OldsmobileCutlass Ciera1991Overview/oldsmobile/cutlass-ciera/1991/base/

1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is a midsize passenger car built on General Motors' A-body platform and powered by a conventional engine that requires a 4‑quart fill of 5W‑30 API‑rated oil. Its service‑brake hydraulic system emerged as the most frequent source of owner dissatisfaction, contributing to a total of 240 complaints and prompting eight manufacturer recalls for the model year. Within the 1991‑1995 complaint window, 1991 sits near the lower end of the reliability spectrum, with the subsequent 1992 model recording the fewest complaints (161) and 1994 the most (266), indicating that the 1991 Cutlass Ciera represents an early, comparatively more dependable point in the series.

Model year199619951994199319921991199019891988

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731175. 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 filter12731175 alt 25325464
Engine air filter24577608 alt 25040881
Fuel filter25121468 alt 25121970
Spark plug05614046 alt 19355205
Front wiper blades15184702
Serpentine belt88986822 alt 10101899
Thermostat24506986 alt 10101864

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.2 in
Overall width69.7 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight2765 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

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, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 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 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 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission 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 1991 model year recorded 240 complaints, 8 recalls, and 9 investigations—the highest investigation count in the provided data, signaling significant federal scrutiny. Complaint volumes then fell sharply in 1992 (161 complaints, 4 recalls) before rising again in 19941995, placing the 1991 model at an early peak of reported issues within this generation. The dominant problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (70 complaints), a critical safety system, accompanied by 12 crash and 9 fire complaints. While the data does not specify root causes, the combination of elevated recalls, investigations, and brake-related complaints implies a higher risk profile. For a used-car buyer, the 1991 Cutlass Ciera is a less desirable choice than the subsequent 1992 model year, which shows a clear drop in complaints, recalls, and investigations.

8
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
21
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
9
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
240
Owner complaints
12 involved a crash · 9 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 240 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic70
Seat Belts26
Electrical System25
Engine & Engine Cooling23
Structure16
Vehicle Speed Control12
Steering11
Visibility8

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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 21 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
041520042004-04-15Service Brakes, AirVEHICLES MAY SET ANYONE OR A COMBINATION OF FRONT-WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE…
00966B2004-01-01Service Brakes, AirABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT
009662004-01-01Service Brakes, AirANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT
0005240012000-04-01Service Brakes, HydraulicINFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR

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

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VIN
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Build data
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Recalls
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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 Cutlass Ciera take?

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

Does the 1991 Cutlass Ciera have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.