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1987 Volvo 245

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 245.

The 1987 Volvo 245 carries a 3.7-quart engine oil capacity and accepts 15W-40, 5W-30, or 10W-30 viscosities meeting API SL specifications, pointing to a straightforward lubrication service interval. Owner-reported issues for this model year are exceptionally sparse — just a single complaint on file, centered on the vehicle speed control system, paired with one recall. That minimal complaint footprint positions the 1987 245 as a notably quiet entry in the model's broader reliability history, suggesting the platform had reached a well-settled stage of production maturity by this point. For researchers cataloging known faults or sourcing parts, the data points to a narrow set of issues to investigate, though the lone speed control complaint and associated recall remain worth scrutinizing in any detailed assessment.

Model year1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type15W-40 / 5W-30 / 10W-30 API SLOEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 15W-40 / 5W-30 / 10W-30 API SL engine oil, DEXRON in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	DEXRON
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	0 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	15W-40 · API · 5W-30 · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	3.7 qt
Power Steering Fluid	DEXRON III 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 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

At 5,000 mi	Timing Belt (inspect)
Every 5,000 mi	Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Radio Antenna (clean) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 10,000 mi	Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 20,000 mi	PCV Flame Guard (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Driveshaft Support Bearing (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 55,000 mi	Timing Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV System (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1987 Volvo 245 dominate in one area — the vehicle speed control, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the vehicle speed control are also the target of recall 88V-064 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the vehicle speed control pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

88V064000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 14/04/1988

MICRO PROCESSOR IN CONTROL UNITS OF CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM CAN BE AFFECTED BY A SHORT DURATION VOLTAGE DROP. Remedy: REPLACE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
356EN01	2022-02-09	Equipment	VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App
Service Manager	2022-02-03	Electrical System	Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery…

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 245. 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 3.7 qt

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 1987 245 take?

3.7 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40 API SL OR GREATER, BELOW 68 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL OR GREATER, -13 degrees F TO 104 degrees F: 10W-30 API SL OR GREATER, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 245 have open recalls?

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