FordTaurus1994Overview/ford/taurus/1994/base/

1994 Ford Taurus

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1994 Ford Taurus is a passenger car that takes 4.5 qt of 5W‑20 API engine oil. It recorded 1,117 owner complaints, with engine and engine cooling as the leading issue, and was subject to seven recalls. Within the model’s complaint history spanning 1990‑2019, the 1994 total sits below the 1993 peak of 1,822 complaints and well above the 2019 low of 11. This places the 1994 Taurus at a moderate point in the lineup’s reliability trajectory.

Model year201920182017201620152014201320121994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

ThermostatRT1054 alt RT1053

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.1 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height53.9 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Curb weight3095 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 60.6 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 Taurus of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.6–10.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 1991 SHO Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993SHO Sedan 3.2L V67.50 sec15.40 sec220 hpFWD
1995SHO Sedan 3.2L V67.70 sec15.80 sec220 hpFWD
1992SHO Sedan 3.0L V66.80 sec15.20 sec220 hpFWD
1996SHO Sedan 3.4L V88.00 sec16.20 sec235 hpFWD
1996LX Sedan 3.0L V68.70 sec16.50 sec145 hpFWD
1996LX Wagon 3.0L V68.90 sec16.70 sec145 hpFWD
1996LX Sedan 3.0L V69.40 sec16.90 sec145 hpFWD
1996GL Sedan 3.0L V610.00 sec17.50 sec145 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilSYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine OilSYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 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 5,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 10,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 24,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 100,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Timing Belt (replace)
At 120,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)

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 Ford Taurus generated 1,117 federal complaints, 7 recalls and 4 investigations, placing it well below the 1993 peak of 1,822 complaints but still above the 1995 figure of 1,360. Its total safety‑related filings (142 TSBs) are comparable to the surrounding years, with recall frequency similar to 1993 and 1995. The dominant complaint categories — Engine & Engine Cooling (250), Power Train (233), Electrical System (76) and Structure (59) — account for the majority of the reported issues. Crash‑related complaints numbered 55 and fire‑related complaints 29, indicating a modest but present safety concern relative to later years that saw fewer such reports. Consequently, while 1994 is not the worst‑year in the generation, it is outperformed by later model years with lower complaint volumes, making it a acceptable but not optimal purchase if price is the primary driver.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
142
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,117
Owner complaints
55 involved a crash · 29 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,117 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling250
Power Train233
Electrical System76
Structure59
Service Brakes, Hydraulic48
Exterior Lighting45
Fuel System, Gasoline45
Suspension43

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94E036000Suspension:Front:Shock AbsorberReported 25/11/1994

THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY. Remedy: MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.

97V025000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 26/02/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN… Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

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 Taurus. 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 Taurus take?

4.5 qt of SYNTHETIC 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Taurus have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.