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1985 Volvo 245

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1985 245.

The 1985 Volvo 245, a midsize sedan from Volvo’s mid‑eighties lineup, utilizes a 3.5‑quart oil capacity and accepts a range of API SL‑rated viscosities—including 15W‑40, 5W‑30, and 10W‑30—reflecting the brand’s emphasis on flexible maintenance options. Its overall reliability record is strikingly clean, with only a single owner‑reported issue concentrated in the seat‑belt system and no manufacturer recalls logged for the model year. This near‑absence of complaints positions the 1985 245 as a benchmark of durability within the series, indicating that, aside from the isolated restraint concern, it remains one of the more dependable iterations in the model’s history.

Model year1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type15W-40 / 5W-30 / 10W-30 API SLOEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 15W-40 / 5W-30 / 10W-30 API SL engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

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 · 5W-30 · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	3.5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 3,750 mi.

Every 3,750 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 22,500 mi	Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Oxygen Sensor (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.

Owner complaints about the 1985 Volvo 245 dominate in one area — the seat belts, 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 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.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Seat Belts1

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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

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…

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 245. 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 3.5 qt

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 1985 245 take?

3.5 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40 API SL OR GREATER, BELOW 68 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL OR GREATER, -13 degrees F TO 104 degrees F: 10W-30 API SL OR GREATER, per the factory manual.

Does the 1985 245 have open recalls?

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