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1987 Chevrolet Celebrity

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

The 1987 Chevrolet Celebrity is identified in the dataset by a 4-quart 5W-30 API engine-oil spec, and its reliability record shows 56 owner complaints and one recall, with steering standing as the top reported concern. In the broader model history, this model year sits just ahead of the documented 1990–1992 complaint window, which peaked at 8 complaints in 1990 and hit its low at 2 in 1991. That placement means the 1987 edition should be evaluated on its own record rather than against a yearly trend, and any research should prioritize steering-system condition and service history.

Model year1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982

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 12737090. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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	12737090 alt 12731175
Engine air filter	25043317 alt 25043119
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	05614046 alt 19354418
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	10041195 alt 10041197
Thermostat	10207373 alt 10101864

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	188.2 in
Overall width	69.3 in
Overall height	54.3 in
Wheelbase	104.7 in
Curb weight	2690 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

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 Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	3 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	3.0 qt

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.

Every 5,000 mi	Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect)
At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Axle 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 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory 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 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 1987 Chevrolet Celebrity’s top complaint areas were Steering (11), Engine & Engine Cooling (10), Latches/Locks/Linkages (8), and Seat Belts (4), with one crash complaint and no fire complaints recorded. In the subsequent model years, total complaints fell to 8 in 1990, then to 2 in both 1991 and 1992, while recalls dropped from two in 1990 to none in 1991‑1992, and investigations remained steady at one per year. This shows a clear decline in overall complaint volume after 1987, though the specific nature of the 1987 issues cannot be directly compared to the aggregated later figures. No federal complaint or recall data are provided for years prior to 1987, so the vehicle’s position in a longer‑term reliability arc cannot be established. Consequently, the available data suggest that 1987 exhibits higher problem counts in key systems relative to the later years, indicating that a cautious approach and a thorough pre‑purchase inspection are advisable before considering this model year for purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 56 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering11

Engine & Engine Cooling10

Latches/Locks/Linkages8

Seat Belts4

Structure4

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Suspension3

Electrical System3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 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…

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 Celebrity. 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 4 qt Engine oil filter 12737090 Engine air filter 25043317 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 05614046

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 Celebrity take?

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

Does the 1987 Celebrity have open recalls?

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