EagleTalon1990Overview/eagle/talon/1990/base/

1990 Eagle Talon

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

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Eagle Talon is a passenger‑car equipped with a four‑speed automatic transmission, an engine that takes 4.7 qt of oil with a filter and calls for 5W‑30 or 5W‑40 API viscosity, and it returns EPA estimates of 19 city/25 highway/21 combined mpg. In its first model year it logged 78 total owner complaints, with the power‑train category leading the reports and four recalls issued. Across the 1990‑1999 span the complaint count peaked at 251 in 1995 and dropped to just 1 by 1999, positioning the 1990 Talon early in the lifecycle with a moderate complaint level that is well below the mid‑run peak but above the final‑year low.

Model year1993199219911990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.7 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/25/21 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172.4 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height52 in
Wheelbase97.2 in
Curb weight2712 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 25 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-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 4.7 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 / 5W-40 API engine oil, 85W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil85W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.5 pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity4.7 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt w/ filter
Power Steering FluidATF

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 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 50,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Timing 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 1990 Eagle Talon recorded 78 complaints, 4 recalls, 3 investigations, and 7 TSBs. The primary complaint areas for this model year were the Power Train with 41 reports and Engine & Engine Cooling with 17, while 4 fire complaints and 0 crash complaints were noted. Compared to the subsequent year, 1990 had fewer complaints than 1991's 114, though it exceeds the complaint volumes seen from 1992 through 1994. Looking at the broader generation, the record shows a massive spike in issues peaking in 1995 with 251 complaints and 60 TSBs, placing the 1990 model in a period of relative stability. Given that it avoids the extreme volatility of the mid-to-late 1990s, this is a good year to buy.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
7
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
78
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 4 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 78 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train41
Engine & Engine Cooling17
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Seat Belts3
Visibility2
Structure2
Suspension2
Engine & Engine Cooling,Tires,Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

90V106001Visibility:WindshieldReported 01/06/1990

DILUTED PRIMER MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE WINDSHIELD OPENING FLANGES PRIOR TO WINDSHIELD GLASS INSTALLATION WHICH WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE RETENTION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 212. Remedy: REPLACE WINDSHIELDS, ASSOCIATED PARTS, AND PRIMER.

98V069002Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 07/04/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
0800600REV2000-12-29Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB
2300800B2000-11-24SeatsSUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT
2308002000-03-03SeatsSUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT
0806002000-02-25Electrical SystemTHIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT
233599REVA1999-10-01StructureSUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS

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 Talon. 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 Talon take?

4.7 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API, 5W-40 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 Talon have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Talon get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined mpg.