MitsubishiEclipse19912.0L/mitsubishi/eclipse/1991/2-0l/

1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse — 2.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Eclipse 2.0L. Covers both the standard and High Output 2.0L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.0LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse is a passenger car powered by a 2.0L engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, achieving an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined and requiring 4.0 quarts of oil with a recommended viscosity of 20W-40, 10W-30, or 5W-30 API. For this model year, owner complaints totaled 62—predominantly in the power train—along with five recalls, a figure that sits well below the nameplate’s peak of 392 complaints in 1995 across its 1990–2012 run, marking the 1991 Eclipse as a relatively reliable early entry.

Model year199919981997199619951994199319921991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/19/18 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 MZ690116. 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.

Tire size4WD:P225-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMZ690116 alt MZ690072
Engine air filterMR571477 alt MD620090
Fuel filterMB504761
Spark plugMS851881 alt MS851238
Front wiper bladesMR300876 alt 8250A098
Serpentine beltMZ690232 alt MD186126
ThermostatMD997608 alt MD972903

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

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

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 1991 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

6.4–6.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 1993 GSX Coupe
203 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1990GS Turbo Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-46.60 sec15.10 sec190 hpFWD
1993GSX Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-46.40 sec15.00 sec195 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 85W-90 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil85W-90 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.8 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt
Power Steering FluidUse Mitsubishi PS fluid

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; 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) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (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) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 50,000 miFuel Filter (replace) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBalance Shaft Drive Belt (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.

In 1991 the Eclipse recorded 62 complaints—identical to 1990—but with fewer recalls (5 versus 9) and more TSBs (15 versus 10), indicating that the manufacturer was issuing more service bulletins despite a steady complaint volume. Complaints declined to 56 in 1992 and continued a gradual decrease through 1994, before jumping dramatically to 392 complaints in 1995, marking a clear mid‑1990s spike across the generation. The 1991 complaint profile was driven by power‑train (18), seat‑belt (13), engine/engine cooling (7), and suspension (4) issues, with six crash‑related complaints and two fire complaints on record. The rise in TSBs together with the concentration of power‑train and seat‑belt complaints suggests that known issues existed early in the model run, but the larger recall wave and complaint surge arrived later. Consequently, the 1991 Eclipse sits in a comparatively quieter portion of the generation’s complaint arc, making it a relatively lower‑risk purchase within the first‑generation range, though prospective buyers should still prioritize inspection of the power‑train and seat‑belt systems.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
15
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
62
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 62 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train18
Seat Belts13
Engine & Engine Cooling7
Suspension4
Wheels3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Electrical System3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

06E065000Exterior LightingReported 17/07/2006

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 15 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TT2672022-04-07Unknown Or OtherTech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics…
TSB-21-00-0102021-04-23EquipmentThis Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to provide instructions and Material…
TIN-21-00-0032021-03-15EquipmentThis Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers reminding them of the importance of…
TT-20-00-0022020-08-28Electrical SystemTech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics…
TIN-20-42A-0012020-08-13StructureThis Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing that MMNA has recently…

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 Eclipse. 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 Eclipse 2.0L take?

4.0 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 API, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 60 degrees F 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Eclipse have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.0L get?

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