Nissan240SX1992Overview/nissan/240sx/1992/base/

1992 Nissan 240SX

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 240SX.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Nissan 240SX is a passenger‑car coupe that relies on 4.2 qt of 5W‑30 API SM engine oil and is paired with an automatic four‑speed transmission, delivering EPA‑rated fuel economy of 18/24/20 mpg. With zero recalls and a total of only 16 owner‑reported complaints—primarily concerning suspension—it shows a comparatively benign trouble record for the generation. Placed within the 19901998 complaint timeline, the 1992 model falls well below the 1995 peak of 76 reports and ahead of the 1998 low of just one complaint, indicating that its reliability sits on the improving side of the SX’s history.

Model year199819971996199519941993199219911990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 API SMOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/24/20 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 24 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium 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
1992SE Coupe 2.4L I-47.90 sec16.20 sec155 hpRWD
1992SE Convertible 2.4L I-410.60 sec18.10 sec155 hpRWD
1991SE Coupe 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.60 sec140 hpRWD
1993Coupe 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.50 sec155 hpRWD
1989SE Coupe 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.40 sec140 hpRWD
1989SE Coupe 2.4L I-49.50 sec17.00 sec140 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.2 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 Capacity4.2 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 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.

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) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miSpark 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.

The 1992 model recorded 16 complaints, zero recalls, and one investigation, placing it below the 1990 peak of 47 complaints but above the 1994 trough of 2 complaints. Compared with the surrounding years, 1992’s complaint volume is similar to 1993 (also 16) and lower than the 1995 spike of 76, while its recall count matches the low‑recall pattern of 1991 and 1994. The primary complaint categories — suspension (4), tires (2), service brakes hydraulic (2), and engine & engine cooling (2) — reflect modest concerns that align with the single investigation logged for that year. Crash and fire complaints each appeared once, indicating isolated safety events rather than systemic defects. Consequently, while 1992 is not a high‑risk year, the presence of suspension complaints suggests vigilance, making it a reasonable but not optimal choice for purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
31
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
16
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 16 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension4
Tires2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Steering1
Seat Belts1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 31 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
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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 240SX take?

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

Does the 1992 240SX have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 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 / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg.