RoadVitals

1987 Autocar Autocar

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Jul 20, 1998
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Sep 13, 1988
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1987 Autocar Autocar, most frequently naming the brakes category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

Sep 13, 1988
7,879 units potentially affected
The defect: THE SEAT CUSHION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISM KEEPING IT FROM LOCKING.
The risk: SEAT BELT WOULD BE INEFFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT RESTRAINOCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
The remedy: INSTALL A SPACER BEHIND THE BELT ASSEMBLY MOUNT.
VOLVO GM HEAVY TRUCK CORPView on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Jun 10, 1988
276 units potentially affected
The defect: DECALS WARNING NOT TO USE ETHER OR STARTING FLUIDS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED FROM THE AIR CLEANER AND/OR INSTRUMENT PANEL.
The risk: INJECTION OF THESE FLUIDS INTO THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEMCOULD POSSIBLY BE IGNITED BY THE HEATING COILS AND AN EXPLOSION MAY OCCUR.
The remedy: INSTALL WARNING LABELS.
VOLVO GM HEAVY TRUCK CORPView on NHTSA.gov

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS:FOOT CONTROL/VALVE

Sep 15, 1987
33,183 units potentially affected
The defect: FOOT CONTROLLED BRAKE VALVE MAY MALFUNCTION BY ALLOWING AIR PRESSURE TO BYPASS CONTROL PISTON O RING.
The risk: THESE CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE OVERLY AGGRESSIVE TRUCKBRAKING DURING NORMAL BRAKE APPLICATIONS CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLECRASH.
The remedy: REPAIR SO AS TO PREVENT BRAKE VALVE MALFUNCTION.
VOLVO GM HEAVY TRUCK CORPView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Jul 20, 1998

AIR TANK VALVE OPENED CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK UP RESULTING IN COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
537998
Incident
Jun 12, 1998

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Autocar Autocar by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1988010—
1987Viewing130—
1986140—
1985050—
1984040—
1983040—
1982030—
1981020—
1980030—
1979020—
1978010—
1977020—
1976020—
1975020—
1974030—
1973010—
1972010—
1971010—
1970010—
1969020—
1968020—
1967010—
1966010—
1965010—
1964010—
1963010—
1962010—
1961010—
1960010—
1959010—
1958010—
1957010—
1956010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.