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1987 Pontiac Firebird

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

The 1987 Pontiac Firebird is defined by a 4‑quart oil capacity and an oil viscosity of either 10W‑30 or 5W‑30. It accumulated 11 total owner complaints, with seat belts identified as the primary complaint area and three recalls noted. Because it predates the 1990‑2002 complaint‑tracking window, its complaint count falls at the lower end of the series, where the earliest recorded year (1990) logged ten complaints and the highest year (1995) reached 95. This early‑year record suggests comparatively modest initial reliability relative to later model years.

Model year2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12708762. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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	12708762 alt 12731175
Engine air filter	25043504 alt 06483645
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued · alt 5651803
Spark plug	19300382 alt 19300874
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	09433733 alt 14101197
Thermostat	10105135 alt 03043066

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	188.2 in
Overall width	72.4 in
Overall height	50 in
Wheelbase	101.2 in
Curb weight	3111 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	56/44

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

6.3–7.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.30 sec — 1987 Formula Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1987	Formula Coupe 5.0L V8	6.30 sec	14.90 sec	190 hp	RWD
1987	Formula Coupe 5.0L V8	7.40 sec	15.30 sec	190 hp	RWD
1989	20th Anniversary Trans Am 3-door Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	4.60 sec	13.40 sec	250 hp	RWD
1989	Trans Am GTA Coupe 5.7L V8	7.63 sec	16.08 sec	225 hp	RWD
1983	Trans Am Coupe 5.0L V8	8.50 sec	16.44 sec	165 hp	RWD
1982	Trans Am Coupe 5.0L V8	10.60 sec	17.50 sec	165 hp	RWD
1993	Formula Coupe 5.7L V8	5.50 sec	14.20 sec	275 hp	RWD
1980	Turbo Trans Am Coupe 4.9L Turbo V8	8.20 sec	16.70 sec	210 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4 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.

At 7,500 mi	Carburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

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 Firebird sits at the tail end of a period marked by a sharp rise in complaints, peaking in 1995 with 95 complaints before dropping to 43 in 1996. Recall activity remained low during this era, never exceeding five recalls in a single year, with 1991 having the highest at five. Investigations and TSBs were consistently low, suggesting most issues were isolated rather than systemic. The 1987 model’s top complaint areas—seat belts (5), wheels (2), engine cooling (1), and fuel system (1)—mirror the broader trend of component‑specific concerns rather than widespread defects. Given the decline in complaints after 1995 and the modest recall history, a 1987 Firebird can be considered a reasonable purchase, provided the seat belt and wheel components are inspected for wear.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

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

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 11 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Seat Belts5

Wheels2

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Fuel System, Gasoline1

Vehicle Speed Control1

Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 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…

07E088000EquipmentReported 24/10/2007

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
01697	2004-01-01	Equipment	NO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR…

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 Firebird. 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 4 qt Engine oil filter 12708762 Engine air filter 25043504 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 Firebird take?

4 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 Firebird have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.