FordRanger1987Overview/ford/ranger/1987/base/

1987 Ford Ranger

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

The 1987 Ford Ranger is a compact pickup that requires 4.0 quarts of engine oil with a recommended viscosity of 10W‑40 or 10W‑30. It carries five documented recalls and, according to owner feedback, logged a total of 57 complaints, the most frequent of which involve the electrical system. When viewed against the Ranger’s complaint history from 1990 to 2020 — where reports peaked at 818 in 1999 and fell to a low of just 1 in 2014 — the 1987 model’s complaint total is relatively modest, indicating an early‑generation reliability profile that precedes the later spikes and troughs seen in the fleet.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020191987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-40 / 10W-30OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

ThermostatRT1106 alt RT1050

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length187.8 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height64.2 in
Wheelbase113.8 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

14.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 14.80 sec — 1983 XLS Regular Cab
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1983XLS Regular Cab 2.0L I-414.80 sec19.97 sec73 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 10W-40 / 10W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5 Pints, rear
Engine Oil10W-40 · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt
Engine Oil10W-40 · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Transfer Case FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity3 PINTS

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; spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

Every 5,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter Water Separator (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 7,500 miAir Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect)
Every 7,500 miDriveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Shift Linkage (lubricate) · Suspension System (lubricate) · Wheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 10,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect) · Air Intake System (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Carburetor Dashpot (inspect)
Every 50,000 miTiming Belt (replace)
Every 60,000 miEGR Vacuum Control Solenoid Filter (replace) · EGR Valve (replace) · EGR Valve Position Sensor (replace) · Oxygen Sensor (replace) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (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 federal complaint record begins in 1990, so no direct complaint counts are available for the 1987 Ranger, but the earliest year shown (1990) recorded 139 complaints, indicating that complaint volume was already measurable before the target model year. Across the subsequent generation, complaints and recall filings rose steadily, peaking at 818 complaints in 1999 and 328 TSBs in 1998, then generally declined after 2000, reflecting an upward then downward arc that the 1987 model predates. The 1987 model’s reported complaint categories show 15 electrical‑system issues, 9 seat‑belt concerns, 6 engine‑cooling problems and 3 fuel‑system complaints, while crash‑related complaints number 5 and fire‑related complaints 14. Fire complaints are disproportionately high relative to crash complaints, suggesting a notable safety concern for that year’s design. Consequently, the 1987 Ranger can be considered a good year to buy, assuming the vehicle has been well‑maintained and passes inspection.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
21
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
57
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 14 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 57 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System15
Seat Belts9
Engine & Engine Cooling6
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Steering3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Tires2
Wheels2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

87V075000Seat Belts:Front:AnchorageReported 26/05/1987

THE BUCKLE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ANCHORED TO THE FLOOR. Remedy: INSPECT AND MAKE PROPER INSTALLATION OF SEAT BELT AND BUCKLE ANCHOR BOLTS, IF NECESSARY.

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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 21 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 Ranger. 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 Ranger take?

4.0 qt of 10W-40 OR 10W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 Ranger have open recalls?

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