LexusLS4001991Overview/lexus/ls400/1991/base/

1991 Lexus LS400

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 LS400.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1991 Lexus LS400, equipped with a 5.6-quart oil capacity requiring 10W-30 or 5W-30 viscosity and a 4-speed automatic transmission, delivered EPA fuel economy of 16 city, 21 highway, and 18 combined mpg. With only 22 total owner complaints—the most common being related to the service brakes, hydraulic system—and zero recalls, this first-year model sits as a low-complaint entry in the LS400’s 1990–2001 history, notably below the 68 complaints recorded for the 1994 peak, underscoring its strong early reliability.

Model year200019991998199719961995199419931991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 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 90915YZZD3. 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 filter90915YZZD3
Engine air filter178015001083
Fuel filter2330050020
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades8521250041 alt 8522250030
Serpentine belt9091602586
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 1632562010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length196.9 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height55.5 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight3759 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 21 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume97 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.6 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.9 Pints
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.6 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 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.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (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 1991 model year registers 22 complaints, zero recalls, and 25 TSBs, placing it near the low end of the year-by-year federal record alongside the 1990 and 1992 model years, which posted 24 and 8 complaints respectively. While the 1990 model carried one recall, the 1991 and 1992 models recorded none, preceding a sharp escalation that saw complaints surge to 66 in 1993 and 68 in 1994 before recalls finally appeared in 1995. Relative to the broader arc—where later years accumulated multiple recalls, investigations, and as many as 59 TSBs by 1998—the 1991 model sits in an early, comparatively quiet window with minimal federal scrutiny. The data does not specify root causes for its top complaint areas, which include four service brake hydraulic filings and three air bag filings, alongside six crash-related and one fire-related complaint. Given its position before the pronounced mid-span complaint spike and its clean recall record, 1991 represents a structurally favorable year to acquire within this generation.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
25
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
22
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 22 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Air Bags3
Unknown Or Other2
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Unknown Or Other,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Seat Belts1
Steering,Electrical System1
Tires1

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 25 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Safety Recall 222022-04-13EquipmentLexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Lexus PRO19-02 -2022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
Lexus Safety Re2020-05-01EquipmentSafety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
L-SB-0179-17 Obs2020-04-06EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
L-SB-0008-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

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

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VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific LS400. 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 1991 LS400 take?

5.6 qt of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 LS400 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the LS400 get?

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