Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 245.
The 1983 Volvo 245 is built on Volvo’s classic mid‑size platform and is powered by a four‑cylinder engine that requires a modest 3.5 qt of oil, with the manufacturer specifying 15W‑40, 10W‑40 or 10W‑30 viscosity grades meeting API SL standards. Its engineering emphasis on durability is reflected in the remarkably low owner‑complaint count—just one reported issue for the entire model year—while the sole area of concern centers on the electrical system. With zero recalls recorded, the 1983 iteration occupies a solid spot in the 245’s reputation for reliability, indicating that, despite the isolated electrical note, the model remains one of the more dependable years in the series.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 3.5 qt of 15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SL engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 3 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 3.5 qt |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 3.5 qt |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1983 Volvo 245 dominate in one area — the electrical system, 1 of 1 reports (100%), 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 electrical system 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.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 356EN01 | 2022-02-09 | Equipment | VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App |
| Service Manager | 2022-02-03 | Electrical System | Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
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Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
3.5 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40 API SL OR GREATER, ABOVE -13 degrees F: 10W-40 API SL OR GREATER, -13 degrees F TO 104 degrees F: 10W-30 API SL OR GREATER, BELOW 32 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL OR GREATER, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.