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1992 Acura NSX

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Acura NSX pairs its engine with a four-speed automatic transmission, calls for 5.3 quarts of 10W-30 API oil, and posts EPA fuel economy figures of 16 city, 22 highway, and 19 combined mpg. Sitting near the very start of a nameplate run that stretches from 1991 through 2021, this model year carries just two total owner complaints on file, with engine and engine cooling identified as the leading issue area. It has also been untouched by any recall campaigns, a spotless regulatory record that helps anchor its place in the model's long-term history. That places the 1992 firmly on the clean end of the complaint spectrum — well below the 2017 peak of six filings and within reach of the 1994 low of a single report — establishing it as a remarkably untroubled foundation year for the platform.

Model year2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2005 2004 1992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.3 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy16/22/19 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	173.6 in
Overall width	71.3 in
Overall height	46.1 in
Wheelbase	99.6 in
Curb weight	3009 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 22 / 19 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the NSX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.8–5.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.80 sec — 1997 T Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1991	Coupe 3.0L V6	5.20 sec	13.80 sec	270 hp	RWD
1991	Coupe 3.0L V6	5.50 sec	13.90 sec	270 hp	RWD
1991	Coupe 3.0L V6	5.50 sec	14.00 sec	270 hp	RWD
1994	Coupe 3.0L V6	5.20 sec	13.70 sec	270 hp	RWD
1995	T Coupe 3.0L V6	5.20 sec	13.80 sec	270 hp	RWD
1995	T Coupe 3.0L V6	5.70 sec	14.10 sec	270 hp	RWD
1996	T Coupe 3.0L V6	5.80 sec	14.30 sec	270 hp	RWD
1997	T Coupe 3.2L V6	4.80 sec	13.40 sec	290 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.3 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	3.1
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.3 qt
Power Steering Fluid	HONDA TYPE V OR EQUIVALENT

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.

Every 7,500 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 mi	Parking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (torque)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 45,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 90,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace) · Water Pump (inspect)

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 Acura NSX shows the lowest complaint count (2) of any year in the dataset and zero recalls, matching the modest 1‑complaint, zero‑recall pattern seen in later low‑volume years such as 1994 and 2001. Across the generation, complaints drop sharply after the 1991 peak of five, while recalls remain rare until a spike in 2017‑2018 (three recalls each) before tapering again. Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) are relatively high in 1992 (17) but decline steadily after 2001, reaching only 25 by 2021, indicating fewer documented service issues over time. Because 1992 sits at the early low‑complaint, zero‑recall point of this trend, it suggests a comparatively clean service history, making 1992 a solid year to consider for purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’91’92’94 ’01 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling1

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.

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 NSX. 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.

Vehicles taking 5.3 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 NSX take?

5.3 qt of 10W-30 SL, API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 NSX have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the NSX get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 22 highway / 19 combined mpg.