MitsubishiCordia19882.0L/mitsubishi/cordia/1988/2-0l/

1988 Mitsubishi Cordia — 2.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Cordia 2.0L.

Engine 2.0LTransmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1988 Mitsubishi Cordia 2.0L comes equipped with a 2.0‑liter inline‑four paired with a three‑speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA‑rated fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. It requires 3.7 quarts of engine oil, with acceptable viscosities ranging from 20W‑20 to 20W‑40 to 20W‑50. Reliability data show only five owner complaints, the most frequent concerning seat belts, and a single recall, positioning this year as a notably trouble‑free entry in the Cordia’s history.

Model year19881987198619851984

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/23/22 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 MZ690116. 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.

Tire size4WD:P225-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMZ690116
Engine air filterMD607648 alt MD604953
Fuel filterMB348547 alt MB129591
Spark plugMS851239 alt MS851188
Front wiper bladesMB382232
Serpentine beltMD074251 alt MD178431
ThermostatMD972903 alt MD184011

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 23 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt
Power Steering FluidUse Mitsubishi PS fluid

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 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Jet Valve (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBalance Shaft Drive Belt (replace) · Clutch Hydraulic System (drain & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Timing Belt (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.

Owner complaints about the 1988 Mitsubishi Cordia dominate in one area — the seat belts, 3 of 5 reports (60%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the seat belts are also the target of recall 95V-103 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the seat belts pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
5
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 5 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Seat Belts3
Suspension1
Wheels1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103004Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 24/05/1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY. Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TT2532019-11-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-19-00-0082019-07-30EquipmentThis is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes…
TT2372018-02-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-13-42A-0022013-01-29StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section…
TSB97110031997-05-01Unknown Or OtherVALVE LASH ADJUSTER PROCEDURES - SERVICE MANUAL 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 Cordia. 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 1988 Cordia 2.0L take?

3.7 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-20, 20W-40, 20W-50, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40, 10W-50, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-20, 5W-30, 5W-40, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 Cordia have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 2.0L get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 23 highway / 22 combined mpg.