MitsubishiPrecis1989Overview/mitsubishi/precis/1989/base/

1989 Mitsubishi Precis

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 Precis.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1989 Mitsubishi Precis is a compact sedan built on Mitsubishi’s mid‑size platform and powered by an engine that requires 3.2 qt of oil—available in 20W‑40, 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 viscosities—and mated to a three‑speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA fuel‑economy figures of 23 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. While overall owner feedback is modest, with only seven complaints recorded and three recalls, the most frequent issue centers on the engine and its cooling system. Within the broader 19901994 complaint window, the model saw its peak grievance count in 1991 (15 complaints) and a low of just one complaint in 1992, positioning the 1989 Precis as a relatively reliable year in the generation’s history, albeit one that warrants attention to its cooling‑system durability.

Model year19941993199219911990198919881987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/29/26 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 2630035500. 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 filter2630035500
Spark plugMS851238

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 29 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume82 cu ft
Cargo volume11 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 3.2 qt of 20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.2 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 at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 15,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 15,000 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.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
At 15,000 miThrottle Position Sensor (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Choke System (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · Oxygen Sensor (replace) · PCV System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miTiming 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 1989 Mitsubishi Precis sits at the front of the generation, with the federal record beginning in 1990. While no total complaint count is provided for 1989, the top areas—engine and engine cooling (2 complaints) and electrical system (2 complaints)—mirror the kinds of issues that would later surface more broadly. The year-by-year data shows a sharp spike to 15 complaints in 1991, followed by a decline to just 1 in 1992, indicating that the 1989 model year likely predates the peak of reported problems. Recalls remained steady at 1–2 per year across the generation, and investigations were only active in 1990 and 1991, suggesting that the 1989 model avoided the scrutiny that later years attracted. However, the presence of one crash and one fire complaint for 1989, though low in absolute terms, warrants attention given the vehicle's age. Overall, the 1989 Precis appears to be a relatively quiet year before a known uptick in complaints, making it a potentially acceptable choice if a thorough inspection of the engine and electrical systems is performed.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
4
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
7
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 7 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling2
Electrical System2
Seats1
Visibility1
Suspension1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

91V225000Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust SystemReported 31/12/1991

DETERIORATION OF THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY MAY LEAD TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SECONDARY AIR SUPPLY PORTION OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE SCREWS WHICH ATTACH THE REEDS TO THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY MAY RUST, AND… Remedy: REPLACE THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY WITH ONE WHOSE METAL COMPONENTS ARE FABRICATED FROM CORROSION RESISTANT STAINLESS STEEL.

95V059000Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater CoreReported 22/03/1995

VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE THOSE THAT HAD THE HEATER VALVE STEMS REPLACED IN AN EARLIER MITSUBISHI RECALL (94V-103.001). CERTAIN VEHICLES HAD AN INCORRECT VALVE STEM INSTALLED WHICH COULD CAUSE THE INCORRECT STEM TO LEAK… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE INCORRECT VALVE STEMS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 4 of 4 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…

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 Precis. 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 1989 Precis take?

3.2 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 1989 Precis have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Precis get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 29 highway / 26 combined mpg.