1987 Jeep Wrangler Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 Jeep Wrangler, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system1434.1%
- Seat belts717.1%
- Engine512.2%
- Electrical49.8%
- Visibility37.3%
- Brakes24.9%
- Powertrain (other)12.4%
- Interior & seats12.4%
- Body & structure12.4%
- Steering12.4%
- Tires & wheels12.4%
- Transmission12.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
JEEP CAUGHT FIRE, ASSUMING FROM FUEL LINES DIRECTLY ON TOP OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD DESIGNED BY CHRYSLER
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE UP, THE GAS GAUGE INDICATES THAT THERE IS A FULL TANK OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE. BUT WHEN DRIVING ABOUT A MILE, THE GAS GAUGE WILL SHOW THAT THERE IS ONLY A 1/2 OF TANK. CONTACTED DEALER AND CAN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN BUCKLED. NLM
SEAT BELT UNLATCHED DURING ROLLOVER ACCIDENT CAUSING DEATH. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FIRE.
EXPERIENCED FIRE IN LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE WILL DIE OUT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. *AK
AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE, PARKED IT AND NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DURING A RAIN STORM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS EXPIRED AND FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 93V150000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 361,000.
THE FRAME CRACKED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I ORDERED PRONTO BRAKE DRUM PART NUMBER BD80003. THE PART NUMBERS ARE CASTED INTO THE PART. THE DRUMS WERE DIFFERENT AND ONE OF THEM CAUSES THE WHEEL TO FREEZE. THE SOURCE OF THE PARTS FOR THE RETAILER SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE RETAILER RESHIPPED THE PARTS 3 TIMES, EACH TIME THE DRUMS RECEIVED WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS FORCED TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER BRAND.
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR SCC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, BOLT ATTACHING AXLE BRACKET TO FRONT TRACK BAR BROKE; INTERFERRED WITH STEERING LINKAGE; DIFFICULT TO STEER. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED DUE TO A BROKEN SPRING. DEALER FIXED IT AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRAME CRACKED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
SHOULDER BELT GETS STUCK ON THE DOOR LATCH WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
BLOWOUT RIGHT FRONT,STILLRUNNING THREE TIRES. A GOOD AMOUNT OF TREAD LEFT ON THE THREE REMAINING TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2IHFWMN TIRE SIZE: P215/75R15 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
BATTERY REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .