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1996 Chevrolet Corsica

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Corsica.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1996 Chevrolet Corsica is a passenger car whose maintenance specifications call for 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. Across the available complaint data spanning 1990 to 1997, this model year recorded 137 owner reports, with engine and engine cooling standing as the most frequently cited problem area and a single recall attached to the vehicle. That total places 1996 well below the peak of 171 complaints logged in 1992 yet still far above the single complaint recorded for 1997, situating the model year in the latter, calmer phase of the nameplate's documented reliability history.

Model year1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1989 1988 1987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-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 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP195/70R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175
Engine air filter	25099735
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19301807 alt 19301813
Front wiper blades	22155381
Serpentine belt	88986808 alt 88986809
Thermostat	24507563 alt 24577299

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	183.5 in
Overall width	68.1 in
Overall height	53.9 in
Wheelbase	103.5 in
Curb weight	2745 lb
Track (front / rear)	55.9 / 55.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.90 sec — 1989 LT 5-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1989	LT 5-door Hatchback 2.8L V6	8.90 sec	16.60 sec	130 hp	5M

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. 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 Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	6 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	6-8.8 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	81 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	77 code H ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	75 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	18.5 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	30 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	12-16 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	185 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5000-8000 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5000-7000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.00-2.45 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	8.00-9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	75

Service checks

Pressure Test	15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	185-205 °F
Pressure Test	15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	40.5-47

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.796 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.796 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.751 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	long bolts 46 ft. lbs.; short bolts 43 ft. lbs.	46 ft. lbs
2	90

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees; Coat threads with sealant.	90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 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 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Spark 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 1996 Corsica recorded 137 consumer complaints, a modest rise from the 121 reported in 1995 but well below the peak of 171 in 1992, indicating a mid‑range level of owner dissatisfaction for this generation. Federal recalls slipped to just one in 1996 after a brief lull in 1994‑1995, suggesting that most serious safety defects had already been addressed earlier in the model’s life cycle. Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) remained high at 61, only a slight drop from the 65 issued in 1995, confirming that service‑related issues continued to be a focus for Chevrolet throughout the mid‑1990s. The most frequent complaint areas in 1996—engine cooling, hydraulic brakes, structure, and fuel system—are typical of aging mechanical components rather than systemic design flaws, and crash‑related complaints were low (8) with no fire reports. Overall, 1996 sits near the middle of a declining complaints trend after the early‑1990s peak, making it a relatively safe year to consider for a used purchase, provided the buyer verifies that any outstanding TSBs have been addressed.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

137

Owner complaints

8 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95’96’97

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 137 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling26

Service Brakes, Hydraulic16

Structure13

Fuel System, Gasoline10

Unknown Or Other8

Power Train8

Steering6

Electrical System6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07E021000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief DevicesReported 12/03/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 61 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
17-NA-073	2023-02-21	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA073	2019-09-18	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…

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 Corsica. 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 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 25099735 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19301807

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 1996 Corsica take?

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

Does the 1996 Corsica have open recalls?

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