OldsmobileAurora1999Overview/oldsmobile/aurora/1999/base/

1999 Oldsmobile Aurora

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 Aurora.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora is a mid‑sized passenger car that sits on the GM V-body platform and is powered by a 4‑speed automatic transmission, delivering a modest EPA rating of 15/23/18 mpg and requiring 7.5 quarts of 10W‑30 API engine oil. Notably, this model year features a low owner‑complaint count of 37, with the primary issue reported in the electrical system and only two recalls issued, a stark contrast to the peak of 349 complaints in 1995 and the single complaint in 1993. Consequently, the 1999 Aurora represents a relatively reliable chapter in the Aurora’s decade‑long history, offering a smoother ownership experience than many of its predecessors.

Model year20032002200119991998199719961995

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity7.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 79 · 840 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 79 · 840 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-60R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731179
Engine air filter19259030
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued
Spark plug19208535
Front wiper blades25689175 discontinued
Serpentine belt12588412 alt 19172679
Thermostat12559807 alt 03522676

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length205.5 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height55.5 in
Wheelbase113.8 in
Curb weight3966 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 23 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume102 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 7.5 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 15.0 ft-lbs. 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 FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity7.5 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub107 ft-lbs

Ignition

Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,000-8,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Type41-950
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity8.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number79
Standard BCI Cranking Performance840 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)40-47
RPM30-44 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11.8-12.6 na ohms
Engine Compression140 Minimum psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs / 137 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle94 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.26 in / 0.433 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.26 in / 0.433 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.224 in / 0.423 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
137 ft. lbs., step 2: 12037 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
270 degrees.70 degrees
360 degrees.60 degrees
460 degrees.60 degrees
58.8

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.

Every 7,500 miBrake System (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Hood Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Throttle Body (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine 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 1999 model year represents the lowest complaint volume of the first generation, with 37 complaints marking a continued decline from the 1995 peak of 349 and the 1998 figure of 58. While the 1999 model maintains two recalls—matching the 1995-1996 rate but up from zero in 1998—its complaint trajectory suggests the platform had matured significantly by this point in the production cycle. Notably, the 1999 data sits immediately before the 2000 model year's dramatic shift to 233 TSBs and only 4 complaints, indicating a potential redesign or major component change that separates the first and second generations. The 1999 model's specific complaint profile shows 7 electrical system issues and 5 engine-related concerns as the top categories, though the federal data does not specify root causes for these reports. Given its position as the most refined year of the first generation with the lowest complaint volume and no active investigations, the 1999 Aurora represents a comparatively sound acquisition within this model lineage, provided prospective buyers verify the completion of its two recalls.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
72
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
37
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 3 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 37 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System7
Engine & Engine Cooling5
Air Bags3
Steering3
Suspension2
Wheels2
Equipment2
Tires2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

99V238000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:VacuumReported 27/08/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO PEDAL ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT NUTS MAY BE LOOSE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MISSING BRAKE BOOSTER TO BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY NUTS AND TIGHTEN ALL FOUR (4) NUTS TO SPECIFIED TORQUE.

99V081000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:DiscReported 14/04/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INCORRECT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR, BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY, BRAKE PADS, AND CALIPER MOUNTING BRACKET ON EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF THE… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CORRECT BRAKE PARTS AND REPLACE ANY INCORRECT ROTORS, CALIPER ASSEMBLIES, BRAKE PADS, AND CALIPER MOUNTING BRACKETS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 72 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
17-NA-0732023-02-21EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIP4723F2022-01-14Service Brakes, HydraulicThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D2020-01-31Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
19NA2732019-12-02Electrical SystemThis informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis 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 Aurora. 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 1999 Aurora take?

7.5 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1999 Aurora have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Aurora get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.