Nissan240SX1990Overview/nissan/240sx/1990/base/

1990 Nissan 240SX

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 240SX.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Nissan 240SX is a passenger car equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, requiring 3.4 quarts of 5W-30 API SM engine oil and delivering EPA fuel economy ratings of 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined. Within the model’s 1990–1998 complaint history, this debut year accumulated 47 owner complaints—far fewer than the 1995 peak of 76 but well above the 1998 low of just 1—with the fuel system being the most frequently cited area, alongside a single recall, positioning the 1990 240SX as a moderately reliable entry that foreshadows the later variability in the model’s ownership experience.

Model year199819971996199519941993199219911990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 API SMOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/23/20 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 23 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the 240SX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.9–10.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.90 sec — 1992 SE Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989SE Coupe 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.40 sec140 hpRWD
1989SE Coupe 2.4L I-49.50 sec17.00 sec140 hpRWD
1991SE Coupe 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.60 sec140 hpRWD
1992SE Coupe 2.4L I-47.90 sec16.20 sec155 hpRWD
1992SE Convertible 2.4L I-410.60 sec18.10 sec155 hpRWD
1993Coupe 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.50 sec155 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.4 qt of 5W-30 API SM engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.4 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 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.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (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 1990 Nissan 240SX recorded 47 complaints, making it the second-highest complaint year in the generation, surpassed only by 1995's spike of 76. This complaint volume is notably elevated compared to the immediate years that follow—1991 saw just 9 complaints, 1992 and 1993 each recorded 16, and 1994 dropped to only 2. The 1990 model also experienced 2 NHTSA investigations and 1 recall that year, while generating 24 TSBs, suggesting the model entered production with unresolved issues. The dominant complaint category was fuel system gasoline problems at 20 of the 47 total complaints, a concentration that does not repeat with such intensity in any subsequent year in the data. Across the generation, complaints generally trended downward through the mid-1990s, with a notable mid-cycle resurgence in 1995. The data shows the 1990 model carried early-production concerns—particularly in fuel system components and seat belts—that appeared to be largely addressed by subsequent model years, making it a comparatively higher-risk purchase within this generation's lifecycle.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
24
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
47
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 47 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline20
Seat Belts5
Seats4
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Structure2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Steering2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103002Seat 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 24 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB08-097L2023-09-21SteeringDIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been…
NTB23-0492023-06-16Electrical System12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service…
NTB23-0532023-06-16Electrical SystemSILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION…
NTB13-107F2023-04-27Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB16-003C2023-04-17Electrical SystemINTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended…

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 240SX. 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 240SX take?

3.4 qt of 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 240SX have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 240SX get?

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