CadillacFleetwood1994Overview/cadillac/fleetwood/1994/base/

1994 Cadillac Fleetwood

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

Equipped with an Automatic 4-spd transmission and EPA fuel economy ratings of 15/23/18 mpg, the 1994 Cadillac Fleetwood requires 4.0 qt of 10W-30 API oil for standard maintenance. This model year falls within the model's 1990-1998 complaint history with 27 total owner complaints, a significant decrease from the 1993 peak of 46 issues though still higher than the 1998 low of 4. With 5 recalls issued and the top complaint area identified as Engine & Engine Cooling, the 1994 model represents a point in the timeline where reported problems had declined from their highest frequency but had not yet reached the recorded low.

Model year199619951994199319921991198919881987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/23/18 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 19210286. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter19210286 alt 19425079
Engine air filter19259030
Fuel filter25121978 discontinued
Spark plug19301808
Front wiper blades25689175 discontinued
Serpentine belt19244956
Thermostat12555290 alt 12551507

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length225.2 in
Overall width78 in
Overall height57.1 in
Wheelbase121.7 in
Curb weight4478 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 23 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume125 cu ft
Cargo volume21 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 Fleetwood of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.7–10.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.70 sec — 1993 Brougham Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993Brougham Sedan 5.7L V89.70 sec17.00 sec185 hpRWD
1993Brougham Sedan 5.7L V810.50 sec17.80 sec185 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.3 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

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 100,000 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 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark 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 1994 Cadillac Fleetwood occupies a mid-cycle position in its generation, with federal complaint and recall data revealing notable trends. Complaints spiked sharply in 1993 (46) before declining to 27 in 1994, though recalls rose to five—the highest in the generation—suggesting proactive responses to emerging issues. The preceding years (1990–1992) saw relatively low complaint volumes (8–22), while post-1994 models (1995–1996) exhibited mixed reliability, with complaints rebounding to 31 in 1996 despite fewer recalls. The 1994 model’s top complaint areas—engine cooling, airbags, and fuel systems—align with broader generational concerns, though fire-related complaints (4) and crash complaints (5) remain elevated. This year’s recall volume implies GM addressed systemic flaws, but persistent engine and safety-related complaints warrant scrutiny. **Takeaway:** The 1994 Fleetwood is a *marginal* buy—its recall history suggests critical issues were acknowledged, but residual engine and fire risks demand thorough pre-purchase inspection and verification of recall completions.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
5
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
27
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 27 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling8
Air Bags3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Structure2
Steering2
Suspension2
Engine & Engine Cooling,Vehicle Speed Control,Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94V076000Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/StudsReported 16/04/1994

PAINT ON THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES CAN ACT AS A SHIM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR/DRUM. AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE WHEEL IMBEDS INTO THE PAINT, LOOSENING THE LUG NUT AND CAUSING A LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD. Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS. ALSO, THE WHEEL STUDS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND WILL BE REPLACED AS NECESSARY.

96V019000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball JointReported 30/01/1996

DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED FROM THE KNUCKLE, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696D2019-09-05EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696C2018-05-31EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
020730024A2005-08-01Power TrainDIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY…
8765271998-12-01Engine And Engine CoolingSOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE ENGINE MISS/ POOR DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS. *YC

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 Fleetwood. 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 Fleetwood take?

4.0 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Fleetwood have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Fleetwood get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.