ChevroletSprint1991Overview/chevrolet/sprint/1991/base/

1991 Chevrolet Sprint

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

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1991 Chevrolet Sprint paired its 3-speed automatic with EPA fuel-economy figures of 31 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. Servicing demanded 3.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. With zero recalls on record and only two total owner complaints—both categorized under Engine & Engine Cooling—this model year marks a notably stable point in the Sprint’s reliability timeline, indicating a production run largely free of systemic defects for researchers tracking long-term durability.

Model year1991199019891988198719861985

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy31/35/33 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length146.1 in
Overall width62.2 in
Overall height52.4 in
Wheelbase89.4 in
Curb weight1620 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 35 / 33 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

9.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.50 sec — 1987 Turbo 3-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1987Turbo 3-door Hatchback 1.0L Turbo I-39.50 sec17.20 sec70 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 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 every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 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.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill)
At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake System (adjust) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miFuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plug Wires (replace) · Vehicle Wiring Harnesses (inspect)
Every 100,000 miFuel 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.

Owner complaints about the 1991 Chevrolet Sprint dominate in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 2 of 2 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

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 Sprint. 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 Sprint take?

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

Does the 1991 Sprint have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sprint get?

EPA figures are 31 city / 35 highway / 33 combined mpg.