MitsubishiEclipse19942.0L/mitsubishi/eclipse/1994/2-0l/

1994 Mitsubishi Eclipse — 2.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Eclipse 2.0L. Covers both the standard and High Output 2.0L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.0LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Mitsubishi Eclipse is a compact passenger car built on the first‑generation Eclipse platform and equipped with a 2.0‑liter engine mated to a four‑speed automatic transmission, drawing 4.0 qt of oil that can be serviced with 20W‑40, 10W‑30, or 5W‑30 viscosities and delivering EPA ratings of roughly 17 mpg city, 20 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. While the model registers a modest 43 total owner complaints—most frequently centered on power‑train issues—and has been subject to three recalls, it sits toward the lower‑end of the broader 1990‑2012 complaint spectrum, well below the 1995 peak of 392 complaints and approaching the 2011 low of a single report. This placement indicates that the 1994 Eclipse enjoys a relatively favorable reliability standing within its generation, suggesting fewer systemic problems for researchers to encounter.

Model year199919981997199619951994199319921991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/20/18 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 MZ690072. 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.

Tire sizeP205-55VR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMZ690072 alt MZ690116
Engine air filterMR571477 alt MD620336
Fuel filterMB504761
Spark plugMS851238 alt MS851233
Front wiper bladesMZ690131 alt 8250A098
Serpentine beltMZ690232 alt MD176795
ThermostatMD997608 alt MD972903

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 20 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

No 1994 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

6.4–6.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 1993 GSX Coupe
203 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993GSX Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-46.40 sec15.00 sec195 hpAWD
1990GS Turbo Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-46.60 sec15.10 sec190 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 85W-90 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil85W-90 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.8 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt
Power Steering FluidUse Mitsubishi PS fluid

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; 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.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 50,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 miBalance Shaft Drive Belt (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 1994 Eclipse sits at the end of the first generation, where complaints steadily declined from 62 in 1990–1991 to a low of 43, and recalls dropped from a peak of 9 in 1990 to just 3. This downward trend in complaints and recalls across 1990–1994 suggests the platform matured, with 1994 representing the most refined year of the generation. In stark contrast, the redesigned 1995 model exploded to 392 complaints and 13 recalls, making the 1994 a notably quieter year in the federal record. The top complaint areas for 1994 are power train (8), electrical system (5), service brakes (4), and suspension (4), with 7 crash complaints and 2 fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Overall, the 1994 Eclipse appears to be a strong choice within the first generation, offering the lowest complaint count and a proven design before the problematic second-generation launch, but a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the noted systems is advisable.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
10
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
43
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 43 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train8
Electrical System5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Suspension4
Seat Belts3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Latches/Locks/Linkages2
Steering2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

98V069001Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 26/03/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL…

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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 10 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB-22-54-0032022-04-07Exterior LightingThis Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between…
TT2532019-11-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-19-00-0082019-07-30EquipmentThis is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes…
TT2372018-02-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-13-42A-0022013-01-29StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section…

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 Eclipse. 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 Eclipse 2.0L take?

4.0 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 API, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 60 degrees F 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Eclipse have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.0L get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 20 highway / 18 combined mpg.