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1988 Buick Century

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Century.

The 1988 Buick Century specifies a 4-quart oil capacity filled with 5W-30 API viscosity, and its recorded reliability profile shows 26 owner complaints — steering leading the categories — alongside four recalls. While the broader model timeline tracked from 1990 through 2005 peaks at 252 complaints in 1999 and bottoms at 19 in 2005, the 1988 edition's 26 complaints place it near the lower end of that spectrum, suggesting a comparatively quiet year in the model's documented history.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1988

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 Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 25012305
Engine air filter	25043317 alt 25043119
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	19354418 alt 05614046
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	14092212 alt 88986824
Thermostat	10207373 alt 19435095

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	189 in
Overall width	69.3 in
Overall height	53.5 in
Wheelbase	104.7 in
Curb weight	2714 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Century of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.1–11.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.10 sec — 1979 Turbo Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1986	T-Type Sedan 3.8L V6	11.50 sec	17.60 sec	150 hp	FWD
1979	Turbo Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	9.10 sec	17.40 sec	165 hp	RWD

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	4 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 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.

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 federal record for this generation reveals a trend of increasing instability, with complaints peaking at 252 in 1999 and technical service bulletins escalating from zero in 1990 to 497 by 2005. The 1988 model year precedes this longitudinal data set and avoids the high-volume complaint spikes seen in the mid-to-late 1990s. Specific concerns for 1988 include steering with 9 complaints and seat belts with 7, though the data does not specify the root causes of these issues. Furthermore, the 1988 model year recorded zero complaints regarding crashes or fires. Because it falls outside the most problematic window of the generation's reported record, this is a good year to buy.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 26 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering9

Seat Belts7

Seats3

Suspension2

Suspension,Structure1

Power Train1

Electrical System1

Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 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…

88V164000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 18/10/1988

FUEL FEED HOSE COULD LEAK AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY. Remedy: INSTALL NEW FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY.

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 Century. 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 19354418

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 1988 Century take?

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

Does the 1988 Century have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.