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID MOMENTARILY.
Compare 1987FORDEXPLORER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 FORD EXPLORER have?▼
The 1987 FORD EXPLORER has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 FORD EXPLORER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 FORD EXPLORER is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and TIRES.
Is the 1987 FORD EXPLORER 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.