ChevroletCaprice1994Overview/chevrolet/caprice/1994/base/

1994 Chevrolet Caprice

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1994 Chevrolet Caprice is a full-size passenger car that requires 4.0 quarts of 10W30 API oil. It recorded 196 owner complaints—the highest of any model year from 1990 to 2011—with the electrical system as the top complaint area and 10 recalls. This places the 1994 model as the most problematic year in the Caprice’s reliability history, indicating significant issues for researchers to note.

Model year201420132012199619951994199319921991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W30 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 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 Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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
Engine air filter19259030
Fuel filter25121978 discontinued
Spark plug19301808
Front wiper blades10283602 discontinued · alt 25689175
Serpentine belt19244956
Thermostat12555290 alt 12551507

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length214.2 in
Overall width77.2 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase116.1 in
Curb weight3990 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

7.2–10.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.20 sec — 1986 Wagon
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991Classic Sedan 5.0L V810.10 sec17.60 sec170 hpRWD
1991Classic Sedan 5.0L V810.50 sec17.20 sec170 hpRWD
1991Wagon 5.0L V810.50 sec17.70 sec170 hpRWD
1986Wagon 5.7L V87.20 sec15.50 sec170 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 10W30 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
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.4 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilAPI
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 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 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) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · 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 model year registers 196 federal complaints, the highest concentration within the 1990–1997 generation and a sharp increase from 70 in 1993, with recalls rising to 10 and technical service bulletins more than doubling to 27. Relative to the surrounding years, 1994 sits at a distinct secondary peak in the arc: after an initial surge in 1991, a brief decline through 1993, and before complaints tapered to 108 in 1995 and continued falling thereafter. The top complaint categories are Electrical System (33), Latches/Locks/Linkages (28), Service Brakes/Hydraulic (20), and Steering (13), with 16 crash-related and 8 fire-related complaints recorded, though the data does not specify root causes. Against this backdrop, 1994 marks the generation's highest reported incident volume and a notable escalation in service bulletins, making it a statistically heavier year than both the preceding 1993 and subsequent 1995–1996 models. Buyers seeking the lowest federal-recorded risk profile within this generation should avoid the 1994 peak and select a 1993, 1995, or 1996 example instead.

10
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
27
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
196
Owner complaints
16 involved a crash · 8 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 196 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System33
Latches/Locks/Linkages28
Service Brakes, Hydraulic20
Steering13
Visibility13
Vehicle Speed Control12
Suspension11
Tires9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 10 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 27 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…
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
020730024A2005-08-01Power TrainDIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY…

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 Caprice. 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 Caprice take?

4.0 qt of 10W30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Caprice have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.