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1994 Buick Regal

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1994 Buick Regal is classified as a passenger car maintained with 4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. Ownership records for this model year document 136 total complaints and three recalls, with the service brakes, hydraulic system identified as the top complaint area. When positioned within the model's complaint history spanning 1990 to 2020, the 1994 Regal sits between the peak issues of 1998 and the lowest recorded count in 2008, indicating a reliability profile that necessitates focused scrutiny on the braking system during research.

Model year2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 1994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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 filter	12731175
Engine air filter	19166106
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19302728 alt 19302723
Front wiper blades	10093142
Thermostat	24507563 alt 24505924

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	193.7 in
Overall width	72.4 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	107.5 in
Curb weight	3241 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.4 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Regal of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.9–11.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.90 sec — 1986 Grand National Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1995	Gran Sport Coupe 3.8L V6	8.20 sec	16.00 sec	205 hp	FWD
1991	Gran Sport Sedan 3.8L V6	8.60 sec	16.50 sec	170 hp	FWD
1997	GS Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V6	6.60 sec	15.00 sec	240 hp	FWD
1997	LS Sedan 3.8L V6	7.80 sec	16.00 sec	205 hp	FWD
1998	GS Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V6	6.70 sec	15.10 sec	240 hp	FWD
1988	Custom Coupe (Grand Touring Pkg) 2.8L V6	11.20 sec	18.20 sec	125 hp	FWD
1987	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	5.40 sec	14.20 sec	245 hp	RWD
1987	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	6.00 sec	14.70 sec	245 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 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.

At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (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 1994 Buick Regal posts 136 complaints, 3 recalls, 0 investigations, and 44 TSBs, placing it near the middle of the 1990s portion of this model's federal record. Compared to the preceding 1993 model year (108 complaints, 2 recalls, 3 investigations, 26 TSBs), 1994 shows a modest uptick in complaints and TSBs, but it precedes the steeper escalation seen in 1995 (192 complaints, 8 recalls) and 1996 (230 complaints, 4 recalls, 6 investigations). Across the broader arc, complaint volume trends upward and peaks at 325 in 1998, meaning 1994 catches the platform before its most troubled years. The leading 1994 complaint categories — Service Brakes/Hydraulic (19), Visibility (16), Electrical System (13), and Engine & Engine Cooling (12) — are not paired with root-cause data in the record, and the 7 crash and 2 fire complaints did not trigger any federal investigation. The zero-investigation status and modest recall count are relative positives within this arc, though the 44 TSBs signal meaningful service-bay attention. On balance, 1994 is one of the cleaner years in the 1990-1998 window and a defensible used buy, provided a pre-purchase inspection focuses on the brake and visibility systems where complaint volume is highest.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

136

Owner complaints

7 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93’94’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 136 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic19

Visibility16

Electrical System13

Engine & Engine Cooling12

Vehicle Speed Control12

Exterior Lighting7

Air Bags6

Seats6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

97V017000Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/WiringReported 11/02/1997

SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

95V061000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 22/03/1995

THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE HOSE(S) CAN CONTACT THE REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE(S) TO WEAR THROUGH. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE HOSE POSITION AND REPLACE THOSE HOSES IN AN INCORRECT POSITION WITH NEW HOSES AND CORRECTLY ROUTED.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 44 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696D	2019-09-05	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696C	2018-05-31	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
130089009	2013-09-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
010601002A	2002-12-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	REVISED PISTON PIN REMOVAL / INSTALLATION PROCEDURE. *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 Regal. 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.

Vehicles taking 4 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 19166106 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19302728

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1994 Regal take?

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

Does the 1994 Regal have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.