SuzukiSidekick1991Overview/suzuki/sidekick/1991/base/

1991 Suzuki Sidekick

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

Body SUVTransmission Manual 5-spd

The 1991 Suzuki Sidekick is a compact SUV that, despite its modest dimensions, offered the practicality of a five-speed manual transmission paired with a powertrain requiring 4.5 quarts of oil with viscosity specifications ranging from 15W-40 to 10W-40 API grade, and achieved EPA fuel economy ratings of 22 city, 24 highway, and 23 combined mpg. In its second model year, the Sidekick's reliability profile was already taking shape, with only 17 owner complaints logged against a single recall—significantly lower than the model's eventual peak of 81 complaints in 1996, though not yet approaching the near-zero complaint levels of its later years. This positions the 1991 model as a relatively trouble-free entry in the Sidekick's production span, with seat belts emerging as the primary concern among early owners, suggesting that while the vehicle was not without issues, it represented a reasonably dependable iteration of what would become a notably durable nameplate over the following decade.

Model year1995199419931992199119901989

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 15W-50 / 10W-40 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy22/24/23 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length142.5 in
Overall width64.2 in
Overall height65.4 in
Wheelbase86.6 in
Curb weight2282 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 24 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 15W-40 / 15W-50 / 10W-40 API engine oil, 75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine Oil15W-40 · 15W-50 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-50 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-4
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity3.6 Pints

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 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.

At 7,500 miBrake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEGR Valve (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace)
Every 60,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
At 90,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miCatalytic Converter (inspect)
At 105,000 miFuel 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 1991 Suzuki Sidekick sits near the start of this generation's federal record, with 17 complaints, 1 recall, 3 investigations, and 6 TSBs. That complaint count is more than triple the 5 logged in 1990, yet it remains far below the escalation that follows: 29 complaints in 19941995 and a peak of 81 in 1996. Its 3 investigations are the highest single-year total in the dataset, while the lone recall matches several other years. The leading complaint area is seat belts, accounting for 10 of the year's 17 complaints, followed by tires and fuel system with 2 each; there were 2 fire-related complaints and no crash-related complaints. Overall, 1991 appears to be an early, relatively low-volume year before the generation's later complaint surge, though the seat-belt concentration and elevated investigation count warrant scrutiny.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
6
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
17
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 17 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Seat Belts10
Tires2
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Child Seat1
Structure1
Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103008Seat 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 6 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
N-Q-G-0452018-11-20SuspensionThis Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki…
TS 002 051671999-01-01EquipmentINFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OPERATOR'S MANUALS FOR TECH 1-A CARTRIDGES. *TT
9573L30011995-04-01Power TrainTORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH (TCC) CHUGGLE/HUNTING CONDITION.*SD
TS30505113R1993-01-01Power TrainMODIFICATION OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERNAL PARTS. *TW
TS41304063R1993-01-01Engine And Engine CoolingMODIFICATION OF INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THERMOSTAT. *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 Sidekick. 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 Sidekick take?

4.5 qt of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 15W-40 OR 15W-50 API, ABOVE -4 degrees F: 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API, -4 degrees F TO 86 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 86 degrees F: 5W-30 API (STARBURS, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Sidekick have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Sidekick get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 24 highway / 23 combined mpg.