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2001 Pontiac Sunfire

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Sunfire.

Body PASSENGER CAR

As a passenger car, the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire is defined under the hood by a 4.5-quart engine oil capacity requiring 5W-30 API viscosity. This specific model year has accumulated 78 total owner complaints alongside three recalls, with the electrical system ranking as the primary trouble spot. When situated within the broader 1991-2005 model complaint history, 2001 falls well below the peak problematic year of 1996—which saw 237 complaints—yet sits far above the 1991 low of just a single complaint. Ultimately, this positions the 2001 Sunfire in the middle of the vehicle's reliability spectrum, meaning it avoids the worst historical faults of the lineage but still carries a notable risk of electrical issues.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP195-70R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175 alt 25322835
Engine air filter	24577608
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19301812 alt 19301811
Battery	88861746 alt 88865311
Front wiper blades	22711468 discontinued · alt 22711469
Serpentine belt	88984192 alt 88984191
Thermostat	24577118 alt 24577288

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	181.5 in
Overall width	68.5 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	103.9 in
Curb weight	2606 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.5 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	65/35

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 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

Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	77 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	129 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Bolt and nuts: 17 ft-lbs, studs: 8.8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	9.6 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	9.6 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	144 ft-lbs

Ignition

Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	41-942
Spark Plug Gap	0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	75

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	185-205 °F
Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	185-205 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	60.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	53-59.0

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.786 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.786 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.751 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	Bolts 1-8	40 ft. lbs
2	Bolts 9-10	30 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	Long bolts	46 ft. lbs
2	Short bolts	43 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees

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 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Underbody (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (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 2001 Pontiac Sunfire sits in the middle of the generation’s complaint arc, well past the peak years of 1996 (237 complaints, 10 recalls) and 1997 (225 complaints, 9 recalls). With 78 complaints and 3 recalls, 2001 shows a clear downward trend from those highs, though it still has more complaints than the later 2004 (32 complaints, 2 recalls) and 2005 (68 complaints, 1 recall) model years. The 2001 model also has two open investigations, while 2002 and 2004 had none, and its 379 technical service bulletins (TSBs) are part of a rising trend that continues through 2005 (504 TSBs), indicating that dealers were issuing many bulletins to address issues. The top complaint areas—Electrical System (16), Engine & Engine Cooling (14), and Service Brakes (7)—along with 8 crash and 2 fire complaints, suggest persistent problem areas, but the data does not specify root causes. Overall, the 2001 Sunfire is a middle-of-the-road choice: better than the early, troubled years but not as clean as the later, lower-complaint models, so it is not a strong buy unless you are prepared for potential electrical and engine issues.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

379

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

8 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’91 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00’01’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 78 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System16

Engine & Engine Cooling14

Service Brakes, Hydraulic7

Air Bags6

Tires4

Visibility4

Exterior Lighting2

Structure2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E063000SteeringReported 17/10/2008

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA"… Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.

07E021000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief DevicesReported 12/03/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 379 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIP5358D	2025-02-19	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP4723J	2024-10-25	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

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 Sunfire. 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 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 24577608 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19301812

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 2001 Sunfire take?

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

Does the 2001 Sunfire have open recalls?

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