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1994 Chevrolet Lumina

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1994 Chevrolet Lumina is a mid‑size passenger car that, like its siblings in the 1990‑2008 production run, is equipped with a conventional engine requiring a modest 4 qt of 5W‑30 API‑rated oil. While its service‑brake and hydraulic systems emerged as the most frequent source of owner dissatisfaction—reflected in 178 total complaints and two recalls for the model year—the 1994 figure sits well below the peak complaint volume recorded in 1995 (584) and far above the singular issue logged in the line’s final year, 2008. This positioning indicates that the 1994 Lumina occupies a relatively moderate point in the model’s overall reliability spectrum, offering researchers a baseline of average durability without the extremes of its early‑ and late‑generation counterparts.

Model year2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993

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 Note the factory fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter	12731175 alt 12737090
Engine air filter	19166106
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19354418 alt 5614197
Front wiper blades	10093142
Serpentine belt	88986821 discontinued · alt 88986811
Thermostat	24507563 alt 10130979

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	198.4 in
Overall width	71.7 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	107.5 in
Curb weight	3269 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 Lumina of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.1–9.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.10 sec — 1991 Z34 Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1995	LS Sedan 3.4L V6	8.40 sec	16.30 sec	160 hp	FWD
1995	Sedan 3.1L V6	9.50 sec	17.00 sec	160 hp	FWD
1991	Z34 Coupe 3.4L V6	7.10 sec	15.50 sec	210 hp	FWD
1990	Euro Sedan 3.1L V6	9.80 sec	17.90 sec	140 hp	FWD
1998	LTZ Sedan 3.8L V6	7.60 sec	15.80 sec	200 hp	FWD

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 Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 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; 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) · Timing Belt (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 60,000 mi	Timing Belt (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 Lumina stands out as a low point in the generation's complaint and recall arc, with just 178 complaints and 2 recalls—a sharp decline from 317 complaints and 3 recalls in 1993, and far below the 549 complaints and 9 recalls at the 1990 launch. This downward trend is abruptly reversed in 1995, when complaints spike to 584 and recalls jump to 7, suggesting the 1994 model year avoided the issues that plagued both earlier and immediately subsequent years. Notably, investigations drop to zero for 1994, reinforcing a picture of relative stability, though the 40 technical service bulletins (up from 25 in 1993) indicate that known problems were being documented and addressed. The top complaint area, service brakes with 59 reports, is a specific concern, but the overall volume remains modest. With the lowest complaint count of the early 1990s and no open investigations, the 1994 Lumina appears to be a comparatively reliable choice within this generation, provided a buyer verifies brake system condition.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

178

Owner complaints

8 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 ’08

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 178 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic59

Electrical System17

Structure12

Suspension11

Seat Belts11

Visibility8

Engine & Engine Cooling8

Tires7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 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…

07E021000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief DevicesReported 12/03/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 40 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
19NA273	2019-12-02	Electrical System	This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
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

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 Lumina. 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 19354418

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 Lumina take?

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

Does the 1994 Lumina have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.