Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1987 Ford Econoline. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗FUEL:FUEL EMISSION CONTROL:LINES:VAPOR VENT
- Summary
- VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES IN SEVERE DUTY APPLICATIONS.
- Consequence
- THIS CREATES POTENTIAL FOR FUEL EXPULSION FROM THE FUELFILLER PIPE WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN AFIRE.
- Remedy
- INSTALL MODIFICATION KITS TO MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL EXPULSION AND TO SHIELD UNDERBODY COMPONENTS FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT.
FUEL:FUEL LINES:METALLIC
- Summary
- SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
- Consequence
- COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
- Remedy
- INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
FUEL:FUEL EMISSION CONTROL:LINES:VAPOR VENT
- Summary
- EXPULSION OF FUEL DUE TO OVERPRESSURIZATION.
- Consequence
- FUEL OR FUEL VAPORS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITIONSOURCE CAN CAUSE A FIRE.
- Remedy
- MODIFICATION OF THE BASE FUEL VENTING AND EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM TO REDUCE OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES.
FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:ATTACHMENTS
- Summary
- FUEL LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FRONT FUEL TANK IN THE AREA OF THE VAPOR VALVE GROMMET. GROMMET MAY SPLIT DUE TO COMPRESSIVE LOAD WHEN INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK.
- Consequence
- FUEL MAY LEAK FROM VAPOR VALVE AND BECOME THE SOURCE OFFUEL FOR A FIRE.
- Remedy
- INSTALLATION OF A NEWLY DESIGNED VAPOR VALVE GROMMET.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (15)
15 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 4 | 26.7% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 20% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 13.3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 13.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 6.7% |
| Parking brake | 1 | 6.7% |
| Power train | 1 | 6.7% |
| Seats | 1 | 6.7% |
| Steering | 1 | 6.7% |
| Visibility | 1 | 6.7% |
How 1987 compares with other Econoline years
Best and worst Econoline years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 2 | 5 |
| 1984 | 7 | 6 |
| 1985 | 10 | 5 |
| 1986 | 7 | 5 |
| 1987 | 15 | 4 |
| 1988 | 22 | 0 |
| 1989 | 32 | 2 |
| 1990 | 30 | 4 |
| 1991 | 24 | 3 |
| 1992 | 83 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1987 Econoline for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1987 Ford Econoline FAQ
How many recalls does the 1987 Ford Econoline have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 87V144000 (engine), 87V139000 (fuel system), 87V113000 (engine), 87V111000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1987 Ford Econoline problems?
Owners filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (4), Fuel system (3), Electrical system (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1987 Econoline compare with other years?
Among the 1983–1992 Ford Econoline model years at least five years old, the 1983 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 1992 the most (83). The 1987 drew 15. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.