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2001 Chevrolet Corvette

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Corvette.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2001 Chevrolet Corvette is a rear‑engine sports coupe equipped with an automatic four‑speed transmission and requiring 6.4 qt of 5W‑30 API oil, while delivering EPA fuel‑economy figures of 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and a combined 19 mpg. Across its production span the model has accumulated 207 owner complaints, with steering identified as the most frequent issue and a single recall recorded for the year. When positioned within the broader 1990‑2025 complaint record, the 2001 model falls well below the peak of 588 complaints seen in 2008 and above the low of eight complaints in 1992, indicating a moderate reliability standing for its generation.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2001

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy16/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 500 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731172. 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.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 500 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeZ06 FRONT P265/40ZR17; Z06 REAR P295/35ZR18; OTHERS FRONT P245/45ZR17; OTHERS REAR P275/40ZR18OEM · verified

Wheel / rim9.5, 10.5, 8.5, 9.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731172
Engine air filter	25042562
Fuel filter	19239926
Spark plug	12621258
Front wiper blades	19120758
Serpentine belt	19172680 alt 19244950
Thermostat	12561155 alt 12571261

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	179.9 in
Overall width	73.6 in
Overall height	48 in
Wheelbase	104.3 in
Curb weight	3239 lb
Track (front / rear)	62.2 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 24 / 19 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

4.2–4.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.24 sec — 2001 Z06 Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2001	Z06 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.24 sec	12.64 sec	385 hp	RWD
2001	Z06 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.30 sec	12.70 sec	385 hp	RWD
2001	Z06 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.34 sec	12.59 sec	385 hp	RWD
2001	Convertible 5.7L V8	4.50 sec	13.10 sec	350 hp	RWD
2001	Z06 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.50 sec	13.00 sec	385 hp	RWD
2001	Z06 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.53 sec	12.86 sec	385 hp	RWD
2001	Z06 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.60 sec	13.00 sec	385 hp	RWD
2001	Z06 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.80 sec	13.00 sec	385 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.4 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	74 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	118 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	GM part number 12345923 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	500 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-62
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 @ 50-95 degreesF MFI ohms
Engine Compression	100
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi
Engine Compression	215 Nominal psi

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket	23 ft-lbs / 125 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	125 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in
Brake Application	WITH DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.02 in / 1.26 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep M11 Bolts (1-10):

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees.	90 degrees
3	Bolts 1-8	90 degrees
1	22

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3.6 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.4

3.6 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

11 ft. lbs., step 2: 18

11 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 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.

Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	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.

The 2001 Corvette sits in the middle of the C5 generation’s complaint arc, with 207 complaints—a significant drop from the 1998 peak of 407 and below the 2000 figure of 280, but still above the later low of 111 in 2003. Recalls remained at a single unit for the fourth consecutive year, while investigations fell to 2, continuing a downward trend from 5 in 1998–1999. The top complaint area for 2001 is steering (69 reports), followed by engine and engine cooling (23), wheels (15), and fuel system (15), though the data does not specify root causes. This year also saw 6 crash-related and 3 fire-related complaints. Overall, the 2001 model year represents a point of improving reliability within the C5 generation, with fewer complaints and investigations than earlier years, but the steering issue concentration suggests a careful pre-purchase inspection is advisable.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

313

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

207

Owner complaints

6 involved a crash · 3 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00’01’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 207 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering69

Engine & Engine Cooling23

Wheels15

Fuel System, Gasoline15

Service Brakes, Hydraulic12

Fuel/Propulsion System8

Electrical System7

Seat Belts4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 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 313 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP4723J	2024-10-25	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIC6522	2023-10-05	Steering	This Preliminary Information communicates diagnostic information to dealership techs to…
PIC5453D	2022-09-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that…

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 Corvette. 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.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 6.4 qt Engine oil filter 12731172 Engine air filter 25042562 Fuel filter 19239926 Spark plug 12621258

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 Corvette take?

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

Does the 2001 Corvette have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Corvette get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.