Mitsubishi3000GT19923.0L/mitsubishi/3000gt/1992/3-0l/

1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT — 3.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 3000GT 3.0L. Covers both the standard and High Output 3.0L.

Engine 3.0LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT is a 3.0‑liter, four‑door sports coupe built on Mitsubishi’s contemporary platform and equipped with a four‑speed automatic transmission, a 4.2‑quart oil capacity and the option of 20W‑40, 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 API‑rated oils, while delivering EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. Its power‑train was the most frequently cited source of owner dissatisfaction, accounting for 117 complaints—the highest tally recorded for any model year in the 1991‑2002 span and prompting three official recalls. Consequently, the 1992 model sits at the peak of the 3000GT’s reliability curve, indicating that researchers should treat its power‑train data as a critical reference point when evaluating the series’ overall durability.

Model year199919981997199619951994199319921991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/22/18 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 MD136790. 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.

Tire size4WD:P225-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMD136790
Engine air filterMR571471
Fuel filterMB658136
Spark plugMS851336
Front wiper blades8250A174 alt MR300876
Serpentine beltMZ690263 alt MD172376
Thermostat1305A603

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 22 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

No 1992 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

4.8–5.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.80 sec — 1997 VR-4 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993VR-4 Coupe 3.0L Twin-Turbo V65.60 sec14.10 sec300 hpAWD
1994VR-4 Coupe 3.0L Twin-Turbo V64.90 sec13.50 sec320 hpAWD
1995VR-4 Coupe 3.0L Twin-Turbo V65.40 sec13.50 sec320 hpAWD
1996VR-4 Spyder 3.0L Twin-Turbo V65.40 sec14.00 sec320 hpAWD
1996VR-4 Coupe 3.0L Twin-Turbo V65.70 sec14.30 sec320 hpAWD
1996VR-4 Spyder 3.0L Twin-Turbo V65.80 sec14.40 sec320 hpAWD
1997VR-4 Coupe 3.0L Twin-Turbo V64.80 sec13.60 sec320 hpAWD

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 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 85W-90 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil85W-90 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.8 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Power Steering FluidUse Mitsubishi PS fluid

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 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (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) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 50,000 miFuel System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBalance Shaft Drive Belt (replace) · Spark 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 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT recorded the highest complaint count in the provided federal record at 117, a sharp rise from 63 in 1991, and far above the declining figures that follow—75 in 1994, down to single digits by 2001. This peak in complaints aligns with a broader early-generation trend: recalls and investigations were also elevated in 1991–1992 (5 and 3 recalls, 3 and 2 investigations, respectively) before tapering off, while technical service bulletins (TSBs) climbed steadily from 11 in 1991 to a peak of 40 in 1997, suggesting the manufacturer was actively addressing issues over time. The 1992 model’s top complaint areas are power train (69 complaints) and seat belts (27), though the data does not specify root causes for these. Positioned at the start of this arc, the 1992 year represents a high-water mark for owner-reported problems before subsequent improvements. Given its outlier complaint volume and the fact that later years show significantly fewer issues, the 1992 3000GT is a riskier buy compared to later models in the generation.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
22
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
117
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 117 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train69
Seat Belts27
Suspension4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Power Train,Electrical System1
Power Train,Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

02V143001Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)Reported 14/05/2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A CONDITION EXISTS THAT ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSFER CASE FOR INDICATIONS OF OIL LEAKAGE OR DAMAGE. VEHICLES THAT HAVE OIL LEAKAGE WILL HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE RESEALED AND RE-FILL THE TRANSFER CASE…

96V143002Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 12/08/1996

UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 22 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TT2532019-11-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-19-00-0082019-07-30EquipmentThis is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes…
TT2372018-02-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-13-42A-0022013-01-29StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section…
942003-06-01Power Train5-SPEED TRANSFER CASE ASSEMBLY IDENTIFICATION. *TT

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 3000GT. 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 1992 3000GT 3.0L take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 API, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 60 degrees F 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 3000GT have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.0L get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.