Volvo2451989Overview/volvo/245/1989/base/

1989 Volvo 245

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 245.

The 1989 Volvo 245 operates with an engine oil capacity of 4.0 qt and is compatible with 15W-40, 10W-30, or 5W-30 API viscosities. From a reliability standpoint, the model year is distinguished by zero recalls and a minimal total of three owner complaints. These few reported issues are concentrated in the engine and engine cooling areas, indicating a largely dependable history for this vehicle.

Model year198919881987198619851984198319821981

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilGL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.4 Pints, non_mvc
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil15W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

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 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Radio Antenna (clean) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect)
Every 10,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect)
Every 20,000 miPCV Flame Guard (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory 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 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miFuel 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 1989 Volvo 245 dominate in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 1 of 3 reports (33%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling 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.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
2
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
3
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling1
Tires1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
356EN012022-02-09EquipmentVIDA QR Scanner Mobile App
Service Manager2022-02-03Electrical SystemShipping 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
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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 245 take?

4.0 qt of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 15W-40 API, -14 degrees F TO 104 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 68 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1989 245 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.