AcuraLegend1994Overview/acura/legend/1994/base/

1994 Acura Legend

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Legend.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Acura Legend passenger car pairs a 4-speed automatic transmission with an engine requiring 4.8 quarts of 5W-30 API oil to deliver an EPA-rated 18 combined mpg, logging 24 owner complaints with air bags as the top area alongside four recalls. When contextualized within the 1990-1995 complaint history, this volume sits well below the 1991 peak of 130 and just above the 1995 low of 16. This positions the 1994 model as a comparatively stable year in the vehicle's reliability trajectory, reflecting a substantial reduction in reported issues compared to the generation's early production.

Model year199519941993199219911990198919881987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/21/18 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.5 in
Overall width71.3 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase111.4 in
Curb weight3468 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 60.2 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 21 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume94 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
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 Legend of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.10 sec — 1994 GS Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1994GS Sedan 3.2L V68.10 sec16.30 sec230 hpFWD
1993LS Coupe 3.2L V66.70 sec15.40 sec230 hpFWD
1993LS Coupe 3.2L V67.20 sec15.50 sec230 hpFWD
1993LS Coupe 3.2L V67.50 sec15.90 sec230 hpFWD
1995GS Sedan 3.2L V68.30 sec16.50 sec230 hpFWD
1992LS Coupe 3.2L V67.90 sec15.90 sec200 hpFWD
1991LS Coupe 3.2L V66.99 sec15.37 sec200 hpFWD
1991LS Coupe 3.2L V67.50 sec15.80 sec200 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.8 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · API in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · API
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.8 qt

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; 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 Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miParking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (torque)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Antilock Brake System (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBrake Line (replace) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV System (inspect)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace) · Water Pump (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.

Federal complaints and recalls for this generation crested in 1991 at 130 and 7, respectively, then trended downward through 1995, while technical service bulletins climbed to a generation-high 14 in 1994. The 1994 model sits near the bottom of that complaint curve with 24 filings and 4 recalls, matching 1993’s recall count while eliminating the investigations recorded in 1992 and 1993. Relative to its neighbors, 1994 improves on 1993’s 26 complaints and one investigation, and posts fewer recalls than 1995’s 5, though it carries the highest TSB volume of the series. The data identifies air bags, electrical system, and engine cooling as the top complaint areas for 1994, alongside four crash-related and three fire-related complaints, though it does not specify underlying causes. Given its position on the declining slope of complaints and recalls with zero investigations, the 1994 Legend represents one of the stronger years of this generation to buy, assuming maintenance records address its 14 technical service bulletins.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
14
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
24
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 3 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 24 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags4
Electrical System3
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Exterior Lighting2
Power Train2
Seat Belts2
Electrical System,Seats1
Power Train,Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

06E049000Exterior LightingReported 24/05/2006

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH… Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 14 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DORE5C4S092019-07-11SuspensionThis SKU is a Front Upper Ball Joint. The customer communication requested return of…
SB-07082010-11-01TiresACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE…
10022002-10-16Air BagsINTERMITTENT SRA DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 1-1 TO 1-5, DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATOR CIRCUIT…
900091998-09-08Power TrainSERVICE BULLETING REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN-WARRANTY EXCHANGE PROGRAM. *YC
900091997-12-16Power TrainSUBJECT ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN-WARRANTY EXCHANGE PROGRAM. *TT

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 Legend. 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 1994 Legend take?

4.8 qt of 5W-30 SL, API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Legend have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Legend get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg.