MitsubishiGalant19902.0L/mitsubishi/galant/1990/2-0l/

1990 Mitsubishi Galant — 2.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 Galant 2.0L. Covers both the standard and High Output 2.0L.

Engine 2.0LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Mitsubishi Galant arrives as a midsize sedan built on the company’s contemporary platform and powered by a 2.0‑liter engine that accepts 4.0 qt of oil in viscosities ranging from 20W‑40 to 5W‑30 (API‑rated). Its four‑speed automatic transmission is paired with EPA ratings of 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and a combined 20 mpg, offering a balanced blend of efficiency and drivability for the era. Reliability data show the model logged 24 owner complaints overall, with seat belts identified as the most frequent issue and a single recall recorded, placing the 1990 Galant in the lower‑mid range of the 1990‑2012 complaint spectrum—well below the 1994 peak of 263 complaints but above the 2011 low of three, indicating a generally acceptable reliability record for researchers.

Model year19931992199119901989

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 economy18/24/20 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 MD136466
Engine air filterMD620336 alt MD620090
Fuel filterMB504761
Spark plugMS851238
Front wiper bladesMZ690946 alt MZ693015
Serpentine beltMD178429 alt MB439714
ThermostatMD997608 alt MD972903

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 24 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume94 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent published road-test results.

9.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.40 sec — 1990 GSX Sedan
195 hpHorsepower (as tested)
203 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1990GSX Sedan 2.0L I-49.40 sec17.10 sec195 hpAWD
1991VR-4 Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.60 sec237 hpAWD
1991VR-4 Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.60 sec237 hpAWD
1991VR-4 Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-47.90 sec15.80 sec237 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; 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) · 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) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · 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.

The 1990 Mitsubishi Galant sits at the very beginning of the generation’s federal record, with just 24 complaints and a single recall—figures that are dramatically lower than the mid-1990s peak, where complaint counts surged to 263 in 1994 and recalls hit 11 in 2000. While the 1990 model year did attract three investigations, the highest number for any year in this dataset, the overall complaint volume is modest and concentrated in seat belts and power train, with no crash-related complaints reported. This early-year data suggests a vehicle that had not yet developed the widespread, documented problems that would plague later model years, though the investigations hint at some early regulatory scrutiny. Based strictly on the federal record, the 1990 Galant appears to be a comparatively trouble-free choice within this generation, offering a notably cleaner history than the problematic mid-decade examples.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
9
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
24
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 24 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts7
Power Train7
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Vehicle Speed Control2
Engine & Engine Cooling,Power Train,Electrical System1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Power Train1
Tires1
Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

98V168000Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 22/07/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 9 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TT2532019-11-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-19-00-0082019-07-30EquipmentThis is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes…
TT2372018-02-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-13-42A-0022013-01-29StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section…
TSB99110071999-06-01Engine And Engine CoolingINFORMATION REGARDING CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS FOR REMANUFACTURED SHORT BLOCKS. *TT

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 Galant. 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 1990 Galant 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 1990 Galant have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 2.0L get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg.