Total Complaints
51 filings
JEEP WRANGLER · model year
1987 JEEP WRANGLER
51 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987JEEPWRANGLER carries 51 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 12 fires, 2 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 WRANGLER is fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump with 6 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (4). 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 3 investigation files overlapping the 1987 WRANGLER. 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.
51
Complaints
1
Crashes
12
Fires
2
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 6 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20171218SERVICE BRAKES
I ORDERED PRONTO BRAKE DRUM PART NUMBER BD80003. THE PART NUMBERS ARE CASTED INTO THE PART. THE DRUMS WERE DIFFERENT AND ONE OF THEM CAUSES THE WHEEL TO FREEZE. THE SOURCE OF THE PARTS FOR THE RETAILER SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE RETAILER RESHIPPED THE PARTS 3 TIMES, EACH TIME THE DRUMS RECEIVED WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS FORCED TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER BRAND.
Mileage: 212,000
20120918VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DURING A RAIN STORM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS EXPIRED AND FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 93V150000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 361,000.
Mileage: 280,000
20021018CrashPARKING BRAKE
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR SCC
20000927TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BLOWOUT RIGHT FRONT,STILLRUNNING THREE TIRES. A GOOD AMOUNT OF TREAD LEFT ON THE THREE REMAINING TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2IHFWMN TIRE SIZE: P215/75R15 )
20000908SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN BUCKLED. NLM
19990811SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN BUCKLED. NLM
19990310FireFUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
POSSIBLE FUEL LINE LEAKAGE RESULTED IN A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD.
19990222FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
JEEP CAUGHT FIRE, ASSUMING FROM FUEL LINES DIRECTLY ON TOP OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD DESIGNED BY CHRYSLER
19981020FatalSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT UNLATCHED DURING ROLLOVER ACCIDENT CAUSING DEATH. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER)
19981002FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE UP, THE GAS GAUGE INDICATES THAT THERE IS A FULL TANK OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE. BUT WHEN DRIVING ABOUT A MILE, THE GAS GAUGE WILL SHOW THAT THERE IS ONLY A 1/2 OF TANK. CONTACTED DEALER AND CAN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM. *AK
19980621
NO SUMMARY
19980323FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP LEAK CAUSED FIRE.
19971028FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#94V106000). CALLED DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE IN ON THE APPOINTED DATE. WAS INFORMED COULD NOT REPAIR VEHICLE DUE TO NOT HAVING THE PARTS READILY AVAILABLE. *AK
19971028FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#94V106000) & CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & AFTER ARRIVING, WAS INFORMED COULD NOT REPAIR DUE TO NOT HAVING THE PARTS READILY AVAILABLE. *AK
19970903SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED DUE TO A BROKEN SPRING. DEALER FIXED IT AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
19970627FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK IS CRACKED, CAUSING GAS TO LEAK.
19970128FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
GAS SMELL AFTER FILLING TANK.
19970128UNKNOWN OR OTHER
GAS GAUGE BOUNCES.
19961231FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FIRE.
19960913STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
SHOULDER BELT GETS STUCK ON THE DOOR LATCH WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. *AK
Compare 1987JEEPWRANGLER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 JEEP WRANGLER have?▼
The 1987 JEEP WRANGLER has 51 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 12 fires, 2 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 JEEP WRANGLER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 JEEP WRANGLER is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1987 JEEP WRANGLER 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.