ChevroletCorsica1992Overview/chevrolet/corsica/1992/base/

1992 Chevrolet Corsica

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Corsica.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1992 Chevrolet Corsica is a passenger car with a 4-quart engine oil capacity specifying 5W-30 API viscosity. This model year generated 171 total owner complaints—the highest volume recorded across the 1990–1997 production span—with the top complaint area being the service brakes, hydraulic system, and was subject to one recall. Standing at the peak of the model’s reported reliability issues, the 1992 model contrasts sharply with the 1997 edition’s single complaint, marking it as the most problematic year in the Corsica’s lifecycle.

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
Engine air filter19166102 alt 24577608
Fuel filter25121468
Spark plug19354418
Front wiper blades22155381
Serpentine belt10224381 alt 10224382
Thermostat10112301 alt 19435095

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 weight2615 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
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 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; 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 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (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 miSpark Plugs (replace) · 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 1992 Chevrolet Corsica sits at the peak of the generation's complaint arc, with 171 federal complaints — the highest of any model year in the record, up sharply from 133 in 1991 and well above the 129 recorded for 1993. Complaints rose steadily from 1990 (79) to this 1992 crest before retreating, suggesting the target year represents the worst point in a maturing platform's lifecycle rather than an early-production teething period. The dominant complaint area is Service Brakes, Hydraulic at 54 reports, followed by Electrical System (19), Air Bags (17), and Exterior Lighting (17), with 30 crash complaints and 7 fire complaints adding further concern; the data does not specify root causes for any of these areas. Notably, investigations dropped from 9 in 1991 to 4 in 1992 while TSBs doubled from 7 to 16, indicating GM was actively issuing technical guidance even as regulatory scrutiny eased. With the highest complaint volume of the entire generation, concentrated in safety-critical systems like brakes and airbags, the 1992 model year is the least attractive used Corsica in this federal record — a buyer should prioritize 1993 or later, where complaint counts fall and TSB coverage expands.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
16
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
171
Owner complaints
30 involved a crash · 7 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 171 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic54
Electrical System19
Air Bags17
Exterior Lighting17
Steering12
Engine & Engine Cooling8
Seat Belts5
Power Train5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

92V185000Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:SwitchReported 24/12/1992

THE SERVICE BRAKE STOP LAMP SWITCH BECOMES INOPERATIVE. Remedy: REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH AND CORRECT THE WIRING IN THE CONNECTOR OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH WIRING HARNESS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 16 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
041520042004-04-15Service Brakes, AirVEHICLES MAY SET ANYONE OR A COMBINATION OF FRONT-WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE…
00966B2004-01-01Service Brakes, AirABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT
009662004-01-01Service Brakes, AirANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT
990730030A2001-04-01Power TrainOWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES…
9909410042000-01-01Air BagsINFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND…

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 1992 Corsica take?

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

Does the 1992 Corsica have open recalls?

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