Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Act of 1990 - Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to establish average fuel economy standards for passenger automobiles and automobiles other than passenger automobiles (light trucks) for model years 1995 through 2000 and for model year 2001 and thereafter.
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to modify an average fuel economy standard for model year 2001 and thereafter. Requires the Secretary, in response to a petition from any person, to conduct a rulemaking proceeding to determine whether to increase or decrease such standard to a level that is the maximum feasible average fuel economy for that model year.
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to report annually to specified congressional committees on: (1) an ongoing examination of the accuracy of fuel economy testing of passenger automobiles and light trucks; and (2) an assessment of the extent to which fuel economy deteriorates during the life of such vehicles.
Directs the Secretary of Energy to distribute at least 100 explanatory booklets each year to every dealer and additional numbers if requested.
Directs the Secretary to provide for a review of the current state of research and development in light truck fuel economy and passenger automobile fuel economy and an assessment of the remaining potential for improving fuel efficiency and reducing energy consumption of passenger automobiles and light trucks. Requires a report to the Congress on such review and an updated report every five years.
Requires the Secretary of Energy to study the future options for regulating the fuel efficiency of such vehicles beyond the year 2001.
Doubles the civil penalty for repeated violations of the fuel economy standard.
Sets forth criteria for calculating average fuel economy for small passenger automobiles that contain airbags for the driver and front passenger sides.