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1987 Chevrolet Astro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Astro.

The 1987 Chevrolet Astro is a compact, rear‑wheel‑drive panel van built on the Chevrolets' C‑platform, powered by a modest 3‑quart engine that requires 5W‑30 API oil for optimal performance; its modest powertrain and straightforward construction have made it a workhorse in light‑commercial and family transport roles. Despite its practical design, the Astro’s 1990‑2005 complaint record shows a total of 32 owner complaints, with the steering system emerging as the most frequent issue and a total of five recalls, indicating that while the vehicle is generally reliable, certain steering components have been problematic. This model year sits near the lower end of the Astro’s reliability curve, suggesting that, although not immune to issues, the 1987 version is relatively dependable compared to the peaks seen later in the decade.

Model year1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737092. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12737092 alt 12731175
Engine air filter	25040929 alt 25040881
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	19300382 alt 05614046
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	19244952 alt 14102101
Thermostat	10207373 alt 10105135

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	176.8 in
Overall width	77.2 in
Overall height	71.7 in
Wheelbase	111 in
Curb weight	3441 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	56/44

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	3 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	6 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · EGR System (inspect) · Early Fuel Evaporation System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · PCV System (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1987 model year precedes the provided federal record, which commences in 1990, precluding direct year-over-year comparison within this dataset. The documented 1990-2005 trajectory reveals a pronounced escalation arc: complaints surge from 80 in 1990 to a 1995 peak of 499 before declining, while technical service bulletins rise steadily from 10 to 515, indicating increasing maintenance demands as the platform aged. Relative to this trend, 1987 represents an early production phase characterized by concentrated complaints in steering (11) and seat belts (7), alongside 3 crash-related reports and zero fire incidents, occurring prior to the documented volume spike. The data does not specify root causes for these 1987 issues, nor does it include recall or TSB totals for that year, leaving its reliability profile less defined than better-documented mid-1990s models. Given the safety-critical nature of its documented steering and restraint complaints and the absence of federal visibility into its specific defect patterns, 1987 is a questionable purchase without verified service history addressing those exact systems.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 32 complaints on record, top 7 components.

Steering11

Seat Belts7

Structure4

Engine & Engine Cooling4

Seats3

Vehicle Speed Control2

Equipment1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

06E049000Exterior LightingReported 24/05/2006

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH… Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
01667	2004-01-01	Visibility	WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR DOES NOT FIT. *TT

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Astro. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 3 qt Engine oil filter 12737092 Engine air filter 25040929 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 19300382

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 Astro take?

3 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 Astro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.