Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1987 Pontiac Fiero: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1987 Pontiac Fiero, most recently filed April 1990. Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (2)

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1987 Pontiac Fiero. 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 ↗
Listed for 1987 Pontiac Fiero. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 90V104000 Filed Apr 23, 1990

ENGINE

Engine and engine cooling · engine · gasoline
Official NHTSA text
Summary
PCV GROMMET OIL LEAKS, TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LEAKS, PISTON CONNECTING ROD FAILURES BREAKING THROUGH ENGINE WALL CAUSING OIL SPILLAGE, FUEL RAIL LEAKS, COOLANT LEAKS, ROCKER COVER OIL LEAKS, AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, COULD CAUSE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.
Consequence
AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.
Remedy
CORRECT OR INSTALL NEW COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNREASONABLE FIRE RISK.
Repair progress not yet reported102,162 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 90V104000
Listed for 1987 Pontiac Fiero. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 89V232000 Filed Dec 28, 1989

ENGINE

Engine and engine cooling · engine · gasoline
Official NHTSA text
Summary
DUE TO AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, THERE IS A RISK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.
Consequence
AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.
Remedy
CORRECT OR INSTALL NEW ENGINE COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNREASONABLE FIRE RISK.
Repair progress not yet reported244,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 89V232000

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 engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.

0involved a crash
0involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1987 Pontiac Fiero, by component (top 8). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 15.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1987 compares with other Fiero years

Best and worst Fiero years →
30 18 26 15 13 1 1 1
19841985198619871988199119941996
This year (1987)Other yearsStill collecting reports

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.

Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined

25
mpg combined
22
city
32
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$2,700
CO₂ tailpipe
356 g/mi
EPA class
Two Seaters

What it costs you to run

$2,612per year
$218per month
600gallons a year

Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

1987 Pontiac Fiero configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualRear-Wheel Drive22 / 32 / 25$2,700356
2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive21 / 29 / 24$2,800370
2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manualRear-Wheel Drive16 / 26 / 19$3,550468
2.8 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive16 / 22 / 18$3,700494

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1987 Fiero 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.

All Fiero years

Where to next

1987 Pontiac Fiero FAQ

How many recalls does the 1987 Pontiac Fiero have?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 90V104000 (engine), 89V232000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1987 Pontiac Fiero problems?

Owners filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (9), Electrical system (3), Engine (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 1987 Pontiac Fiero get?

EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 22 city, 32 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 1987 Fiero compare with other years?

Among the 1984–1996 Pontiac Fiero model years at least five years old, the 1991 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1984 the most (30). The 1987 drew 15. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

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.
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