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1991 Chevrolet Camaro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Camaro.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1991 Chevrolet Camaro is a passenger car that employs a 4‑quart oil capacity with a 5W‑30 API viscosity. In its debut year it generated 110 owner complaints, most of which related to the fuel system and gasoline components, and it was subject to seven recalls. Compared with the model’s complaint history spanning 1990 to 2023, this figure falls well below the peak 295 complaints recorded in 2010 yet remains above the recent low of 13 complaints in 2022, reflecting a moderate level of early reliability.

Model year2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 1991

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 Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 12708762
Engine air filter	25043504 alt 06483645
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	19354415 alt 05614168
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	10105246 alt 14097664
Thermostat	10207373 alt 10190925

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	192.1 in
Overall width	72.8 in
Overall height	50.4 in
Wheelbase	101.2 in
Curb weight	3053 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

5.2–10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.20 sec — 2001 Z28 Convertible

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1990	IROC-Z 1LE Coupe 5.7L V8	5.80 sec	14.40 sec	245 hp	RWD
1989	IROC-Z 350 Coupe 5.7L V8	7.22 sec	15.67 sec	230 hp	RWD
1993	Z28 Coupe 5.7L V8	5.30 sec	14.00 sec	275 hp	RWD
1993	Z28 Coupe 5.7L V8	5.60 sec	14.00 sec	275 hp	RWD
1994	Z28 Coupe 5.7L V8	5.40 sec	14.10 sec	275 hp	RWD
1994	Z28 Convertible 5.7L V8	6.20 sec	14.50 sec	275 hp	RWD
1994	V-6 Coupe 3.4L V6	8.90 sec	16.80 sec	160 hp	RWD
1987	IROC-Z 350 Coupe 5.7L V8	6.10 sec	14.50 sec	225 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, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.5 qt
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 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	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In 1991 the Camaro saw a sharp spike in complaints—110, up from 28 in 1990—while recalls climbed to seven, the highest in the early 1990s. The following year, complaints fell to 101 and recalls dipped to five, but the trend of elevated complaints persisted through 1994‑1995, when complaints peaked at 198 and 269 respectively. The 1991 model sits at the apex of this early‑generation complaint curve, suggesting that issues were most pronounced during this period. With fuel system and air‑bag complaints accounting for 34 and 20 of the 1991 reports, respectively, the data indicates that these systems were particularly problematic, though the root causes are not specified. Given the high complaint volume relative to adjacent years and the concentration of complaints in critical safety areas, 1991 is a less desirable year to purchase a Camaro.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

110

Owner complaints

11 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90’91’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 110 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline34

Air Bags20

Electrical System12

Engine & Engine Cooling7

Structure7

Vehicle Speed Control5

Service Brakes, Hydraulic5

Unknown Or Other3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E026000Exterior LightingReported 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL… Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

07E088000EquipmentReported 24/10/2007

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
020730024A	2005-08-01	Power Train	DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY…
01697	2004-01-01	Equipment	NO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR…
990941004	2000-01-01	Air Bags	INFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND…
990940004	2000-01-01	Seats	GENERAL MOTORS BEGAN PROVIDING CHILD RESTRAIN SEAT TOP TETHER HARDWARE PACKAGES TO…
990866002A	2000-01-01	Latches/Locks/Linkages	THIS BULLETIN INFORMS DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE TRAP RESISTANT REAR COMPARTMENT (TRUNK) KIT…

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 Camaro. 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 25043504 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 19354415

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 1991 Camaro take?

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

Does the 1991 Camaro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.