ChevroletCorsica1991Overview/chevrolet/corsica/1991/base/

1991 Chevrolet Corsica

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1991 Chevrolet Corsica is a passenger‑car sedan that requires 4 qt of 5W‑30 API engine oil for proper lubrication. Owner feedback for that model year logged 133 total complaints, with exterior lighting identified as the most frequent issue area and a single recall recorded. When viewed against the Corsica’s complaint history from 1990 through 1997, the 1991 figure sits below the 1992 peak of 171 complaints but well above the 1997 low of just one complaint, indicating a middling reliability position within the model’s run. This places the 1991 Corsica as an average‑reliability example of the line, neither the trouble‑prone nor the exceptionally trouble‑free year.

Model year199619951994199319921991198919881987

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. 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 12737090
Engine air filter19166102 alt 25040881
Fuel filter25121468
Spark plug19354418
Front wiper blades22155381
Serpentine belt14090086 alt 88986811
Thermostat19435095 alt 10045126

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length183.5 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height56.3 in
Wheelbase103.5 in
Curb weight2683 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.90 sec — 1989 LT 5-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989LT 5-door Hatchback 2.8L V68.90 sec16.60 sec130 hp5M

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 FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

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 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miAxle 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 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miTransmission 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.

In 1991 the Corsica generated 133 federal complaints, exceeding the 79 recorded for 1990 but remaining below the 171 complaints peak in 1992. Recalls were limited to one unit that year, comparable to the single recall in 1990 and 1992, while investigations rose to nine, the highest count in the series. The vehicle’s top complaint categories — Exterior Lighting and Electrical System each at 27, Air Bags at 20, and Steering at 14 — accounted for a substantial share of the 133 complaints, and crash‑related complaints numbered 23 with five fire complaints. Compared with the surrounding years, 1991 sits in the middle of an upward complaint trajectory that peaks in 1992 and then fluctuates, with investigations declining after that point. Because the 1991 model shows higher complaint volume and investigation activity than the immediately preceding year and is not among the lowest‑complaint years later, it is not the most advisable purchase choice.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
7
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
9
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
133
Owner complaints
23 involved a crash · 5 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 133 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Exterior Lighting27
Electrical System27
Air Bags20
Steering14
Structure11
Service Brakes, Hydraulic10
Visibility5
Engine & Engine Cooling3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

91V083000Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle BarReported 10/06/1991

NUT ATTACHING STEERING WHEEL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING INSTALLATION. Remedy: TIGHTEN THE NUT TO THE PROPER TORQUE AS NECESSARY.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
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…
876002A1998-07-01Engine And Engine CoolingSOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS…
9709015015A1997-09-01Service Brakes, HydraulicCOMPLAINTS THAT THE ABS INDICATOR LAMP IS "ON". *YC

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 Corsica. 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 1991 Corsica take?

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

Does the 1991 Corsica have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.