OldsmobileCutlass Ciera1993Overview/oldsmobile/cutlass-ciera/1993/base/

1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Cutlass Ciera.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is a passenger‑car sedan that calls for four quarts of 5W‑30 API engine oil to maintain proper lubrication. Owner reports for the year total 161 complaints, with the service brakes and hydraulic system emerging as the most frequent problem area, and the vehicle was involved in five recall campaigns. Situated within the 19911995 complaint history, the 1993 figure matches the lowest recorded total (tied with 1992) and falls well below the peak of 266 complaints seen in 1994, indicating a comparatively reliable period for the Cutlass Ciera line.

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
Engine air filter24577608 alt 25043119
Fuel filter25121468 alt 25121970
Spark plug19354417 alt 19354418
Front wiper blades15184702
Serpentine belt19355375 alt 10184955
Thermostat24505924 alt 24577299

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) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (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 60,000 miPCV System (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.

In 1993 the Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera generated 13 crash‑related complaints and 6 fire‑related complaints, with the highest complaint concentrations in service brakes/hydraulic (41), electrical system (19), seats (11) and suspension (8). That complaint volume falls between the 161 complaints recorded in 1992 and the 266 complaints of 1994, indicating a rebound after a dip in the preceding year. Recalls remained low at four, matching the 1992 level but far below the eight recalls of 1994, while the 44 technical service bulletins issued that year represent the peak of the generation’s service bulletins. Investigations and additional recalls were absent, showing no formal regulatory response to the complaint spike. Therefore, for a prospective buyer, 1993 offers a mixed record and warrants careful verification before purchase.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
33
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
161
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 6 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, Hydraulic41
Electrical System19
Seats11
Suspension8
Equipment7
Fuel System, Gasoline7
Vehicle Speed Control7
Power Train7

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 33 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…
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…
990866002A2000-01-01Latches/Locks/LinkagesTHIS BULLETIN INFORMS DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE TRAP RESISTANT REAR COMPARTMENT (TRUNK) KIT…

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 1993 Cutlass Ciera take?

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

Does the 1993 Cutlass Ciera have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.