ChevroletBeretta1989Overview/chevrolet/beretta/1989/base/

1989 Chevrolet Beretta

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

The 1989 Chevrolet Beretta, documented in its Overview, is specified to use 4 qt of 5W‑30 API oil for its engine. It logged 61 total owner complaints, with the electrical system accounting for the greatest share of issues and five recall campaigns issued during its production. Within the model‑year range of 1990‑2002, its complaint volume exceeds the single complaint recorded in 1997 but falls well short of the 108 complaints recorded in the 1994 peak, reflecting relatively modest early reliability concerns.

Model year199619951994199319921991198919881987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · 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 Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter12731175 alt 12737092
Engine air filter19166102 alt 25043334
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug19354418
Front wiper blades22155381
Serpentine belt14090086 alt 14092201
Thermostat19435095 alt 10045126

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length187.4 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase103.5 in
Curb weight2612 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

7.5–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 1990 GTZ Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1988GTU Coupe 2.8L V69.20 sec17.00 sec125 hpFWD
1990GTZ Coupe 2.3L I-47.50 sec15.90 sec180 hpFWD
1990GTZ Coupe 2.3L I-47.70 sec16.10 sec180 hpFWD
1990GT Coupe 3.1L V68.50 sec16.30 sec140 hpFWD
1987GT Coupe 2.8L V68.30 sec16.30 sec125 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE 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 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) · 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 1989, the 1989 Chevrolet Beretta had a moderate level of complaints and recalls relative to its immediate neighbors. The year‑by‑year federal record shows complaints peaked at 108 in 1994 and 107 in 1995, while recalls hovered between one and two, with no recalls reported in 1993. The 1989 model falls near the mid‑range of complaints (notably 10 for Electrical System and Seat Belts) and the lowest recall count (zero) among the decade, suggesting a relatively stable safety profile. The trend of decreasing complaints after 1994 is evident, with only a handful of complaints in 1997–1999 and a single complaint in 2002, indicating that later models addressed many of the earlier issues. Therefore, a 1989 Beretta is likely a good year to consider, as it sits in a period of lower recall activity and moderate complaint levels, but buyers should still be cautious about electrical and seat belt components.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
6
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
61
Owner complaints
9 involved a crash · 5 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 61 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System10
Seat Belts10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Seats5
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Structure4
Tires3
Air Bags3

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…

89V087000SeatsReported 22/05/1989

THE FRONT SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY MAY CONTAIN AN IMPROPER, MISSING AND/OR MISLOCATED WELD THAT COULD FRACTURE. Remedy: REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT ASSEMBLIES.

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 Beretta. 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 1989 Beretta take?

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

Does the 1989 Beretta have open recalls?

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