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1987 Suzuki Samurai

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
19866
198720
19882
19892
1990
Compare all Samurai years →

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

What owners reported most

Tires
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Steering
1Structure
1Suspension
1

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 6 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 →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. 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.

3 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

6 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2003
Tires

TIRE FAILURE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041110

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2000
TiresCrashInjury

THE LEFT REAR TIRE DELAMINATED AND WRAPPED AROUND THE AXEL, CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL... CAUSING US TO GO OUT INTO THE DESERT AND ROLL OVER... I WAS INJURED, MY HUSBAND ONLY SUFFERED A BRUISE, I RECEIVED SEVER TRAUMA TO MY HEAD, CAUSING ME TO NEED EYE SURGERY WITHIN A YEAR TO REGAIN VISION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: EJYT TIRE…

Read full complaint

THE LEFT REAR TIRE DELAMINATED AND WRAPPED AROUND THE AXEL, CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL... CAUSING US TO GO OUT INTO THE DESERT AND ROLL OVER... I WAS INJURED, MY HUSBAND ONLY SUFFERED A BRUISE, I RECEIVED SEVER TRAUMA TO MY HEAD, CAUSING ME TO NEED EYE SURGERY WITHIN A YEAR TO REGAIN VISION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: EJYT TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

NHTSA ODI #732552

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1999
StructureInjury

WHEN CONSUMER SUDDENLY APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER CAUSING HER SERIOUS INJURY. *YC

NHTSA ODI #547464

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #484380

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 1995
SuspensionCrashInjury

VEHICLE VEERED RIGHT THEN LEFT, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #484344

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 1995
SteeringCrashInjury

STEERING MECHANISM FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ROLLOVER. *SD

NHTSA ODI #485887

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

3

DP89003 · Reconsider Samurai Petition

Opened Dec 9, 1988 · Closed Feb 10, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

RECONSIDER SAMURAI PETITION

DP88019 · Vehicle Stability

Opened Aug 2, 1988 · Closed Sep 1, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

VEHICLE STABILITY

DP88011 · Rollover

Opened Feb 25, 1988 · Closed Sep 1, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

ROLLOVER