MitsubishiGalant19912.0L/mitsubishi/galant/1991/2-0l/

1991 Mitsubishi Galant — 2.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Galant 2.0L. Covers both the standard and High Output 2.0L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.0LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1991 Mitsubishi Galant 2.0L is a passenger‑car that employs a dedicated platform and a 2.0‑liter engine paired with an automatic four‑speed transmission. It requires 4.0 qt of oil that must meet 20W‑40 / 10W‑30 / 5W‑30 API specifications and achieves EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. In its early‑generation history the model records only 73 total owner complaints and two recalls, placing the 1991 year near the low end of the 1990‑2012 complaint spectrum, though later years such as 1994 reached 263 complaints. Thus, the 1991 Galant represents a relatively stable early phase of the lineup before the later spike in reported issues.

Model year19931992199119901989

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/25/21 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 MD136466. 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 filterMD136466 alt MZ690116
Engine air filterMD620336 alt MR571477
Fuel filterMB504761
Spark plugMS851238 alt MS851881
Front wiper bladesMZ693015 alt MZ690946
Serpentine beltMD178429 alt MD186126
ThermostatMD997608 alt MD972903

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 25 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume94 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent published road-test results.

7.0–7.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.00 sec — 1991 VR-4 Sedan
237 hpHorsepower (as tested)
228 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991VR-4 Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.60 sec237 hpAWD
1991VR-4 Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.60 sec237 hpAWD
1991VR-4 Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-47.90 sec15.80 sec237 hpAWD
1990GSX Sedan 2.0L I-49.40 sec17.10 sec195 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 85W-90 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil85W-90 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.8 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 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; 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) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 50,000 miFuel Filter (replace) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBalance Shaft Drive Belt (replace) · 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.

In 1991 the Galant recorded 73 complaints, 2 recalls, 4 investigations, and 15 TSBSs—an uptick from the 24 complaints and 1 recall of 1990, but still far lower than the 263 complaints and 6 recalls of 1994. The recall trend for the generation peaked in the mid‑1990s, with 7 recalls in 1995, but dropped to single digits thereafter, while complaints spiked again in 1999–2000. The 1991 model sits in the early rise of the complaint arc, indicating a period of emerging issues before the later surge. Power Train issues dominated the complaints (39 of the 73), with electrical and brake concerns also present. With only one crash‑related and one fire complaint, the data does not point to catastrophic failures, but the higher complaint count suggests some reliability concerns. Overall, 1991 is a borderline year: it may be a good buy if the vehicle has been well maintained, but buyers should scrutinize the powertrain and electrical components carefully.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
15
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
73
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 73 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train39
Electrical System8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic8
Engine & Engine Cooling7
Seat Belts3
Visibility3
Steering1
Suspension,Power Train,Equipment1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

98V168000Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 22/07/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 15 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TT2672022-04-07Unknown Or OtherTech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics…
TSB-21-00-0102021-04-23EquipmentThis Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to provide instructions and Material…
TIN-21-00-0032021-03-15EquipmentThis Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers reminding them of the importance of…
TT-20-00-0022020-08-28Electrical SystemTech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics…
TIN-20-42A-0012020-08-13StructureThis Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing that MMNA has recently…

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 Galant. 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 1991 Galant 2.0L take?

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

Does the 1991 Galant have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 2.0L get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined mpg.