PlymouthLaser1990Overview/plymouth/laser/1990/base/

1990 Plymouth Laser

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1990 Plymouth Laser is a passenger car that requires 4.5 quarts of oil with a filter and is compatible with 15W-40, 10W-30, or 5W-30 viscosities. This model year is associated with four recalls and 30 total owner complaints, the majority of which center on the engine and engine cooling. Within the 1990-1998 model history, the 1990 Laser's complaint volume sits between the series high of 46 complaints in 1992 and the low of two complaints in 1995.

Model year19941993199219911990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length170.5 in
Overall width66.5 in
Overall height51.6 in
Wheelbase97.2 in
Curb weight2524 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter

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 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.

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) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miFuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (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.

The 1990 Plymouth Laser sits at the beginning of a complaint arc that peaks two years later in 1992 (46 complaints) before declining sharply to just 2 complaints by 1995. Notably, 1990 recorded the highest recall count in the dataset (4 recalls) compared to only 1 recall annually from 1991-1994 and zero in 1995, suggesting the launch year had the most manufacturer-recognized corrective action. The top complaint categories—Engine & Engine Cooling (8), Seat Belts (5), and Structure (5)—indicate widespread mechanical and structural concerns, though crash complaints remain absent and fire complaints are minimal (1). The data shows complaints escalated through 1992 then dropped dramatically, implying that post-launch refinements addressed many issues. Given the elevated complaint volume and recall activity relative to later model years, the 1990 model represents the least refined and most problem-prone year in this generation—making it a poorer choice compared to 1994 or 1995 examples where complaints had subsided to just 2-4 per year.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
8
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
30
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 30 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling8
Seat Belts5
Structure5
Exterior Lighting4
Power Train3
Tires1
Unknown Or Other1
Electrical System,Visibility,Equipment1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

90V106001Visibility:WindshieldReported 01/06/1990

DILUTED PRIMER MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE WINDSHIELD OPENING FLANGES PRIOR TO WINDSHIELD GLASS INSTALLATION WHICH WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE RETENTION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 212. Remedy: REPLACE WINDSHIELDS, ASSOCIATED PARTS, AND PRIMER.

95V103003Seat 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 8 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
0800600REV2000-12-29Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB
2300800B2000-11-24SeatsSUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT
2308002000-03-03SeatsSUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT
0806002000-02-25Electrical SystemTHIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT
233599REVA1999-10-01StructureSUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS

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

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VIN
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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 Laser take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 20 degrees F 30W SJ, SL, ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40 SJ, SL, ABOVE 0 degrees F 10W-30 SJ, SL, BELOW 32 degrees F 5W-30 SJ, SL, BELOW 100 degrees F 5W-30 SJ, SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 Laser have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.