JeepCherokee1987Overview/jeep/cherokee/1987/base/

1987 Jeep Cherokee

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

The 1987 Jeep Cherokee specifies a 4-quart oil capacity with filter and accepts 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-30 API viscosity grades for routine service. Against the model’s broader complaint history spanning 1990 to 2026—a range that peaks at 2,636 grievances (2014) and falls to just 3 (2023)—this model year records only 65 total owner complaints and 9 recalls, with vehicle speed control emerging as the dominant concern. That positioning at the lower end of the volume spectrum marks the 1987 Cherokee as a relatively quiet entry in the nameplate’s documented reliability timeline.

Model year202620232022202120201991199019891987

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 length165.4 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height63.4 in
Wheelbase101.6 in
Curb weight2941 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

8.2–12.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.20 sec — 1997 Sport I-6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1990Laredo I-6 4.0L I-610.50 sec17.70 sec177 hp4x4
1996Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.30 sec16.40 sec190 hp4x4
1997Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.20 sec16.30 sec190 hp4x4
1997Sport I-6 4.0L I-69.10 sec16.90 sec190 hp4x4
1997Sport I-6 4.0L I-610.20 sec17.60 sec190 hp4x4
1998SE 2.5L I-412.00 sec18.60 sec125 hp4x4
1999Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.90 sec16.90 sec190 hp4x4
1999Sport I-6 4.0L I-69.40 sec17.00 sec190 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 5,000 mi; coolant every 15,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 15,000 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 1,000 miCylinder Head (torque bolts) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 5,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 5,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 25,000 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)
Every 55,000 miPCV System (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 federal record for this generation begins in 1990, so no direct year-by-year data exists for the 1987 model year itself; however, the 1987-specific complaint profile is available and shows 18 Vehicle Speed Control complaints, 9 Engine & Engine Cooling complaints, 6 Steering complaints, and 5 Seat Belt complaints, alongside 4 crash complaints and 7 fire complaints. Positioned against the earliest recorded years — 1990 (364 complaints, 9 recalls) and 1991 (286 complaints, 9 recalls) — the 1987 likely sits at the very front of an upward arc that escalates dramatically mid-generation, peaking at 2,113 complaints in 1999. The generation trend is one of steadily increasing complaint volume and recall activity as the platform ages, with the early years (1990–1992) showing the lowest complaint counts in the entire dataset. The fact that 1987 predates even those relatively benign early years suggests it represents the least-documented and potentially least-troublesome period of the generation's lifecycle, though the absence of federal data for that year also means there is no recall or TSB record to confirm that. The data does not specify root causes for any of the 1987 complaint areas. **Bottom line: the 1987 model year appears to fall in the quietest part of the generation's complaint arc, and while the lack of federal data is a caveat, the available evidence suggests it is a reasonable candidate among early Cherokees — provided the Vehicle Speed Control and fire-related complaints are investigated carefully before purchase.**

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
4
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
7
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
65
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 7 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 65 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control18
Engine & Engine Cooling9
Steering6
Seat Belts5
Power Train4
Electrical System4
Structure3
Tires3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
23026022002-06-10StructureSUBJECT REGARDING FLOOR PAN CORROSION. *SLC
987331997-12-01Power TrainSUBJECT ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION #733--BRAKE PEDAL SHIFT INTERLOCK. *YC
2121941994-11-01Power TrainNEW FRONT OUTPUT SEAL AND OIL SLINGER FOR TRANSFER CASE. *TW
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 Cherokee. 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.