ChevroletCamaro1993Overview/chevrolet/camaro/1993/base/

1993 Chevrolet Camaro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Camaro.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1993 Chevrolet Camaro is a passenger car whose engine maintenance centers on a 4-quart oil capacity using 5W-30 API viscosity, straightforward figures that frame the powertrain's service requirements for owners and researchers alike. With 42 total owner complaints and 6 recalls logged—primarily clustered around the service brakes, hydraulic system—this model year represents a relatively quiet entry in the Camaro's broader complaint history spanning 1990 through 2023. That history peaked dramatically in 2010 with 295 complaints and bottomed out at just 13 in 2022, meaning the 1993 sits comfortably in the lower tier of the model's reliability record and suggests a comparatively stable ownership experience for its era.

Model year202420232022202120202019201820171993

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 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter, front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter12731175 alt 12708762
Engine air filter19259086
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued · alt 25139035
Spark plug19301808 alt 19308035
Front wiper blades22121694 discontinued
Serpentine belt88984193 discontinued · alt 10243486
Thermostat10226107 alt 12551507

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length193.3 in
Overall width74 in
Overall height51.2 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Curb weight3241 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

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.

5.3–5.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.30 sec — 1993 Z28 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993Z28 Coupe 5.7L V85.30 sec14.00 sec275 hpRWD
1993Z28 Coupe 5.7L V85.60 sec14.00 sec275 hpRWD
1994Z28 Coupe 5.7L V85.40 sec14.10 sec275 hpRWD
1994Z28 Convertible 5.7L V86.20 sec14.50 sec275 hpRWD
1994V-6 Coupe 3.4L V68.90 sec16.80 sec160 hpRWD
1995Z28 Coupe 5.7L V85.70 sec14.20 sec275 hpRWD
1995V-6 Coupe 3.8L V67.40 sec15.70 sec200 hpRWD
1990IROC-Z 1LE Coupe 5.7L V85.80 sec14.40 sec245 hpRWD

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 FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 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; spark plugs every 100,000 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 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (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 1993 Chevrolet Camaro represents a significant dip in federal complaints within its generation, dropping to just 42 compared to 101 in 1992 and preceding a massive surge to 198 in 1994. Across the broader generation, complaint trends show distinct peaks in 1991 and 1995, placing the 1993 model at the bottom of this early-90s arc and implying a relatively stabilized production year before later escalations. However, while complaints were at a low, 1993 saw a notable spike in Technical Service Bulletins to 26 from just 7 the year prior, indicating the manufacturer was actively documenting fixes, though the data does not specify the root causes. For the 1993 model specifically, the primary complaint areas are hydraulic service brakes (9), airbags (5), and steering (5), alongside 8 crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints. Given its comparatively low complaint volume and steady recall count, the 1993 Camaro is a statistically favorable year to buy within this generation, provided you verify that the numerous TSB-related service actions were properly completed by previous owners.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
26
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
42
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 42 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic9
Air Bags5
Steering5
Structure3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Power Train3
Electrical System2
Visibility,Structure,Equipment2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 26 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
020730024A2005-08-01Power TrainDIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY…
016972004-01-01EquipmentNO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR…
9909410042000-01-01Air BagsINFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND…
9909400042000-01-01SeatsGENERAL MOTORS BEGAN PROVIDING CHILD RESTRAIN SEAT TOP TETHER HARDWARE PACKAGES TO…
990866002A2000-01-01Latches/Locks/LinkagesTHIS 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.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Camaro take?

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

Does the 1993 Camaro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.