ChevroletCavalier1993Overview/chevrolet/cavalier/1993/base/

1993 Chevrolet Cavalier

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier was a front-wheel-drive passenger car built on GM's J-body platform, powered by a four-cylinder engine that required 4 quarts of 5W-30 API viscosity oil for maintenance. According to owner complaint data, the 1993 model year recorded 210 total complaints, with service brakes and hydraulic systems representing the most frequently reported issue area, and the vehicle was subject to two manufacturer recalls during its production run. Within the broader Cavalier model lineage spanning 1990 to 2005, the 1993 model year fell toward the lower end of the complaint spectrum—the 1990 model held the lowest complaint count at 63, while complaints escalated significantly in later years, peaking at 705 in 2003—suggesting that the early-production 1993 Cavalier experienced relatively fewer documented reliability concerns compared to its successors.

Model year202420232021202020192005200420031993

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. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter12731175
Engine air filter24577608 alt 25043504
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued
Spark plug19354418
Front wiper blades22110234 discontinued
Serpentine belt14090086 alt 88986808
Thermostat24577299 alt 24507563

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.3 in
Overall width66.1 in
Overall height52 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Curb weight2443 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

7.9–13.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.90 sec — 2003 LS Sport Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1995LS Sedan 2.2L I-410.10 sec17.30 sec120 hpFWD
1990Z24 Coupe 3.1L V68.40 sec16.40 sec140 hpFWD
1996LS Sedan 2.4L I-48.30 sec16.10 sec150 hpFWD
1983CS Sedan 2.0L I-413.10 sec19.10 sec86 hpFWD
2003LS Sport Coupe 2.2L I-47.90 sec16.10 sec140 hpFWD

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
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; spark plugs every 100,000 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 miEngine 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 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 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 Chevrolet Cavalier sits near the beginning of a multi-year upward trend in reported federal complaints, with 210 complaints versus 161 in 1992 and 74 in 1991, while later years climbed to 300 in 1994, 356 in 1995, and peaked at 604 in 1996. Its two recalls and 22 TSBs are modest compared with the nine-to-thirteen recalls and 108-plus TSBs seen from 1995 onward, indicating 1993 predates the generation's most intense defect activity. The leading 1993 complaint categories are Service Brakes, Hydraulic (53), Engine & Engine Cooling (46), Electrical System (25), and Power Train (11), with 13 crash-related and 8 fire-related complaints also on record. Because the federal record shows 1993 carrying lower recall and TSB volume than the 1995–1998 peak years, it is one of the more favorable early-run Cavaliers to consider, provided a buyer verifies brake, engine, and electrical condition before purchase.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
22
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
210
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 8 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 210 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic53
Engine & Engine Cooling46
Electrical System25
Power Train11
Equipment9
Seat Belts8
Structure7
Seats7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

96I001000Electrical System:HornReported 23/01/1996

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INSUFFICIENT RETENTION OF THE HORN PAD. Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE HORN PAD RETENTION CLIPS, INSTALL HORN PAD RETENTION BRACKETS TO THE STEERING WHEEL, REINSTALL THE HORN PAD AND ASSURE THAT THE HORN PAD IS PROPERLY…

93V121000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 21/07/1993

THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES." Remedy: REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 22 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
00966B2004-01-01Service Brakes, AirABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT
009662004-01-01Service Brakes, AirANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT
990730030A2001-04-01Power TrainOWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES…
0005240012000-04-01Service Brakes, HydraulicINFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR
9909410042000-01-01Air BagsINFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND…

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 Cavalier. 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 Cavalier take?

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

Does the 1993 Cavalier have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.