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1987 Honda Accord

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Accord.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1987 Honda Accord is presented with a 3.7‑qt engine oil capacity and approved viscosities of 20W‑40, 20W‑50 or 10W‑40, mated to a 4‑speed automatic transmission that delivers EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 21/27/23 mpg. While the JSON does not detail its body or platform, the model is identified simply as the 1987 Accord in the overview. Reliability data show a total of 126 owner complaints, with seat belts as the top issue area and three recalls recorded. Compared with the later 1990‑2022 span, where yearly complaints vary from 213 (2022) to 2,013 (2003), the 1987 Accord’s 126 complaints fall beneath that range, positioning it at the low end of the subsequent complaint spectrum.

Model year2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 1987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-40OEM · verified

EPA fuel economy21/27/23 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	178.7 in
Overall width	66.9 in
Overall height	53.5 in
Wheelbase	102.4 in
Curb weight	2414 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	21 / 27 / 23 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	89 cu ft
Cargo volume	14 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Accord of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.5–15.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.50 sec — 1995 LX V-6 Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1989	LXi Coupe 2.0L I-4	11.40 sec	18.40 sec	120 hp	FWD
1990	EX Sedan 2.2L I-4	9.70 sec	17.10 sec	125 hp	FWD
1991	EX Wagon 2.2L I-4	9.00 sec	16.80 sec	125 hp	FWD
1981	Sedan 1.8L I-4	13.40 sec	19.20 sec	75 hp	FWD
1994	EX Sedan 2.2L I-4	9.40 sec	17.00 sec	145 hp	FWD
1979	CVCC Sedan 1.8L I-4	12.00 sec	18.80 sec	72 hp	FWD
1995	LX V-6 Sedan 2.7L V6	8.50 sec	16.50 sec	170 hp	FWD
1995	EX V-6 Sedan 2.7L V6	8.80 sec	16.80 sec	170 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-40 engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	20W-40 · 20W-50 · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity	3.7 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Suspension System (torque) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 7,500 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 mi	Parking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (torque)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 45,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Air Injection System (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal complaint/recall database contains no entry for the 1987 Honda Accord, so direct year‑over‑year comparison with neighboring model years is not possible. The earliest year recorded in the set is 1990, which shows 220 complaints and 12 recalls, indicating a higher reported issue volume than the sum of the top‑four complaint categories for 1987 (seat belts 34, fuel system 28, vehicle speed control 10, tires 8 = 80). For the target year, the database lists 12 crash‑related complaints and 1 fire‑related complaint, while the root causes of these events are not specified. Recall numbers for 1987 are absent from the record, so the data does not specify whether any safety recalls were issued for that model year. Because federal records provide limited, incomplete insight into the 1987 Accord’s defect history, a prospective buyer should treat the vehicle as having unknown recall exposure and obtain a thorough pre‑purchase inspection focusing on seat‑belt, fuel‑system, and tire components.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

126

Owner complaints

12 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’92 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 126 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts34

Fuel System, Gasoline28

Vehicle Speed Control10

Tires8

Power Train7

Exterior Lighting7

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Electrical System4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

92V028001Fuel System, GasolineReported 15/04/1993

IF THE PLASTIC COATING OF THE FUEL FILLER AND/OR BREATHER PIPE IS DAMAGED, SALT WATER MAY ACCUMULATE BETWEEN THE PLASTIC COATING AND THE STEEL PIPES, AND THE ACCUMULATION COULD CAUSE CORROSION WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY… Remedy: REPAIRS WILL BE MADE TO VEHICLES WITH CORRODED FILLER OR BREATHER PIPES.

95V103001Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 24/05/1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY. Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
HON950405B	1995-04-01	Fuel System, Gasoline	CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY REPORT FOR THE 1986-87 ACCORD FUEL FILLER PIPE RECALL. *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Accord. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 3.7 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 Accord take?

3.7 qt of ABOVE 14 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50, ABOVE -4 degrees F: 10W-40, -4 degrees TO 90 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 32 degrees F: 5W-30, BELOW 14 degrees F: 5W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 Accord have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Accord get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 27 highway / 23 combined mpg.