Oldsmobile›Custom Cruiser›1992›Overview/oldsmobile/custom-cruiser/1992/base/

1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Custom Cruiser.

The 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, which requires 4 qt of 5W-30 API oil, occupies a distinct position in the 1991-1994 model complaint history as the year with the highest reported issues. This vintage accumulated 17 total owner complaints, marking the peak of the generation's reliability concerns with Seat Belts identified as the top complaint area alongside 3 recalls. For researchers evaluating long-term dependability, this spike contrasts significantly with the subsequent 1993 model year, which dropped to the lowest recorded count of just 1 complaint.

Model year1992 1991 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1979

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12708762. Note the factory engine air filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter	12708762
Engine air filter	25097919 discontinued
Fuel filter	25121468
Spark plug	19302741
Front wiper blades	25689175 discontinued
Serpentine belt	12637202
Thermostat	10207373 alt 10105135

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.3 qt
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt

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; 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.

At 7,500 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (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 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser marks a notable spike in consumer complaints within its generation, jumping to 17 from just 6 in 1991, while recalls remained steady at three—identical to the prior year. This sharp increase in complaints, particularly in seat belts (5) and hydraulic brakes (4), suggests emerging reliability concerns that did not trigger formal investigations but were significant enough to prompt multiple technical service bulletins (TSBs). The years immediately following, 1993 and 1994, saw a dramatic decline in complaints (dropping to 1 and 4, respectively) and no recalls, indicating that the issues surfacing in 1992 were either resolved or isolated to that model year. Fire-related complaints (3) and a single crash-related report in 1992 further underscore the year’s relative outlier status in terms of owner-reported problems. While the data does not specify root causes, the concentration of complaints in critical safety systems—seat belts and brakes—raises red flags for potential buyers. **Takeaway: The 1992 Custom Cruiser is a riskier choice than its adjacent model years, and thorough pre-purchase inspection of the braking and seat belt systems is strongly advised.**

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 3 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’91’92’93 ’94

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 17 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts5

Service Brakes, Hydraulic4

Electrical System2

Air Bags2

Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1

Service Brakes, Air1

Seats1

Seat Belts,Seats1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07E088000EquipmentReported 24/10/2007

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

91V186000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:LatchReported 29/10/1991

SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES CAN CORRODE, CAUSING A HIGH LATCH RELEASE EFFORT AND POSSIBLY PREVENTING THE HOOD FROM LATCHING PROPERLY WHEN IT IS CLOSED. Remedy: INSTALL A NEW SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
130089009	2013-09-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
020730024A	2005-08-01	Power Train	DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY…
438206A	1995-06-01	Visibility	UNKNOWN
438206	1994-12-01	Visibility	WIPER CHATTER DURING COLD WEATHER. *TW

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 Custom Cruiser. 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.

Vehicles taking 4 qt Engine oil filter 12708762 Engine air filter 25097919 Fuel filter 25121468 Spark plug 19302741

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Custom Cruiser take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Custom Cruiser have open recalls?

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