HyundaiElantra1992Overview/hyundai/elantra/1992/base/

1992 Hyundai Elantra

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

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Hyundai Elantra debuted as a passenger car whose engine required 4.2 quarts of oil, paired exclusively with a four-speed automatic and EPA ratings of 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg, with manufacturer-recommended viscosities of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-30 API. In that inaugural model year the Elantra drew only 38 owner complaints — led by electrical system concerns — and was issued zero recalls, a notably clean start. That early footprint sits comfortably at the low end of the model's documented 1992–2026 complaint arc, well below the 2013 peak of 1,325 reports and close to the 2025 low of 21, reinforcing the debut generation's status as one of the more dependable entries in a broadly uneven reliability history.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920181992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/26/22 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length171.7 in
Overall width66.1 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase98.4 in
Curb weight2524 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 26 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume12 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 Elantra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.0–8.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.00 sec — 2002 GT 5-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2000GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.30 sec16.60 sec140 hpFWD
2001GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.40 sec16.50 sec140 hpFWD
2002GT 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-48.00 sec16.30 sec135 hpFWD
2002GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.50 sec16.70 sec138 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
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 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 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
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) · Rack & Pinion Assembly (inspect)
Every 52,500 miFuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miTiming 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 1992 Elantra opens the generation with the lowest complaint volume (38) and no recalls, a stark contrast to the sharp escalation seen in 1994 (97 complaints, 1 recall) and 1995 (151 complaints, 1 recall), indicating that later years of this first-generation arc suffered from more widespread and documented issues. While the target year’s complaint count is modest, the top areas—electrical system, power train, and engine cooling—along with 4 fire complaints and 1 crash complaint, suggest potential safety concerns that the data does not link to a specific root cause or recall. The absence of recalls for 1992 means no systemic defects were officially acknowledged, but the rising trend in subsequent years implies that problems may have surfaced as the vehicles aged. For a buyer, the 1992 Elantra appears to be the most reliable year of its generation by the numbers, yet the fire complaints warrant a thorough inspection of the electrical and engine systems before purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
14
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
38
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 4 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 38 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System7
Power Train7
Engine & Engine Cooling6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Suspension2
Seat Belts2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Visibility1

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 14 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
23-BD-002H2023-01-30VisibilityThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
21-EM-003H2021-03-10Engine And Engine CoolingThis bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain…
20-BR-002H2020-11-30Service BrakesThis bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear…
20-SS-004H2020-11-19WheelsThis bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize…
20-EE-003H2020-04-23EquipmentThis bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: •…

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 Elantra. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 1992 Elantra take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SM, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SM, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Elantra have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Elantra get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.