LexusLS4001990Overview/lexus/ls400/1990/base/

1990 Lexus LS400

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 LS400.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Lexus LS400 is a flagship sedan that uses 5 qt of 10W‑30/5W‑30 API engine oil and is mated to a 4‑speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA fuel‑economy figures of 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. With only 24 total owner complaints and a single recall logged for the model year, its early reliability stands in stark contrast to the later peak of 68 complaints in 1994 and the eventual low of just two reports in 2001. Positioned at the beginning of the 1990‑2001 span, the 1990 LS400 benefits from the model’s comparatively low complaint count, indicating a solid start to the line’s long‑term dependability.

Model year200019991998199719961995199419931990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-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 90915YZZD3. 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 filter90915YZZD3
Engine air filter178015001083
Fuel filter2330050020
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades8521250041 alt 8522250030
Serpentine belt9091602586
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 1632562010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length196.9 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase110.6 in
Curb weight3768 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 22 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume98 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.9 Pints
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5 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 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 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel 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.

In the 1990‑2001 federal record, the 1990 LS400 logged 24 complaints, 1 recall, 0 investigations and 25 TSBs, placing it after the only prior year for which data exist (none) and before a dip to 8 complaints in 1992. Complaint volume then rose sharply to a peak of 68 in 1994 before declining to a low of 2 in 2001, showing a wave‑like trend across the generation. Recalls were absent from 1991‑1994, appeared twice in 19951997, and persisted at one per year thereafter, while investigations began only in 1997. For 1990 the leading complaint categories were Air Bags (5), Seat Belts (3), Structure (2) and Electrical System (2), with 6 crash‑related and 1 fire‑related complaints; the data do not specify the underlying causes of these issues. Given its modest complaint count, single early recall, and lack of investigations relative to the later high‑complaint years, the 1990 model represents a comparatively favorable year to buy, though prospective buyers should pay particular attention to air‑bag and seat‑belt components.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
25
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
24
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 24 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags5
Seat Belts3
Structure2
Electrical System2
Suspension,Engine & Engine Cooling,Fuel System, Gasoline,Power Train,Electrical System,Exterior Lighting,Visibility,Structure,Latches/Locks/Linkages1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Steering1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

89V212000Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:SwitchReported 04/12/1989

LAMP HOUSING OF CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP COULD BECOME DISTORTED AFTER PROLONGED ILLUMINATION, PARTICULARLY UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES. Remedy: REPLACE LAMP HOUSING WITH ONE OF HIGHER TEMPERATURE RESISTANT MATERIAL.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 25 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Safety Recall 222022-04-13EquipmentLexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Lexus PRO19-02 -2022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
Lexus Safety Re2020-05-01EquipmentSafety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
L-SB-0179-17 Obs2020-04-06EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
L-SB-0008-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: 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 LS400. 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 LS400 take?

5 qt of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 LS400 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the LS400 get?

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