InfinitiJ301993Overview/infiniti/j30/1993/base/

1993 Infiniti J30

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 J30.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1993 Infiniti J30 pairs a 4-speed automatic transmission with an engine holding 4.5 quarts of 10W-30 or 10W-40 API SM oil to return an EPA-estimated 16 city and 21 highway mpg. Its reliability record is marked by 26 total owner complaints—with air bags as the top concern—alongside a single recall. Across the model's 1992-2006 history, the 1993 J30 sits just one complaint shy of the 1994 peak of 27, meaning these early vehicles carry a significantly higher concentration of reported problems compared to the lowest point of just one complaint in 2000.

Model year19971996199519941993

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 10W-40 API SMOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/21/18 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.3 in
Overall width69.7 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase108.7 in
Curb weight3527 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 21 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume87 cu ft
Cargo volume10 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 J30 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.7–8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.70 sec — 1993 t Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993t Sedan 3.0L V68.70 sec16.80 sec210 hpRWD
1993Sedan 3.0L V68.90 sec16.70 sec210 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 / 10W-40 API SM engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.1 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · 10W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

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 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 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miActive Suspension System (drain & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (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 1993 Infiniti J30 marks the start of a problematic period: complaints jump from just 2 in 1992 to 26 in 1993, and remain elevated through 1995 (27 and 22 complaints, respectively). The 1993 model year also has one recall, while 1994 and 1995 each have one as well, suggesting a cluster of early-generation issues. Top complaint areas for 1993 include air bags (6 complaints), service brakes (4), and powertrain (4), with two crash-related and one fire-related complaint reported. TSBs also rise sharply from 25 in 1992 to 40 in 1993, staying high through 1996. Given that 1993 is the first year of elevated complaints and recalls, and the data does not specify root causes, this model year carries above-average risk compared to later years (1996 onward) where complaints drop significantly. **The 1993 Infiniti J30 is not a recommended buy due to its high complaint volume and early-generation reliability concerns.**

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
40
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
26
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Frontal★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 26 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Power Train4
Electrical System1
Electrical System,Air Bags1
Seat Belts1
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

96V083000Seat Belts:Front:AnchorageReported 09/05/1996

A HARNESS CONNECTOR PROTECTOR LOCATED NEAR THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER CAN IGNITE DUE TO THE PROXIMITY TO THE COMBUSTION GAS GENERATED BY THE PRE-TENSIONER WHEN THE DEVICE IS TRIGGERED. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR PROTECTORS WITH ONES HAVING SUFFICIENT RESISTANCE TO THE COMBUSTION GAS OF THE PRE-TENSIONERS WHEN ACTIVATED.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 40 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
ITB13-007H2023-02-27StructureREMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See…
ITB09-039J2023-02-27VisibilityWINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last…
ITB10-067C2023-02-22WheelsWHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on…
ITB16-006A2021-03-24Electrical SystemINFINITI; FRONT SONAR PARKING SENSOR SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended…
ITB19-0082019-04-02EquipmentEXTERIOR CLEANING INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION When cleaning the exterior of an…

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 J30. 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 1993 J30 take?

4.5 qt of 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API SM-, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 J30 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the J30 get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg.