AcuraIntegra1990Overview/acura/integra/1990/base/

1990 Acura Integra

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

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Acura Integra appears as a passenger car fitted with an automatic 4‑speed transmission and an engine that calls for 3.9 quarts of 5W‑30 API SG oil. Its EPA fuel‑economy rating is recorded at 20/24/22 mpg, a figure that reflects its modest efficiency. In the broader complaint record that covers 1990 to 2026, the 1990 model year accounts for 37 total owner complaints, with seat belts as the primary concern and 12 recalls, and its early position is followed by a peak of 206 complaints in 2023 before dropping to just one complaint by 2026, indicating that reliability evolved significantly over the model’s life.

Model year202620242023200120001999199819971990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 API SGOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/24/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

Tire size2 DOOR and 4 DOOR: P195-55VR15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim2 DOOR: 6-JJ, 4 DOOR and 2 DOOR OPTIONAL: 5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172.8 in
Overall width67.3 in
Overall height52.4 in
Wheelbase100.4 in
Curb weight2515 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 24 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume85 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 road tests for the Integra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.60 sec — 1990 GS Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1990GS Sedan 1.8L I-48.60 sec16.30 sec130 hpFWD
1992GS-R Coupe 1.7L I-46.80 sec15.40 sec160 hpFWD
1992GS-R Coupe 1.7L I-47.90 sec16.20 sec160 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.9 qt of 5W-30 API SG engine oil, 80W-90 · API in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.2
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · API
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.9 qt
Power Steering FluidHONDA TYPE V OR EQUIVALENT

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR12
Refrigerant Capacity1.85-2.10 lbs
Oil TypeDenso 6
Oil Capacity2.00-3.40 oz

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; 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 Linings (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miParking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (torque)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDistributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel 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 1990 Integra registered 37 complaints, 12 recalls, two investigations, and ten total safety bulletins, which is higher than the 1992–1993 averages but lower than the spike seen in 1994. Compared to the preceding year (1991, 40 complaints, 11 recalls) and the following year (1992, 30 complaints, 9 recalls), 1990 sits near the top of the early‑generation trend, indicating a period of relatively frequent issues. The complaint focus in 1990 centers on seat belts (10), power train (6), service brakes (5), and steering (3), with only two crash complaints and one fire complaint, suggesting that safety‑related incidents were comparatively low. Across the generation, recalls steadily declined after the 1990 peak, while complaints and TSBs fluctuated but generally decreased, showing a gradual improvement in vehicle reliability. Thus, while 1990 had the highest complaint count of the early years, it also had the lowest crash and fire complaints, making it a cautiously acceptable year if you can verify that earlier recall items were addressed.

12
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
10
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
37
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 37 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts10
Power Train6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5
Steering3
Visibility2
Tires2
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Suspension2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 11 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

06E060000Exterior LightingReported 29/06/2006

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 10 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SB-07082010-11-01TiresACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE…
8012001-08-16Fuel System, GasolineSUBJECT REGARDING ALL MODELS GAS CAP LEAK TEST FAILURES WITH CAM-ON CAP. *YD
900091998-09-08Power TrainSERVICE BULLETING REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN-WARRANTY EXCHANGE PROGRAM. *YC
900091997-12-16Power TrainSUBJECT ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN-WARRANTY EXCHANGE PROGRAM. *TT
90014R1997-01-28SuspensionREAR TRAILING ARM BUSHING NOISE. *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 Integra. 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 Integra take?

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

Does the 1990 Integra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Integra get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 24 highway / 22 combined mpg.