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1989 Buick Century

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 Century.

The 1989 Buick Century specifies a 4‑quart fill of 5W‑30 API oil, and its documented reliability record shows 43 total owner complaints with seat belts as the top issue alongside a single recall. Across the 1990–2005 model span, complaint counts swung from a low of 19 in 2005 to a high of 252 in 1999, positioning the 1989 edition well below the generation’s peak. That places this model year on the more favorable side of the Century’s reliability history, though the seat‑belt concentration and lone recall remain notable for researchers.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1989

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731175. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175 alt 25012305
Engine air filter	24577608 alt 25040881
Fuel filter	25121468
Spark plug	05614046 alt 19355205
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	14092212 alt 19244954
Thermostat	24506986 alt 10101864

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	189 in
Overall width	69.3 in
Overall height	53.9 in
Wheelbase	104.7 in
Curb weight	2727 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

9.1–11.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.10 sec — 1979 Turbo Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1986	T-Type Sedan 3.8L V6	11.50 sec	17.60 sec	150 hp	FWD
1979	Turbo Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	9.10 sec	17.40 sec	165 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 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	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

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 1989 Buick Century's primary complaints are concentrated in seat belts (8), vehicle speed control (6), structure (5), and engine and engine cooling (4), with 8 total crash complaints and 0 fire complaints. Compared to the 1990 model's 46 complaints and 2 recalls, the 1989 model shows a lower frequency of reported issues. Across the generation, there is a clear upward trend in instability, with complaints rising from 46 in 1990 to a peak of 252 in 1999 and TSBs increasing from 0 in 1990 to 497 by 2005. The 1989 model sits at the beginning of this arc, preceding the sharp increase in federal records and technical bulletins seen in later years. While the data does not specify the root causes of the 1989 issues, the vehicle is significantly less problematic than its successors. Given its position as a low-complaint year relative to the escalating trends of the generation, this is a good year to buy.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

8 involved a crash · 0 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 ’91 ’92 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 43 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts8

Vehicle Speed Control6

Structure5

Engine & Engine Cooling4

Electrical System4

Seats3

Suspension2

Latches/Locks/Linkages2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V173000Seat Belts:Front:AnchorageReported 15/09/1995

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.

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 Century. 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 4 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 24577608 Fuel filter 25121468 Spark plug 05614046

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 1989 Century take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1989 Century have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.