SuzukiSamurai1990Overview/suzuki/samurai/1990/base/

1990 Suzuki Samurai

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

Transmission Manual 5-spd

The 1990 Suzuki Samurai is equipped with an engine that takes 3.9 qt of oil, acceptable viscosities ranging from 20W‑50 to 15W‑50 API, and is paired with a five‑speed manual transmission. Fuel‑efficiency ratings stand at 24 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and a combined 25 mpg according to EPA testing. Reliability data show only two owner complaints for the model year, with the electrical system being the most frequently cited issue and a single recall recorded. Across the Samurai’s 1990‑1998 production span, the 1990 year falls near the low‑complaint end, contrasting with the peak of six complaints in 1992 and the low of just one complaint in 1998.

Model year199519941993199219911990198919881987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-50 / 15W-40 / 15W-50 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy24/26/25 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length135 in
Overall width60.2 in
Overall height65.7 in
Wheelbase79.9 in
Curb weight2094 lb
Track (front / rear)51.6 / 51.6 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 26 / 25 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-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 3.9 qt of 20W-50 / 15W-40 / 15W-50 API engine oil, 75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.2 Pints
Engine OilABOVE 14 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity3.9 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 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.

At 7,500 miBrake System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Suspension Shock or Strut (inspect) · Throttle Cable (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Frame Fasteners (torque) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate)
Every 30,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEGR System (inspect)
At 60,000 miTransfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
Every 80,000 miOxygen Sensor (replace)
At 90,000 miTiming 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.

In 1990 the Samurai generated 2 complaints, 1 recall, 1 investigation and 2 TSBs. The next year 1991 showed a slight increase to 3 complaints while retaining the same recall and investigation counts, and 1992 peaked at 6 complaints with no recalls or investigations. After that the complaint volume dropped to 2 in 1994 and further to 1 in 1998, placing 1990 at the low end of the complaint arc before the 1992 spike. The 1990 model’s sole complaints concerned the Electrical System and Seat Belts, and it recorded zero crash or fire complaints. Consequently, 1990 is a relatively favorable year to consider, provided the recall was completed.

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

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Electrical System1
Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103008Seat 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 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
N-Q-G-0452018-11-20SuspensionThis Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki…
0104145Engine And Engine CoolingCORRECT COOLANT USAGE. *EH

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 Samurai. 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 Samurai take?

3.9 qt of ABOVE 14 degrees F: 20W-50 API, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 15W-40 OR 15W-50 API, ABOVE -4 degrees F: 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API, -4 degrees F TO 86 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 86 degrees F: 5W-30 API (STARBURS, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 Samurai have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Samurai get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 26 highway / 25 combined mpg.