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1989 Buick Riviera

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1989 Buick Riviera pairs a 4-speed automatic transmission with EPA-estimated fuel economy of 17 mpg city, 26 highway, and 20 combined. Owner feedback from this model year totals just 9 complaints, with the primary concern centered on the vehicle’s structure, and three recalls were issued. This low complaint count positions the 1989 Riviera as one of the more reliable entries in the nameplate’s history, especially when viewed against the 1995 peak of 148 complaints recorded across the 1990–1999 span.

Model year199919981997199619951993199219911989

Quick specs

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

EPA fuel economy17/26/20 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 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter24577608
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug19355205
Front wiper blades22155381
Serpentine belt10230725 discontinued
Thermostat24506986 alt 12337860

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length198.4 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase107.9 in
Curb weight3419 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 26 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

9.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.90 sec — 1989 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989Coupe 3.8L V69.90 sec17.40 sec165 hpFWD
1986T-Type Coupe 3.8L V811.30 sec18.23 sec165 hpFWD
1983Convertible 4.1L V614.80 sec19.70 sec125 hpFWD
1995Supercharged Coupe 3.8L Supercharger V67.20 sec15.60 sec225 hpFWD
1996Supercharged Coupe 3.8L Supercharger V67.10 sec15.40 sec225 hpFWD
1979S-Type Coupe 3.8L V610.90 sec18.30 sec115 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL

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.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
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) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (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 begins with 1990 data, making the 1989 Riviera the preceding model year of this generation, and consequently it likely shares the engineering characteristics that produced the 1990 model's elevated recall count of 5 and 1 investigation—the highest recall burden in the dataset. The trend across the 1990s shows a sharp spike in 1995 with 148 complaints and 2 investigations, contrasting sharply with the relatively quiet early years (1991–1993), before a gradual decline through 1999. The 1989 model's complaint areas are modest and specific—two structural complaints and two service brake hydraulic complaints—suggesting localized rather than systemic defects, with zero crash-related and zero fire-related complaints recorded. Because the 1989 predates the 1995 spike, it sits in a quieter portion of the generation's trouble arc, though it shares the platform's susceptibility to early-life brake and structural concerns that later manifested more broadly. This makes the 1989 Riviera a reasonable candidate if thoroughly inspected for the documented brake and body structural issues, but it is not immune to age-related wear shared across the generation.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
9
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’90’91’92’93’95’96’97’98’99

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 9 complaints on record, top 7 components.

Structure2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Service Brakes, Air1
Fuel System, Gasoline,Structure1
Seats1
Electrical System1
Vehicle Speed Control1

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…

89V056000Service Brakes, Air:AntilockReported 05/04/1989

LEFT FRONT BRAKE PIPE MAY CONTACT THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BRACKET. Remedy: REPLACE LEFT FRONT BRAKE PIPE ASSEMBLY.

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 Riviera. 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.

Engine oil filter 12731175Engine air filter 24577608Fuel filter 25171792Spark plug 19355205

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1989 Riviera have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Riviera get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined mpg.