OldsmobileCutlass Ciera1992Overview/oldsmobile/cutlass-ciera/1992/base/

1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is a passenger car that requires 4 qt of 5W‑30 API engine oil and was subject to four recall campaigns during its model year. With 161 total owner complaints — the lowest figure for the 1991‑1995 span — it marks the most reliable year of that generation, especially compared to the peak of 266 complaints in 1994. The most frequently reported issue area was the service brakes, hydraulic system.

Model year199619951994199319921991199019891988

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 25012305
Engine air filter25043317 alt 25040881
Fuel filter25121468 alt 25121970
Spark plug19354417 alt 05614046
Front wiper blades15184702
Serpentine belt19355375 alt 10101899
Thermostat24506986 alt 10101864

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.2 in
Overall width69.7 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight2765 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

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
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 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
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.

The 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera shows a decline in federal complaints compared to the 1991 model, dropping from 240 to 161, and its recalls fall to four from eight the year before, indicating a modest improvement in overall reliability. Compared with the following years, 1994 and 1995, the 1992 model maintains lower complaints (266 and 231 respectively) and a similar recall count (4), suggesting it sits near the lower end of the complaint arc for this generation. The 1992 year’s most frequent complaint categories—service brakes hydraulic (57), electrical system (21), engine & engine cooling (16), and seat belts (14)—are all below the national average for the series, and its crash and fire complaint totals (14 and 9) are comparatively modest. The data does not specify a root cause for these issues, so they remain generic service concerns. Overall, the 1992 Cutlass Ciera’s reduced complaint and recall profile relative to adjacent years makes it a relatively attractive option for a used‑car buyer seeking lower reported problems.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
20
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
161
Owner complaints
14 involved a crash · 9 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 161 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic57
Electrical System21
Engine & Engine Cooling16
Seat Belts14
Vehicle Speed Control10
Structure7
Seats6
Power Train5

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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 20 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
990730030A2001-04-01Power TrainOWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES…
99034A2000-02-01Engine And Engine CoolingSOME VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND EQUIPPED WITH 4.3L ENGINES AND…
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…

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 Cutlass Ciera. 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 Cutlass Ciera take?

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

Does the 1992 Cutlass Ciera have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.