AcuraVigor1992Overview/acura/vigor/1992/base/

1992 Acura Vigor

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

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Acura Vigor is a passenger car that came equipped with a 4.5-quart engine requiring 5W-30 API oil and was paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, achieving EPA ratings of 18/23/20 mpg across city/highway/combined driving. Among the three-model-year Vigor generation (1992-1994), the 1992 model experienced the highest owner complaint activity with 17 total complaints—none of which resulted in recalls—with air bags cited as the primary concern. Notably, complaint levels declined substantially over the production run, with the 1994 model recording just 3 complaints, suggesting improved owner satisfaction as the platform matured.

Model year199419931992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/23/20 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.2 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height53.9 in
Wheelbase110.2 in
Curb weight3150 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 23 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume86 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.70 sec — 1991 LS Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991LS Sedan 2.5L I-57.70 sec16.10 sec176 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · API in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.6
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · API
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings24 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 54, MT: 76 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9 ft-lbs

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4922 ft. lbs

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 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miParking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (torque)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Antilock Brake System (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBrake Line (replace) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 90,000 miTiming 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 Vigor, as the inaugural model year, records the highest complaint volume of the generation at 17 alongside 10 technical service bulletins before both metrics decline sharply to five complaints and eight TSBs in 1993 and just three complaints with one TSB in 1994. No recalls or investigations were opened for any model year in the federal record. The 1992 complaint distribution shows air bags and visibility each drawing three reports, followed by engine and engine cooling with two and service brakes hydraulic with one; the data does not specify root causes for these categories. Notably, the 1992 model year also logged six crash-related complaints and four fire-related complaints, the only years with such figures provided. This concentration of early-production issues suggests the 1992 Vigor bears higher regulatory scrutiny than its successors. Buyers should weigh this elevated complaint and TSB profile against the absence of recalls, but the data indicates 1992 is the most problematic year of the generation to purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
10
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
17
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 4 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 17 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags3
Visibility3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Power Train1
Steering,Equipment1
Unknown Or Other1
Equipment1

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 Vigor. 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 Vigor take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 SL, API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Vigor have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Vigor get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined mpg.