ChevroletSprint1991Overview/chevrolet/sprint/1991/base/

1991 Chevrolet Sprint

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

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1991 Chevrolet Sprint is a subcompact vehicle powered by a small displacement engine paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission, representing the era's entry-level approach to efficient urban transportation. With EPA fuel economy ratings of 31 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined, the Sprint delivered respectable efficiency for its class. Engine maintenance calls for 3.5 quarts of 5W-30 API-rated oil per service interval. In terms of reliability, the 1991 model year recorded just two owner complaints with zero recalls—a notably clean record that positions this model year favorably within the Sprint's reliability history, suggesting strong initial build quality and owner satisfaction for researchers evaluating this vehicle's long-term ownership profile.

Model year1991199019891988198719861985

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy31/35/33 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length146.1 in
Overall width62.2 in
Overall height52.4 in
Wheelbase89.4 in
Curb weight1620 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 35 / 33 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

9.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.50 sec — 1987 Turbo 3-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1987Turbo 3-door Hatchback 1.0L Turbo I-39.50 sec17.20 sec70 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 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 every 5,000 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.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill)
At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake System (adjust) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miFuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plug Wires (replace) · Vehicle Wiring Harnesses (inspect)
Every 100,000 miFuel 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.

Owner complaints about the 1991 Chevrolet Sprint dominate in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 2 of 2 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

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 Sprint. 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 1991 Sprint take?

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

Does the 1991 Sprint have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sprint get?

EPA figures are 31 city / 35 highway / 33 combined mpg.