ChevroletR1500 Suburban1989Overview/chevrolet/r1500-suburban/1989/base/

1989 Chevrolet R1500 Suburban

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 R1500 Suburban.

The 1989 Chevrolet R1500 Suburban, a full-size SUV built on a half-ton platform, requires 5 quarts of 5W-30 or 10W-30 engine oil. With only seven total owner complaints and zero recalls, this model year stands out in the Suburban’s reliability history as a notably trouble-free variant, though the top complaint area of seat belts indicates a minor but consistent issue.

Model year19901989

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 / 10W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.9 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Engine Oil3W-30
Engine Oil Capacity7 qt
Engine Oil3W-30

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 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 5,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 10,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miClutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Crankcase Depression Regulator Valve (inspect) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (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 1989 Chevrolet R1500 Suburban dominate in one area — the seat belts, 3 of 7 reports (43%), 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 seat belts 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
7
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 7 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Seat Belts3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Seats1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

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

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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 R1500 Suburban take?

5 qt of LIGHT DUDY MODELS: 5W-30 API, HEAVY DUTY MODELS: 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1989 R1500 Suburban have open recalls?

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