EagleTalon1991Overview/eagle/talon/1991/base/

1991 Eagle Talon

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

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1991 Eagle Talon is a passenger car equipped solely with a four-speed automatic transmission, posting EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 city / 19 highway / 18 combined mpg and a 4.7-quart oil capacity recommended at 5W-30 or 5W-40 API viscosity. Sourced reliability data shows 114 owner complaints filed against this model year, with the power train as the dominant issue area and two recalls on record, positioning the second-year Talon well below the platform's eventual peak of 251 complaints in 1995 and only modestly above the low-water mark of a single complaint logged in 1999. For researchers charting the model's 1990–1999 production run, the 1991 car emerges as a mid-range data point—neither a clear trouble spot nor an outlier—within a reliability arc that spikes sharply in the mid-decade before tapering toward the end of the run.

Model year1993199219911990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.7 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/19/18 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172.4 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height52 in
Wheelbase97.2 in
Curb weight2712 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 19 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.7 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 / 5W-40 API engine oil, 85W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil85W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.5 pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity4.7 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5 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 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 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)
Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 50,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (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 Eagle Talon sits at a peak within the first-generation trend, recording 114 complaints—a sharp increase from the 78 complaints in 1990, before declining to 59 in 1992 and further to 22 by 1994. While its 2 recalls are fewer than the 4 in 1990, the complaint volume is the highest of this early generation, driven predominantly by power train issues (53 complaints). This contrasts with the later second-generation spike in 1995, which saw 251 complaints and 6 recalls, indicating that 1991's problems, though notable, are not the most severe in the model's history. The data does not specify root causes, but the concentration of power train complaints and 7 crash-related reports warrants caution. Overall, the 1991 Talon is a riskier buy than subsequent first-generation years like 1993 or 1994, which show a clear downward trend in reported issues.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
7
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
114
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 3 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 114 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train53
Engine & Engine Cooling19
Seat Belts14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5
Steering3
Electrical System3
Structure2
Engine & Engine Cooling,Seat Belts2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

98V069002Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 07/04/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL…

95V103003Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 24/05/1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY. Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
0800600REV2000-12-29Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB
2300800B2000-11-24SeatsSUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT
2308002000-03-03SeatsSUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT
0806002000-02-25Electrical SystemTHIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT
233599REVA1999-10-01StructureSUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS

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 Talon. 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 Talon take?

4.7 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API, 5W-40 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Talon have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Talon get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 19 highway / 18 combined mpg.