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1987 Chevrolet Nova

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

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1987 Chevrolet Nova pairs a 4-quart 5W-30 API oil capacity with a 3-speed automatic transmission to deliver EPA ratings of 24/29/26 mpg, anchoring its operational specifications to modest fluid requirements and measured efficiency. The model year generated zero recalls and only 16 total owner complaints, with Power Train issues emerging as the primary concern area. This profile places the 1987 variant in a relatively stable position within the Nova’s reliability history, indicating limited exposure to systemic defects for researchers examining long-term ownership patterns.

Model year198819871986198519791978197719761975

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy24/29/26 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length166.5 in
Overall width64.2 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase95.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 29 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume86 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

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
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1050017 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 every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (adjust) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 20,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
At 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
At 120,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (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 1987 Chevrolet Nova dominate in one area — the power train, 7 of 16 reports (44%), 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 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train 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
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
16
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 16 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Power Train7
Seat Belts4
Latches/Locks/Linkages2
Steering,Tires1
Unknown Or Other1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

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.

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 Nova. 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

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 Nova take?

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

Does the 1987 Nova have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Nova get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 29 highway / 26 combined mpg.