ToyotaCorolla1992Overview/toyota/corolla/1992/base/

1992 Toyota Corolla

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

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1992 Toyota Corolla is a passenger car equipped with a three-speed automatic transmission and EPA fuel economy ratings of 23/26/24 mpg. Routine maintenance specifies 3.5 quarts of 10W-30 or 10W-40 API oil. Within the model’s 1990–2026 complaint history, this model year generated 106 owner complaints—far below the 2009 peak of 1,533 and indicative of a relatively moderate issue load—with two recalls on record and engine and engine cooling cited as the top complaint category.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020191992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 10W-40 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/26/24 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 90915YZZN1. 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.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZN1
Engine air filter178017402083
Fuel filter2330019145
Spark plug9091901153
Front wiper blades852203A050 alt 85212YZZ10TM
Serpentine belt993642086083 alt 993639063083
Thermostat9091603046 alt 1632563011

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172 in
Overall width65.4 in
Overall height56.7 in
Wheelbase95.7 in
Curb weight2370 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 26 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume84 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
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 Corolla of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.30 sec — 1993 DX Wagon
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993DX Wagon 1.8L I-410.30 sec17.80 sec105 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 10W-30 / 10W-40 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.4 Pints
Engine Oil10W-30 · 10W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Transfer Case Fluid75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity1.4 Pints

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 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect)
At 30,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Spark 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 Corolla sits in the ascending portion of this generation's complaint arc, with federal complaints rising from 87 in 1991 to 106 in 1992 before climbing more sharply to 152 in 1993 and peaking at 202 in 1994. Recalls doubled from one in 1991 to two in 1992, then tripled to six in 1993, suggesting 1992 marks the transition from the generation's relatively clean early years into a period of intensifying quality issues. The top complaint areas for 1992 — Engine & Engine Cooling (23 complaints), Electrical System (18), Power Train (14), and Seat Belts (10) — foreshadow the broader problem areas that expanded in subsequent years, and the nine crash complaints and four fire complaints add a safety dimension worth noting. TSBs rose steadily from 27 in 1990 to 33 in 1992, indicating Toyota was actively addressing technical issues but hadn't yet reached the volume seen in peak years (51–54 in 1994–1995). The data does not specify root causes for any of these complaint areas. **Takeaway:** The 1992 model year is a moderate pick — meaningfully better than the 1993–1995 peak-problem years but not as clean as the 1990–1991 models, so a well-maintained example is reasonable to buy, though a 1990 or 1991 would be preferable if available in comparable condition.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
33
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
106
Owner complaints
9 involved a crash · 4 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 106 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling23
Electrical System18
Power Train14
Seat Belts10
Structure8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic6
Steering5
Suspension3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

10E002000SuspensionReported 11/02/2010

RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED… Remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT…

91V168000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 01/10/1991

DUE TO A COMPUTER PROGRAM ERROR, CERTAIN DIGITS OF THE GVWR AND THE GAWR APPEARED IN INCORRECT LOCATIONS ON THE CERTIFICATION LABEL LOCATED ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. Remedy: RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR EXCHANGE OF THE CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 33 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB0032202023-08-17Air BagsTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
T-SB-0032-20 Rev2021-02-03EquipmentTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
T-SB-0304-17 Obs2020-04-07EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
T-SB-0032-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

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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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 Corolla take?

3.5 qt of 10W-30 OR 10W-40 SL OR API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Corolla have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Corolla get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 26 highway / 24 combined mpg.