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1989 Cadillac Seville

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1989 Cadillac Seville carries a 5‑quart oil capacity and is engineered for 10W‑30 API lubrication, paired with an Automatic 4‑spd transmission. It achieves EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 15 city/23 highway/18 combined miles per gallon. Owner‑complaint records show six total grievances, primarily concerning Service Brakes, Hydraulic systems and two recall actions, while the broader model’s complaint history from 1990‑2004 peaked at 131 complaints in 1996 and fell to 17 by 2004, indicating a marked improvement in reliability.

Model year2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1989

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/23/18 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 12731179. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter	12731179
Engine air filter	19259030
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	19354416
Front wiper blades	22155381
Serpentine belt	03531941
Thermostat	03539588 alt 03522676

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	190.9 in
Overall width	70.9 in
Overall height	53.9 in
Wheelbase	107.9 in
Curb weight	3470 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.8 / 59.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 23 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	98 cu ft
Cargo volume	14 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.90 sec — 1989 STS Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1989	STS Sedan 4.5L V8	8.90 sec	16.80 sec	180 hp	FWD
1990	STS Sedan 4.5L V8	9.20 sec	17.00 sec	180 hp	FWD
1986	Elegante Sedan 4.1L V8	11.70 sec	18.20 sec	130 hp	FWD
1992	STS Sedan 4.9L V8	8.60 sec	16.80 sec	200 hp	FWD
1995	STS Sedan 4.6L V8	6.40 sec	14.70 sec	300 hp	FWD
1995	STS Sedan 4.6L V8	6.60 sec	15.10 sec	300 hp	FWD
1995	SLS Sedan 4.6L V8	7.30 sec	15.40 sec	275 hp	FWD
1996	STS Sedan 4.6L V8	6.40 sec	14.70 sec	300 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

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

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Engine Oil	20W-20 · 15W-40 · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0-5.0
Power Steering Fluid	USE 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 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 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Injection System Air Pump Filter Element (replace) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission 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 1989 Cadillac Seville sits at the beginning of a steady rise in complaints, with 23 complaints in 1990 and 25 in 1991, compared to 31 in 1992 and 46 in 1993. Recalls were sparse in the early years, with only three in 1990, none in 1991, and one in 1992, then two each from 1993 through 1995. The recall trend remains flat through the decade, while total serious brake system (TSB) reports increase sharply from 13 in 1994 to a peak of 256 in 2000. The 1989 model’s top complaint areas—service brakes/hydraulic (2), engine cooling (1), visibility (1), and unknown/other (1)—are consistent with the early rise in brake and engine issues noted in later years. Given the low recall count yet growing complaint trajectory, this year is a borderline purchase; if you can verify a clean maintenance record, it may be a reasonable buy, but be wary of potential brake and engine issues.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Frontal★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic2

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Visibility1

Unknown Or Other1

Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 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…

89V055000Service Brakes, Air:AntilockReported 05/04/1989

ONE OR BOTH ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED AND COULD LOOSEN. Remedy: REPLACE BOTH ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS.

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 Seville. 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 5 qt Engine oil filter 12731179 Engine air filter 19259030 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 19354416

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 1989 Seville take?

5 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1989 Seville have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Seville get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.