ToyotaTercel1990Overview/toyota/tercel/1990/base/

1990 Toyota Tercel

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

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1990 Toyota Tercel, a subcompact offered with a 3-speed automatic transmission and requiring 2.7 quarts of 15W-40, 20W-40, or 20W-50 oil, delivered EPA-rated fuel economy of 25 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined. With only 22 total owner complaints on file—the most common concerning the engine and engine cooling system—and a single recall, this model year sits early in the Tercel’s 1990–2000 complaint history, a period that saw a peak of 59 complaints in 1995 and a low of just one in 2000, marking the 1990 as a relatively trouble-free entry in the nameplate’s reliability record.

Model year199819971996199519941993199219911990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity2.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy25/29/27 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 90915YZZN1. 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 filter90915YZZN1
Engine air filter1780163010 alt 178011003083
Fuel filter2330019235 alt 2330025020
Spark plug9091901091
Front wiper blades85220YZZ20 alt 85220YZZ17
Serpentine belt909160233283 alt 993655091083
Thermostat9091603046 alt 1632563011

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length157.5 in
Overall width64.2 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase93.7 in
Curb weight1969 lb
Track (front / rear)54.7 / 54.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined25 / 29 / 27 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
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 Tercel of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.4–11.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.40 sec — 1995 DX Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991LE Sedan 1.5L I-411.10 sec18.20 sec82 hpFWD
1992Coupe 1.5L I-411.10 sec18.20 sec82 hpFWD
1995DX Coupe 1.5L I-410.40 sec17.50 sec93 hpFWD
1995DX Sedan 1.5L I-411.20 sec18.40 sec93 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 2.7 qt of 15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine OilABOVE 10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity2.7 qt
Engine OilABOVE 10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity2.7 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; 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 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miFuel 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 1990 model year registers 22 federal complaints, matching 1991 as the low baseline before a sustained climb that peaks at 59 complaints in 1995 and does not return to comparable volumes until 1997. Across this generation, the federal record shows a clear arc: TSBs trend upward from 25 in 1990 to a high of 52 in 1998, while complaints rise from 22 to a peak of 59 in 1995 before declining, and recalls disappear from 1991 through 1994 only to intensify to two per year from 1995 to 1997, placing 1990 at the front end before the mid-generation surge. That year carries one recall, zero investigations, and 25 TSBs, with top complaint categories being Engine & Engine Cooling (7) and Fuel System, Gasoline (4), alongside four crash-related and four fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify underlying causes. Relative to the elevated complaints and recalls that define 1993–1997, 1990’s federal footprint is among the lightest of the generation. Given its position before the steepest escalation, a 1990 Tercel is a comparatively favorable choice for this generation.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
25
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
22
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 4 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 22 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling7
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Electrical System2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Seats2
Unknown Or Other1
Exterior Lighting1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

92V111000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 13/07/1992

THERE CAN BE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING IF HEADLAMP BULBS ARE REPLACED WITH ANY BRAND OTHER THAN KOITO BRAND BULBS. Remedy: TOYOTA DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW KOITO BRAND BULB WITH NO CHARGE IF A NON-KOITO BRAND BULB IS NOW INSTALLED, OR SHOULD A HEADLAMP BULB BURN OUT IN THE FUTURE. "CAUTION LABELS"…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 25 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB0032202023-08-17Air BagsTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
T-SB-0032-20 Rev2021-02-03EquipmentTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
T-SB-0304-17 Obs2020-04-07EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
T-SB-0032-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: 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

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

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

2.7 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40 API, 20W-40 API, 20W-50 API ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30 API, 10W-40 API, 10W-50 API, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 Tercel have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Tercel get?

EPA figures are 25 city / 29 highway / 27 combined mpg.