PontiacGrand Am1985Overview/pontiac/grand-am/1985/base/

1985 Pontiac Grand Am

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1985 Grand Am.

The 1985 Pontiac Grand Am is documented with a 3‑quart oil capacity and a recommended 10W‑30/5W‑30 viscosity, reflecting the modest lubrication needs of its engine. Early reliability records show only six owner complaints and five recall actions, and the model’s complaint history notes a low of 56 grievances in 1990, indicating that the 1985 version arrived during a period of relatively few reported issues before complaint volumes increased in later years.

Model year200520042003200220012000199919981985

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · 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. Note the factory engine air filter and fuel filter are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter12731175
Engine air filter25043334 discontinued · alt 25040881
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug05614046 alt 19300749
Front wiper blades22155381
Serpentine belt25534241 alt 10032192
Thermostat10192505 alt 03059081

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length177.6 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height52.4 in
Wheelbase103.5 in
Curb weight2493 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)65/35

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

11.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.00 sec — 1980 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1980Coupe 4.9L V811.00 sec18.10 sec145 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

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

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1050017 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.

Every 5,000 miClutch Pedal Assembly (inspect)
At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque)
Every 7,500 miAxle 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 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miAccessory 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 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.

In 1985 the Pontiac Grand Am’s complaint profile shows a modest concentration on Engine & Engine Cooling and Electrical System, with one complaint each, alongside a single visibility and interior lighting issue, totaling four complaints. The year’s crash and fire complaint counts are each one, indicating limited safety‑related reports. When placed in the broader federal record, the 1985 model sits well below the peak of complaints seen in the early 1990s (e.g., 470 in 1995) and before the dramatic spike of 909 in 1999; recall activity remains low throughout this era, with the highest recall count (8) occurring in 2000, long after 1985. The trend across the generation shows a gradual decline in complaints after the 1990s, suggesting 1985’s figures are comparatively favorable. Therefore, based on available federal data, 1985 is a relatively low‑complaint year, making it a more attractive option than later years in the same generation.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
6
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling,Electrical System1
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Visibility1
Interior Lighting1
Electrical System1
Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 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…

84V124000Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod AssemblyReported 10/10/1984

THE TIE RODS ARE PART OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND TRANSMIT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO THE WHEELS. THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE TIE RODS TO THEIR ADJUSTERS MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TIE ROD TO LOOSEN AND… Remedy: THE TIE ROD END BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
0005240012000-04-01Service Brakes, HydraulicINFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR

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 Grand Am. 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 1985 Grand Am take?

3 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1985 Grand Am have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.