GeoMetro1989Overview/geo/metro/1989/base/

1989 Geo Metro

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

Transmission Manual 5-spd

The 1989 Geo Metro is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and requires 3.5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil, achieving an EPA rating of 43/52/47 mpg. This model year recorded two recalls and 29 total owner complaints, with the top complaint area identified as latches, locks, and linkages. In the context of the 1990-2001 model history, these figures sit between the 121 complaints seen in 1995 and the low of six complaints in 2001.

Model year199719961995199419931992199119901989

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy43/52/47 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 25322837. Note the factory engine oil filter, engine air filter, fuel filter, serpentine belt and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter25322837 discontinued · alt 25325406
Engine air filter25099249 discontinued
Fuel filter25121585 discontinued
Spark plug19354423 alt 19302733
Front wiper blades12344992 alt 12344993
Serpentine belt96058052 discontinued · alt 30010310
Thermostat96067938 discontinued · alt 96060140

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 5-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined43 / 52 / 47 mpg
DrivetrainFront-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 3.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 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 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 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Injection System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Cutoff Solenoid (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Vehicle Wiring Harnesses (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 federal record data begins in 1990, so the 1989 model year itself is not directly tracked; however, the 1989 Metro was the launch year of this generation, and the trend from 1990 onward shows complaints rising from 43 in 1990 to a peak of 121 in 1995 before declining sharply to just 6 by 2001. This pattern suggests early production years like 1989 may have had relatively fewer recorded issues as the fleet aged and reporting accumulated. The 1989 model's top complaint areas were latches/locks/linkages and structure (7 each), followed by seat belts (4), with 4 crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints. Recalls remained minimal (0-2) throughout the generation, and investigations ceased after 1992, indicating that any issues were addressed without formal safety actions. The 1989 Geo Metro appears to be a reasonable purchase within this generation, as it predates the peak complaint period and benefits from having fewer documented problems, though buyers should verify the specific condition of the latch and structure components given the recorded complaint areas.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
29
Owner complaints
4 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

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 29 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Latches/Locks/Linkages7
Structure7
Seat Belts4
Seats2
Visibility2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Fuel System, Gasoline,Structure1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

93V189001Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:LatchReported 23/11/1993

MISLOCATED ATTACHING SPOT WELDS OF THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY CAUSE CRACKS TO START ON THE HOOD INNER PANEL. IF CRACKS OCCUR, THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE THE HOOD LATCH WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED. Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL (A) INSTALL TWO BOLTS AND NUTS TO SECURE THE STRIKER ASSEMBLY TO THE HOOD INNER PANEL, AND (B) ENSURE THAT THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY FASTENERS ARE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

95V103007Seat 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 AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
MSG011451995-05-01Seat BeltsUNKNOWN

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 Metro. 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 Metro take?

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

Does the 1989 Metro have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Metro get?

EPA figures are 43 city / 52 highway / 47 combined mpg.