JeepWagoneer1987Overview/jeep/wagoneer/1987/base/

1987 Jeep Wagoneer

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

The 1987 Jeep Wagoneer is noted for its engine oil capacity of four quarts with filter and accepts viscosities such as 20W‑40, 20W‑50, or 10W‑30 API. It accumulated a total of 11 owner complaints, with tires cited as the top issue, and was subject to six recalls. Within the model’s complaint history spanning 19902025, the 1987 year sits well below the peak of 188 complaints recorded in 2022 and above the low of just one complaint in 1992, indicating a comparatively reliable early example.

Model year202520242023202219901989198819871986

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 length186.6 in
Overall width74.8 in
Overall height66.5 in
Wheelbase108.7 in
Curb weight4517 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Wagoneer of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.10 sec — 1987 Limited
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1987Limited 4.0L I-69.10 sec17.00 sec173 hp4x4
1984Limited 2.5L I-415.70 sec20.00 sec105 hp4x4
1963SUV 3.8L I-616.10 sec20.50 sec140 hp4x4

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
Differential Gear OilFront: 75W-
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 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 7,500 mi; coolant every 22,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 22,500 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 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 22,500 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)

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 Wagoneer does not appear in the federal complaint database that begins with 1990, a period in which annual complaints ranged from 1 in 1992 to 19 in 1990. In the subsequent years complaints stayed low (1–6) until a marked rise emerges in the late 1990s and peaks at 188 complaints in 2022. The 1987 model’s recorded top complaint areas — Tires (2), Engine & Engine Cooling (2), Steering/Power Train (1), and Vehicle Speed Control (1) — reflect issues that later surface in the data. It also includes one crash‑related complaint and one fire‑related complaint, figures not seen in the earlier low‑complaint years. Because no federal complaint or recall data exist for 1987 and the model predates the documented low‑complaint period, the safest conclusion is that it is not a recommended purchase based on this record.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
2
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
11
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 11 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Tires2
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Steering,Power Train1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Steering1
Electrical System1
Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

89V219000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 21/11/1989

TIRE RESERVE LOAD LABEL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. Remedy: INSTALL PROPER LABEL.

87V035000Vehicle Speed Control:LinkagesReported 18/03/1987

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

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
987331997-12-01Power TrainSUBJECT ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION #733--BRAKE PEDAL SHIFT INTERLOCK. *YC
2316931993-03-01Latches/Locks/LinkagesREDESIGNED LIFTGATE LATCH. *TW

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 Wagoneer. 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 Wagoneer 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 Wagoneer have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.