ToyotaSupra1990Overview/toyota/supra/1990/base/

1990 Toyota Supra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 Supra.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Toyota Supra, built on a compact, rear‑wheel‑drive platform, is powered by a robust inline‑six that requires 4.7 quarts of 15W‑40 / 20W‑40 / 20W‑50 API oil and is mated to a smooth‑shifting automatic four‑speed; it delivers EPA‑rated 16/21/18 mpg city/highway/combined. With only four owner complaints recorded—chiefly for suspension issues—and no recalls, this model sits at the very bottom of the Supra’s long‑term reliability curve, the 1995 year marking the lowest complaint total (one), underscoring its relative durability in an era that later saw peaks of concern in 2021.

Model year199819971996199519941993199219911990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/21/18 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 90915YZZD1. 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 filter90915YZZD1
Engine air filter178017002083
Fuel filter2330049155
Spark plug9091901145 alt 909190112183
Front wiper blades85220YZZ20 alt 852203A050
Serpentine belt993652129083 alt 993642092083
Thermostat9091603078 alt 1634135010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length181.9 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height51.2 in
Wheelbase102.4 in
Curb weight3463 lb
Track (front / rear)58.3 / 57.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 21 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the Supra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.6–8.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.60 sec — 1993 Turbo Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989Turbo Hatchback Coupe 3.0L Turbo I-66.60 sec15.20 sec232 hpRWD
1989Turbo Hatchback Coupe 3.0L Turbo I-67.77 sec15.83 sec232 hpRWD
1991Turbo Hatchback Coupe 3.0L Turbo I-67.10 sec15.60 sec232 hpRWD
1991Turbo Hatchback Coupe 3.0L Turbo I-67.80 sec15.90 sec232 hpRWD
1987Turbo Hatchback Coupe 3.0L Turbo I-66.40 sec15.00 sec230 hpRWD
1987Turbo Hatchback Coupe 3.0L Turbo I-66.90 sec15.40 sec230 hpRWD
1993Turbo Coupe 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-64.60 sec13.10 sec320 hpRWD
1993Turbo Coupe 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-65.00 sec13.50 sec320 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.7 qt of 15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Engine OilABOVE 10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity4.7 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 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.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 30,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Spark Plugs (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 model opens this generation’s federal record with four complaints and zero recalls, establishing a low baseline that precedes the six complaints seen in 1991 and the ten-complaint peak of 1994 before volumes declined. Throughout the 1990–1998 arc, recall activity remained absent until 1997, placing the target year within an early window of minimal federal scrutiny supported by twenty-two technical service bulletins—fewer than the twenty-eight to thirty-one documented in the later Nineties. The complaint distribution splits evenly between suspension and air bag systems with three crash-related incidents, though the data does not specify root causes for these failures. With zero recalls, complaint counts well below the 1994 high-water mark, and stable technical service activity, the 1990 model year represents a favorable vintage and a sound candidate for purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
22
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
4
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Suspension2
Air Bags2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 22 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
T-SB-0304-17 Obs2020-04-07EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
PG004-97-Obsolet2018-08-31EquipmentTechnical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now…
PG006-01-Obsolet2018-08-31EquipmentTechnical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now…
T-SB-0304-17_Rev2018-07-31EquipmentTSB: REVISION NOTICE July 31, 2018 Rev2: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated…

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 Supra. 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 Supra take?

4.7 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40 API, 20W-40 API, 20W-50 API ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30 API, 10W-40 API, 10W-50 API, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 Supra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Supra get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg.