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1987 Ford Explorer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

3 reports
Mileage unknown · May 7, 2001
Tires

TIRE "DETREADED" AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING MAJOR FENDER AND ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO TAILLIGHT. FORTUNATELY THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: HYKC FRX TIRESIZE: P205 75 R1)

NHTSA ODI #745034

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2001
Tires

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A SLAPPING NOISE. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE, AND AND WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE NOTICED THAT LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P23575R16, THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886401

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCK UP UPON ENGAGEMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID MOMENTARILY.

NHTSA ODI #507612

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE92029 · Whl Separation/torque Loss

Opened Mar 16, 1992 · Closed Aug 31, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

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