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1997 Chevrolet Corvette

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Corvette.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1997 Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 6.4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, returning EPA fuel economy of 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Across a model complaint history spanning 1990 through 2025, this year accumulated 167 owner complaints—steering being the most frequently cited area—alongside 4 recalls. That total sits well below the 2008 peak of 588 complaints but far above the 1992 low of just 8, positioning the 1997 as a moderate-reliability year that gives researchers a middle-ground reference point rather than a best- or worst-case scenario.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 1997

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy16/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731172. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-75R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-, 6.5-JJ; 6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731172
Engine air filter	25042562
Fuel filter	10287788 discontinued
Spark plug	12621258
Front wiper blades	19120758
Serpentine belt	19172680 alt 19244950
Thermostat	12561155 alt 12571261

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	179.5 in
Overall width	73.6 in
Overall height	47.6 in
Wheelbase	104.3 in
Curb weight	3219 lb
Track (front / rear)	62.2 / 62.2 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 24 / 19 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.

4.7–5.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.70 sec — 1997 Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1997	Coupe 5.7L V8	4.70 sec	13.30 sec	345 hp	RWD
1997	Coupe 5.7L V8	4.80 sec	13.30 sec	345 hp	RWD
1997	Coupe 5.7L V8	4.80 sec	13.20 sec	345 hp	RWD
1997	Coupe 5.7L V8	5.00 sec	13.50 sec	345 hp	RWD
1998	Coupe 5.7L V8	4.70 sec	13.10 sec	345 hp	RWD
1998	Coupe 5.7L V8	4.80 sec	13.20 sec	345 hp	RWD
1998	Convertible 5.7L V8	4.90 sec	13.50 sec	345 hp	RWD
1998	Convertible 5.7L V8	5.10 sec	13.50 sec	345 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. 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

Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.4 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 12345866 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	18 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	18 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	18 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	74 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	15 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	31 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill Plug	26 ft-lbs
Differential drain Plug	89 ft-lbs
Driveshaft Flange to Transmission	37 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts	33 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug	20 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	46 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	118 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.63 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	150
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	170-190 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	41-47
RPM	30.5-44 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance	11.8-12.6 @ 50-95 degreesF MFI ohms
Engine Compression	100

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket	23 ft-lbs / 125 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	125 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in
Brake Application	WITH DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.02 in / 1.26 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep M11 Bolts (1-10):

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees.	90 degrees
3	Bolts 1-8	90 degrees
1	22

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3.6 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.4

3.6 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

11 ft. lbs., step 2: 18

11 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 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 5,000 mi	Brake System (inspect)
Every 7,500 mi	Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 10,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	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	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	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.

The 1997 Corvette marks the debut of the C5 generation, and the federal record shows a dramatic spike in reported issues compared to the preceding C4 years. Complaints jumped from 47 in 1996 to 167 in 1997, recalls rose from zero to four, and TSBs surged from 21 to 115—a clear break from the relatively low-problem late C4 era. While 1997’s complaint count is lower than the 407 seen in 1998, the trend across the C5 generation shows elevated complaint and TSB numbers through the early 2000s, with 1997 being the first year of that arc. The top complaint area is steering (92 of 167 complaints), and the data does not specify a root cause for this issue. Given the sharp increase in complaints, recalls, and TSBs relative to the prior generation, the 1997 Corvette is a high-risk first model year, and a used buyer should proceed with caution.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

115

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

167

Owner complaints

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire

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 167 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering92

Seats9

Engine & Engine Cooling8

Seat Belts7

Fuel System, Gasoline6

Service Brakes, Hydraulic5

Visibility4

Electrical System3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 115 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIC6522	2023-10-05	Steering	This Preliminary Information communicates diagnostic information to dealership techs to…
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…
PIC4696D	2019-09-05	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…

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.

Group 78 battery Vehicles taking 6.4 qt Engine oil filter 12731172 Engine air filter 25042562 Fuel filter 10287788 Spark plug 12621258

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 1997 Corvette take?

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

Does the 1997 Corvette have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Corvette get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.