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2001 Oldsmobile Aurora

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora is a passenger car whose engine takes 6 quarts of 10W-30 API oil, slotting into the later portion of a model run that stretched from 1993 to 2003. With 133 total owner complaints and a single recall on record, this model year falls well below the 349-complaint peak seen in 1995, though steering problems dominate the gripe list. For researchers, that positions the 2001 as a comparatively quiet chapter in the Aurora's reliability history — not trouble-free, but far from the worst — meaning it likely draws fewer red flags than earlier iterations while still deserving scrutiny around its steering system.

Model year2003 2002 2001 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 100 · 770 CCA battery. 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 100 · 770 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Tire sizeP225-60HR16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine air filter	19166106
Fuel filter	25330711 alt 25121293
Spark plug	12556183 alt 12571535
Front wiper blades	15214346
Serpentine belt	12588412 alt 12588411
Thermostat	12559807 alt 12553364
Cabin air filter	15811562

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	199.2 in
Overall width	72.8 in
Overall height	56.7 in
Wheelbase	112.2 in
Curb weight	3686 lb
Track (front / rear)	62.2 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	62/38

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 15.0 ft-lbs. 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

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	7.5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	5.2 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

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

Ignition

Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	41-950
Spark Plug Gap	0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	41-950
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.20 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	100
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	770 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	100

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	62 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	41-47

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	20 ft-lbs / 137 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	94 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.267 in / 0.433 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.267 in / 0.433 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.224 in / 0.404 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

37 ft. lbs., step 2: 120

37 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	M11 bolts	30 ft. lbs
2	M11 bolts	100 degrees
3	M11 bolts	100 degrees
4	8.8

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	70 degrees.	70 degrees
3	60 degrees.	60 degrees
4	60 degrees.	60 degrees
5	8.8

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; 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 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Throttle Body (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	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 Oldsmobile Aurora represents a stark anomaly in this generation's federal record, reversing a steady decline in complaints from a high of 349 in 1995 down to just 4 in 2000. Instead of continuing this downward trend, the 2001 model year saw complaints unexpectedly surge to 133, accompanied by a massive spike in technical service bulletins to 406—up from 233 the prior year. While the data does not specify root causes, the primary problem areas are Steering and Engine & Engine Cooling (14 complaints each), followed by Electrical System and Exterior Lighting (11 each), which also contributed to 8 crash and 4 fire complaints. Positioned at an unexpected resurgence of federal scrutiny rather than the end of a stabilizing arc, this model year suggests newly introduced or unaddressed vulnerabilities. Consequently, the 2001 Aurora is not a recommended buy, as its data profile indicates a clear regression in reliability compared to the quieter adjacent years.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

406

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

133

Owner complaints

8 involved a crash · 4 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00’01’02 ’03

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 133 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering14

Engine & Engine Cooling14

Electrical System11

Exterior Lighting11

Service Brakes, Hydraulic9

Vehicle Speed Control8

Visibility8

Power Train6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

00V114000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation ComponentsReported 17/04/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKS IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR UNIT AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 406 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
23-NA-001	2025-03-28	Electrical System	This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G…
PIP5358D	2025-02-19	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
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…

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 Aurora. 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 100 battery Vehicles taking 6 qt Engine air filter 19166106 Fuel filter 25330711 Spark plug 12556183 Front wiper blades 15214346

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 Aurora take?

6 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 Aurora have open recalls?

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