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1987 Isuzu Pickup

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

The 1987 Isuzu Pickup is a compact, body‑on‑frame utility vehicle that carries Isuzu’s conventional pickup platform and engine architecture, delivering the straightforward durability expected of the brand. In its inaugural year the model logged only two owner complaints, all of which centered on structural issues, and it required no manufacturer recalls. When placed in the broader context of the model’s complaint record, the 1987 unit sits at the very low end of a pattern that saw a peak of 21 complaints in 1994 and a low of six in 1993, indicating that the early‑year example is among the most reliable iterations of this generation.

Model year1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine GL-5 in the differential, GM Part No. 12377967 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	GM Part No. 12377967
Differential Gear Oil	GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	2 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	ATF
Transfer Case Fluid	5W-30 · API
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity	1.6 Pints

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; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 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 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Injection System (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · EGR System (inspect)
Every 45,000 mi	Power Steering Line (inspect)
At 60,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Timing Belt (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 Isuzu Pickup shows minimal federal record activity, with only two complaints logged—one for structure and one for wheels—and no recalls, investigations, or crash/fire incidents. In contrast, the later model years from 1992 to 1995 exhibit a clear upward trend in reported problems, with complaints rising from 12 in 1992 to a peak of 21 in 1994, accompanied by multiple recalls and investigations in 1994 and 1995. The 1987 model year sits well before this escalation, suggesting it may predate the issues that triggered increased regulatory attention later in the generation. While the dataset begins in 1992, the absence of any significant activity for the 1987 model year implies a more reliable build relative to the subsequent years. Based on the available federal record, the 1987 Isuzu Pickup appears to be a good year to buy within this generation.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’92 ’93 ’94 ’95

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Structure1

Wheels1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
IB13-R-001G	2023-05-08	Unknown Or Other	This bulletin outlines the procedures for using the Alpine Exchange Program (the…
WB13-X-001B	2022-08-30	Equipment	Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural…
WB13-X-001A	2022-08-02	Equipment	Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural…