PontiacFirebird1993Overview/pontiac/firebird/1993/base/

1993 Pontiac Firebird

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1993 Pontiac Firebird is a passenger car requiring 4 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. This model year recorded 21 total owner complaints, primarily centered on the hydraulic service brakes, and was subject to three recalls. Within the model's broader complaint history from 1990 to 2002, this year's figures sit between the 1990 low of 10 complaints and the 1995 peak of 95.

Model year200220012000199919981997199619951993

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 12708762. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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 filter12708762 alt 12731175
Engine air filter19259086 alt 19259030
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued · alt 25139035
Spark plug19301808 alt 05614168
Front wiper blades22121694 discontinued
Thermostat24577299 alt 12555290

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length195.7 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height52 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Curb weight3241 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

5.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.50 sec — 1993 Formula Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993Formula Coupe 5.7L V85.50 sec14.20 sec275 hpRWD
1994Trans Am GT 25th Anniversary Edition Convertible 5.7L V86.10 sec14.60 sec275 hpRWD
1995Trans Am Coupe 5.7L V85.60 sec14.00 sec275 hpRWD
1995Formula Convertible 5.7L V86.10 sec14.60 sec275 hpRWD
1995Trans Am V6 Coupe 3.8L V67.10 sec15.50 sec200 hpRWD
1996Trans Am WS6 Coupe 5.7L V85.40 sec14.00 sec285 hpRWD
1996Formula WS6 Coupe 5.7L V85.50 sec14.10 sec285 hpRWD
1996Formula WS6 Coupe 5.7L V85.50 sec13.90 sec285 hpRWD

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, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt

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; 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.

At 7,500 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · 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) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Thermostatically Controlled Air Cleaner Assembly (inspect)
Every 60,000 miPCV System (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Transmission 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 1993 Pontiac Firebird sits at a notable inflection point in the third-generation Firebird's federal record. Complaints had spiked dramatically from 10 in 1990 to 32 in 1991, remained elevated at 30 in 1992, then dropped sharply to 21 in 1993—the lowest level since 1990—before surging to 68 in 1994 and 95 in 1995. Recalls similarly decreased to 3 in 1993, down from 4-5 in prior years. However, TSBs jumped to 22 in 1993 (from 8 in 1992), indicating increased technical service bulletin activity despite fewer formal complaints. The 1993 model's top complaint areas were Service Brakes, Hydraulic (4), Air Bags (3), and Electrical System (3), with 4 crash-related complaints and 3 fire-related complaints recorded. This year represents a temporary lull before the significant complaint surge that followed in 1994-1995. The 1993 Firebird may be a comparatively safer bet within this generation, as it precedes the sharp escalation in owner complaints, though the elevated TSB count suggests ongoing technical issues were being documented.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
22
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
21
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 21 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Air Bags3
Electrical System3
Exterior Lighting2
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Seat Belts1
Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E065000Exterior LightingReported 17/07/2006

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

07E088000EquipmentReported 24/10/2007

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 22 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
020730024A2005-08-01Power TrainDIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY…
016972004-01-01EquipmentNO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR…
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 Firebird. 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 Firebird take?

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

Does the 1993 Firebird have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.