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1991 Chevrolet Corvette

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Corvette.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1991 Chevrolet Corvette is a sports‑coupe that takes 4 qt of 5W‑30 API engine oil, returns EPA‑rated fuel economy of 15/22/17 mpg, and is equipped with a 4‑speed automatic transmission. Owner‑reported data show a total of 24 complaints for the model year, with seat‑belt issues the leading concern and three recalls issued. Within the broader 1990‑2025 complaint spectrum — where 1992 logged the fewest at 8 and 2008 the most at 588 — the 1991 Corvette’s modest complaint total places it near the reliable end of the range.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 1991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/22/17 mpgEPA · 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 Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter	12708762 alt 25014155
Engine air filter	19244111
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	19354429 alt 19308030
Front wiper blades	12363800 discontinued
Serpentine belt	12637202 alt 10067477
Thermostat	10226107 alt 10135627

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	176.4 in
Overall width	70.9 in
Overall height	46.9 in
Wheelbase	96.1 in
Curb weight	3256 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	51/49

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 22 / 17 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

4.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.90 sec — 1991 ZR-1 Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1991	ZR-1 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.90 sec	13.20 sec	375 hp	RWD
1990	ZR-1 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.40 sec	12.80 sec	375 hp	RWD
1990	ZR-1 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.50 sec	12.80 sec	375 hp	RWD
1990	ZR-1 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.60 sec	12.90 sec	375 hp	RWD
1990	ZR-1 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.70 sec	13.10 sec	375 hp	RWD
1990	ZR-1 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.90 sec	13.40 sec	375 hp	RWD
1990	ZR-1 Coupe 5.7L V8	4.90 sec	13.40 sec	375 hp	RWD
1990	Z51 FX3 Coupe 5.7L V8	6.00 sec	14.50 sec	245 hp	RWD

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 Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.3 qt
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	7.6 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; 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 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 1991 the Corvette recorded 24 complaints, 3 recalls and 1 investigation, with a total of 4 technical service bulletins. That complaint level is lower than the 39 complaints in 1990 but higher than the 8 complaints in 1992, situating the year at a modest point in the early‑generation complaint arc. The 1991 complaint profile lists seat‑belts (7), electrical system (4), equipment (3) and service‑brakes hydraulic (3) as the most frequent areas, with 3 crash complaints and 1 fire complaint reported. Compared with the surrounding years, the 1991 figures reflect the low‑volume period before the steep rise in complaints that began in the mid‑1990s. Therefore, while the 1991 model shows relatively few reported defects, buyers should still verify service history and obtain a pre‑purchase inspection before purchasing.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90’91’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 24 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts7

Electrical System4

Equipment3

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Tires2

Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Vehicle Speed Control2

Wheels1

Power Train,Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

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 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
020730024A	2005-08-01	Power Train	DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY…
01697	2004-01-01	Equipment	NO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR…
010729004	2001-06-01	Power Train	INFORMATION REGARDING CORVETTE ZF SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. NLM
9313110	1993-03-01	Visibility	REAR LIFT WINDOW HARD TO OPEN/HINGE LOOSE TO GLASS. *TW

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 Corvette. 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.

Vehicles taking 4 qt Engine oil filter 12708762 Engine air filter 19244111 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 19354429

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Corvette take?

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

Does the 1991 Corvette have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Corvette get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 17 combined mpg.