CadillacEldorado1989Overview/cadillac/eldorado/1989/base/

1989 Cadillac Eldorado

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1989 Cadillac Eldorado is maintained with 5 quarts of 10W-30 API oil and equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA estimates of 15/23/18 mpg. Reliability records show only 10 owner complaints and 2 recalls, with the Electrical System standing out as the primary concern area. Against the 1990-2002 model history—where annual complaints ranged from a low of 13 in 1991 to a high of 81 in 1996—the 1989 sits below even the best subsequent years, marking it as a relatively unproblematic entry in the lineage.

Model year200220012000199919981997199619951989

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731179. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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 filter12731179
Engine air filter19259030
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug19354416
Front wiper blades22155381
Serpentine belt03531941
Thermostat03539588 alt 03522676

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.3 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height53.9 in
Wheelbase107.9 in
Curb weight3422 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 23 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

9.3–12.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.30 sec — 1988 Touring Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1988Touring Coupe 4.5L V89.30 sec17.30 sec155 hpFWD
1986Touring Coupe 4.1L V812.68 sec19.01 sec130 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

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 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Injection System Air Pump Filter Element (replace) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission 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 Cadillac Eldorado exhibits minimal federal complaint activity, with its top reported issues consisting of Electrical System (3), Engine & Engine Cooling (1), Tires (1), and Exterior Lighting (1), alongside zero crash or fire incidents. Across the broader generation, federal records reveal a distinct trend where complaints start at 35 in 1990, dip to 13 in 1991, and sharply escalate to a problematic peak of 81 in 1996 before tapering off to 16 by 2002. Recalls similarly concentrate early, hitting a high of 4 in 1990, while technical service bulletins steadily increase over the generation to a massive 351 by 2002. Positioned just before this escalating arc of complaints and early-generation recalls, the 1989 model implies an initial production run that avoided the worst of the lineage's intensifying issues, though the data does not specify the root causes for its electrical and engine complaints. Given its remarkably low complaint volume relative to the generation's troubled mid-1990s peak, the 1989 Eldorado stands as a statistically favorable year to purchase.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
10
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 10 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System3
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Tires1
Exterior Lighting1
Seat Belts1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Vehicle Speed Control1
Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

89V055000Service Brakes, Air:AntilockReported 05/04/1989

ONE OR BOTH ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED AND COULD LOOSEN. Remedy: REPLACE BOTH ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS.

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 Eldorado. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1989 Eldorado take?

5 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1989 Eldorado have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Eldorado get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.