ChevroletP301989Overview/chevrolet/p30/1989/base/

1989 Chevrolet P30

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 P30.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1989 Chevrolet P30 is a heavy-duty commercial chassis powered by an engine that takes 4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil and routes output through a 4-speed automatic transmission, returning an EPA-estimated 11 mpg city and 14 mpg highway. This model year saw just one owner complaint—centered on the engine and engine cooling—and three recalls, a remarkably quiet record that aligns with the broader P30 history from 1990 to 1999, where the lowest complaint tally was a single case in 1991, suggesting the 1989 sits at the very start of the platform’s most trouble-free stretch.

Model year199019891988198719861984198219811980

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy11/14/12 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined11 / 14 / 12 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

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, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity14.0 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.5 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity14.0 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL

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 Chevrolet P30 is not represented in the provided federal record, which spans 1990–1999, making direct complaints and recall data for the target year unavailable. However, the dataset reveals a generation-wide pattern: the early-to-mid 1990s saw the highest complaint and recall activity, with 1990 recording 2 investigations and 3 recalls, and 1994 peaking at 10 complaints—the highest in the dataset—alongside 3 recalls. Complaints then dropped sharply to zero in 1995–1997, while Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) increased substantially, rising from 1 in 1994 to 7 by 1999, suggesting increased manufacturer-issued guidance rather than field failures. The 1989 model year would have preceded this dataset and likely shares components with the early-1990s models, meaning it may share similar systemic vulnerabilities, particularly in Engine & Engine Cooling, which was the sole complaint area flagged for the target year, with zero crash or fire complaints recorded. The data suggests the 1989 P30 was produced during a period of relative vulnerability before quality refinements reduced complaints, but without specific 1989 recall data, prospective buyers should verify whether any applicable recalls from 1990–1991 also cover the 1989 model year.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 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…

07E088000EquipmentReported 24/10/2007

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

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 P30. 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 P30 take?

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

Does the 1989 P30 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the P30 get?

EPA figures are 11 city / 14 highway / 12 combined mpg.