FordBronco II1987Overview/ford/bronco-ii/1987/base/

1987 Ford Bronco II

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1987 Ford Bronco II is a compact sport utility vehicle built on a body-on-frame platform and powered with a 5.0-quent engine requiring 5W-30 API-certified oil, paired to a four-speed automatic transmission and achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined; these figures place it squarely in the mid-size SUV segment of its era with typical performance for the period. According to available owner complaint data encompassing model years 1990 through 1996, the Bronco II exhibited considerable variability in reliability, ranging from a peak of 29 complaints in 1990 to a low of just 1 complaint in 1992, with the fuel system emerging as the most frequently cited problem area across the model run—a pattern that suggests the 1987 model year, sitting just before this tracked period, would have represented an early example of this platform's operational characteristics and potential known issues.

Model year199019891988198719861984

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/22/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Serpentine beltJK61006B discontinued
ThermostatRT1087

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length158.3 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height68.1 in
Wheelbase94.1 in
Curb weight3175 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 22 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5 Pints, rear
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

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.

At 7,500 miAir Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect)
Every 7,500 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Shift Linkage (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (lubricate)
Every 10,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miDisc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Carburetor Dashpot (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level)
Every 60,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · EGR Vacuum Control Solenoid Filter (replace) · EGR Valve (replace) · EGR Valve Position Sensor (replace) · Idle Air Bypass Solenoid (inspect) · Oxygen Sensor (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 Ford Bronco II does not appear in the provided year-by-year federal record, which begins in 1990, so direct year-over-year placement is not available. That record shows a clear downward arc: 1990 is the high-water mark with 29 complaints, 2 recalls, 4 investigations, and 24 TSBs, while 1992 through 1996 fall to single-digit complaints and zero recalls or investigations. For the 1987 model itself, the federal data highlights 8 complaints each in Fuel System, Gasoline and Electrical System, 7 in Vehicle Speed Control, and 6 in Seat Belts, accompanied by 5 crash complaints and 13 fire complaints. Because the data does not specify root causes, these figures indicate areas to inspect rather than confirmed failure modes. The 13 fire-related complaints are a notable concentration within the 1987 data and warrant careful inspection. Given the significant fuel, electrical, and fire complaint counts and the inability to compare 1987 directly against adjacent model years in the federal arc, this is a cautious buy at best, requiring a focused pre-purchase inspection of the fuel system, electrical wiring, and speed-control components.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
18
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
6
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
41
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 13 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 41 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline8
Electrical System8
Vehicle Speed Control7
Seat Belts6
Power Train4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Engine & Engine Cooling,Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

87V070000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 18/05/1987

STICKERS CONCERNING HANDLING AND MANEUVERABILITY WHICH ARE AFFIXED TO DRIVERS SUN VISOR SLEEVES DO NOT MEET CRITERIA FOR PERMANENT ADHESION. Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED NEW SUN VISOR SLEEVES WITH ALL APPLICABLE DECAL INFORMATION PERMANENTLY AFFIXED.

87V039000Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/StudsReported 23/03/1987

ALUMINUM WHEELS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH IMPROPER LUG NUTS. Remedy: CHANGE TAPERED STYLE LUG NUTS TO SHORT SHANK STYLE LUG NUTS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 18 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
011562001-08-06VisibilitySOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
011572001-08-06Unknown Or OtherINFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
0023102000-11-13Power TrainSUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE…
00152000-01-10Power TrainINFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
992221999-10-18Electrical SystemSUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING…

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 Bronco II. 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 Bronco II take?

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

Does the 1987 Bronco II have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Bronco II get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.