DodgeColt19921.8L/dodge/colt/1992/1-8l/
B8 platform

1992 Dodge Colt — 1.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Colt 1.8L.

Engine 1.8LTransmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1992 Dodge Colt 1.8L rides on the B8 platform with a 1.8-liter engine and three-speed automatic transmission, requiring 4 quarts of 20W-40, 10W-30, or 10W-40 API oil with filter and carrying EPA ratings of 24/29/26 mpg. Within the 1990-1996 model run, this year generated only 15 owner complaints—far below the 1993 peak of 120 yet above the 1996 low of 2—placing it among the more stable early examples preceding the 1993 spike in reported issues. With two recalls on record and seat belts identified as the top complaint area, the 1992 model offers researchers a comparatively quiet data point in a generation marked by significant variance in defect reporting.

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 10W-30 / 10W-40 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy24/29/26 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 05142416AC. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug, front wiper blades, serpentine belt and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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 filter05142416AC
Engine air filterMR571477 discontinued
Fuel filterMB504762 discontinued
Spark plug68304142AA discontinued · alt MS851418
Front wiper bladesMB859050 discontinued · alt MB859105
Serpentine beltMD185961 discontinued · alt 05096313AA
ThermostatMD972903 discontinued · alt MD184011

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length157.5 in
Overall width63.8 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase93.7 in
Curb weight1984 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 29 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume10 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt w/ filter of 20W-40 / 10W-30 / 10W-40 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 10W-50 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil20W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 10W-50 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity4.7 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 30,000 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) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 miFuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

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 Dodge Colt occupies a relatively calm midpoint in this generation's federal record, with 15 complaints marking a decline from 1991's 22 and a dramatic contrast to 1993's explosion of 120. Recalls ticked up to two—matching 1993 as the highest in the dataset—suggesting NHTSA was actively addressing safety issues that year, though the data does not specify root causes. Investigations, meanwhile, declined to two, the lowest alongside 1996's zero, and TSBs held steady at five, indicating manufacturer technical awareness was neither lagging nor surging. The dominant complaint area for 1992 is Seat Belts (7 of 15 complaints), followed by Engine & Engine Cooling (3), with zero crash or fire complaints on record. The generation arc shows a stable early period (1990–1992), a severe 1993 spike of unclear origin in the data, and a return to low volumes thereafter, placing the target year just before the storm rather than within it. For a used buyer, 1992 represents one of the safer model years in this generation—complaint volume is moderate, recalls suggest proactive correction, and it avoids the 1993 outlier entirely—making it a reasonable purchase provided the seat belt assemblies have been inspected or replaced.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
5
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
15
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 15 complaints on record, top 7 components.

Seat Belts7
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Visibility1
Suspension1
Latches/Locks/Linkages1
Steering1
Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

97V073002Seat Belts:Front:AnchorageReported 12/05/1997

THE GUIDE RAIL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTAINS A COVERED CABLE AND ALSO AN ANGLED BELT GUIDE AT THE TOP END OF THE WEBBING. THE COMBINATION OF THESE FACTORS CAN LEAD, OVER TIME, TO THE CABLE'S MOVEMENT EXERTING ABRADING… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REPLACEMENT GUIDE RAIL THAT INCORPORATES A DOUBLE LIP DUST SEAL AND AN ANODIC OXIDE COATING.

97V063002Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:LatchReported 12/05/1997

EXCESS LUBRICATION CAN CAUSE THE RUBBER DOOR LATCH SWITCH COVER TO DEFORM, AND THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH TO MALFUNCTION, SO THAT THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE WOULD REMAIN AT THE A-PILLAR WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH WITH A SWITCH THAT UTILIZES REDUCED LUBRICATING GREASE, IMPROVED CONTACT SURFACE, AND A DIFFERENT RUBBER ISOLATION BOOT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
0800600REV2000-12-29Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB
2308002000-03-03SeatsSUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT
0806002000-02-25Electrical SystemTHIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT
233599REVA1999-10-01StructureSUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS
2110931993-03-01Power TrainSHIFT CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE REVISION. *TW

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 Colt. 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 Colt 1.8L take?

4 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 SL, API, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30 OR 10W-40 OR 10W-50 SL, API, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30, 5W-40 SL, API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Colt have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 1.8L get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 29 highway / 26 combined mpg.