ChryslerFifth Avenue, Imperial19923.8L/chrysler/fifth-avenue-imperial/1992/3-8l/
AY platform

1992 Chrysler Fifth Avenue, Imperial — 3.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Fifth Avenue, Imperial 3.8L.

Engine 3.8LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Chrysler Fifth Avenue and Imperial share Chrysler's AY platform, pairing a 3.8L engine with a four-speed automatic transmission and returning EPA figures of 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg. Service specifications call for 4.5 quarts of engine oil with filter, approved across 15W-40, 10W-30, or 5W-30 viscosities. Within the model's reliability record, this year draws just 29 owner complaints and a single recall, with the hydraulic service brakes emerging as the most frequently cited trouble area — a focal point for any researcher weighing its long-term durability.

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, spark plug, serpentine belt and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter04306113 discontinued
Fuel filter04495781
Spark plug68305411AA discontinued
Front wiper blades4334667
Serpentine belt04798385 discontinued
Thermostat04494470 discontinued · alt 04781661AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length198.8 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase109.4 in
Curb weight3452 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 23 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume104 cu ft
Cargo volume17 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 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 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAir Bag System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

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 1992 Chrysler Fifth Avenue, Imperial lead in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 6 of 29 reports (21%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the service brakes, hydraulic, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes, hydraulic 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.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
38
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
29
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 29 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic6
Engine & Engine Cooling6
Power Train4
Service Brakes, Air3
Service Brakes2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Equipment,Unknown Or Other1
Steering,Power Train,Visibility1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

92V015000Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle BarReported 14/02/1992

THE ZINC PLATING OPERATION PERFORMED ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLING BOLT CAUSED HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT AND BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT. Remedy: REPLACE THE ZINC PLATED BOLT WITH A PHOSPHATE PLATED BOLT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 38 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
230272016-08-23Electrical SystemReturn: Wiring Assy - Engine You have been identified as either having stock, or have…
231372016-08-22EquipmentInspect and Return: Trim Cover Assy - A-Pillar Rt/Lt You have been identified as either…
231042016-08-22Equipment05182535AD - Lamp Assy ?Tail Light LT You have been identified as either having stock, or…
202442016-08-18EquipmentCBXDP361AA Return: Spacer Kit - Visor You have been identified as either having stock, or…
Volume 2, Issue2016-08-18EquipmentWarranty Operations Newsletter Updates from Warranty Operations

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 Fifth Avenue, Imperial. 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 1992 Fifth Avenue, Imperial 3.8L take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 20 degrees F 30W SJ, SL, ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40 SJ, SL, ABOVE 0 degrees F 10W-30 SJ, SL, BELOW 32 degrees F 5W-30 SJ, SL, BELOW 100 degrees F 5W-30 SJ, SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Fifth Avenue, Imperial have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.8L get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.