NissanSentra1994Overview/nissan/sentra/1994/base/

1994 Nissan Sentra

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1994 Nissan Sentra enters the record as a passenger car specified with a 3.5-quart oil capacity running 10W-30 or 5W-30 API SM lubricant. Its reliability profile shows 131 total owner complaints with seat belts emerging as the leading concern, though no recalls were issued for the model year. Across the broader 1990–2026 Sentra lineage, 1994 sits well below the peak complaint year of 2013 at 638 reports and far above the modern low of eight in 2026, positioning it as a mid-era example with moderate but not exceptional complaint volume.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920181994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 API SMOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 1520855Y0A. 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 filter1520855Y0A alt 1520853J0A
Engine air filter16546V0100
Fuel filter1640041B1A
Spark plug2240150Y04 alt 2240150Y06
Front wiper blades2889017C10 alt 2889061S05
Serpentine belt11720D4007TM alt 1192077A00TM
Thermostat2120077A60 alt 2120077A63

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length170.5 in
Overall width65.7 in
Overall height53.9 in
Wheelbase95.7 in
Curb weight2324 lb
Track (front / rear)57.1 / 56.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

7.4–8.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.40 sec — 1991 SE-R Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993SE-R Coupe 2.0L I-47.60 sec15.80 sec140 hpFWD
1992E Coupe 1.6L I-48.40 sec16.70 sec110 hpFWD
1991SE-R Coupe 2.0L I-47.40 sec15.80 sec140 hpFWD
1991SE-R Coupe 2.0L I-47.60 sec15.90 sec140 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 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 Capacity2.1 Pints
Engine Oil10W-30 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.6 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 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (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 Nissan Sentra represents a significant inflection point in the model's federal record, with 131 complaints compared to only 81 in 1993. This year marks the beginning of a steep upward trend in reported issues that continued to rise through 1996, peaking at 162 complaints. While the 1994 model recorded zero recalls, it immediately precedes a sharp surge to 7 recalls in 1995. Primary complaint areas for 1994 included seat belts (28) and hydraulic service brakes (19), although the data does not specify the root causes of these issues. Because it exhibits a sharp increase in complaints but avoids the recall spikes of the mid-to-late 1990s, this is a mediocre year to buy.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
33
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
131
Owner complaints
25 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 131 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts28
Service Brakes, Hydraulic19
Visibility11
Engine & Engine Cooling9
Tires7
Air Bags7
Electrical System7
Vehicle Speed Control7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 33 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB08-097L2023-09-21SteeringDIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been…
NTB23-0492023-06-16Electrical System12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service…
NTB23-0532023-06-16Electrical SystemSILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION…
NTB13-107F2023-04-27Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB16-003C2023-04-17Electrical SystemINTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended…

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 Sentra. 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 Sentra take?

3.5 qt of 10W-30 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Sentra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.