JeepComanche1987Overview/jeep/comanche/1987/base/

1987 Jeep Comanche

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

The 1987 Jeep Comanche is defined by its engine lubrication parameters, requiring 4 quarts of oil with a filter and viscosity options of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-30 API. While the model's documented complaint history covers 1990 to 1992—reaching a high of 14 complaints in 1990 and a low of 2 in 1992—the 1987 model year carries 5 total owner complaints alongside 5 recalls. With Engine & Engine Cooling serving as the top complaint area, the 1987 Comanche sits outside the model's worst reliability years but still presents a parity between recalls and complaints, meaning researchers should approach this specific year with an expectation of necessary mechanical vigilance.

Model year199119901989198819871986

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length194.5 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height63.8 in
Wheelbase120.1 in
Curb weight3078 lb

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt w/ filter of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 API engine oil, Front: 75W- in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilFront: 75W-
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 Pints mvc Front
Differential Gear OilFront: 75W-
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.9 pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · API · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt w/ filter

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; coolant every 15,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 15,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 1,000 miCylinder Head (torque bolts) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 5,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 5,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 25,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 30,000 miBands (adjust) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect)
Every 55,000 miPCV System (inspect)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

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 Jeep Comanche sits at the beginning of the generation for which we have federal data, but the year-by-year record only covers 1990–1992, showing a clear downward trend in complaints (14→6→2) and recalls (2→1→0). For the 1987 model year specifically, the top complaint areas include Engine & Engine Cooling (2), Service Brakes (1), Steering (1), and Vehicle Speed Control (1), with one crash and one fire reported. While the 1987 model’s total complaint count is not given, its known issues align with areas that appear in later years, though the data does not specify root causes or whether these problems were addressed by subsequent recalls. The decreasing complaint trend across 1990–1992 suggests that later model years may have benefited from incremental improvements, placing the 1987 model in a potentially less refined phase of the generation. Given the presence of a crash and a fire complaint, and the lack of data on whether these were isolated or systemic, the 1987 Comanche carries more uncertainty than the later, lower-complaint years. **This is not a recommended year to buy** if reliability is a priority, as the available data points to notable safety-related issues and a pattern of improvement in subsequent model years.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Frontal★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 5 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Steering1
Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

87V035000Vehicle Speed Control:LinkagesReported 18/03/1987

VEHICLE MAY CONTAIN AN OUT OF TOLERANCE THROTTLE BODY. Remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT THROTTLE BODIES.

87V022000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 25/02/1987

CRUISE CONTROL MODULE COULD HAVE INCONSISTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION. Remedy: REPLACE MODULE, AS NECESSARY.

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 Comanche. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 Comanche take?

4 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 30 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 Comanche have open recalls?

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