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BD platform

1994 Plymouth Laser

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1994 Plymouth Laser is a passenger car built on the BD platform, with an engine that takes 4.5 qt of oil plus filter and accepts 15W‑40, 10W‑30, or 5W‑30 viscosity. It recorded just four owner complaints that year, the top issue being the power train, and was subject to a single recall. Within the Laser’s 1990‑1998 complaint history, the 1994 figure is far beneath the 1992 high of 46 complaints and only slightly above the 1995 low of two. Consequently, the 1994 model year represents a period of comparatively strong reliability for the line.

Model year1994 1993 1992 1991 1990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified

Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05012967AA. Note the factory engine oil filter, engine air filter, spark plug, front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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	05012967AA discontinued
Engine air filter	MR571477 discontinued
Fuel filter	MB504761
Spark plug	68304142AA discontinued · alt MS851413
Front wiper blades	MB881565 discontinued · alt MB881566
Serpentine belt	MD178430 discontinued · alt MD191218
Thermostat	MD997608 alt MD972903

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	172.4 in
Overall width	66.5 in
Overall height	51.6 in
Wheelbase	97.2 in
Curb weight	2500 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.9 / 57.1 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil	15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt w/ filter

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 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 7,500 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In the federal record, 1994 shows four complaints, one recall, three investigations and eight TSBs, figures that are far below the 46 complaints recorded in 1992 and the 19 complaints in 1993. The complaint trajectory descends sharply after 1992, with 1993 halving the count and 1994 dropping to the lowest level of the 1990‑1995 period before only a modest rise appears in 1998. The single fire‑related complaint in 1994 is the only safety‑related issue that year, while crash complaints are absent. Compared with the surrounding years, 1994 sits at the trough of the complaint arc, indicating improving reliability for that generation. Consequently, the 1994 Plymouth Laser represents a relatively low‑risk option, though buyers should verify that any fire‑related service bulletins have been addressed.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93’94’95 ’98

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Power Train1

Engine & Engine Cooling,Electrical System,Visibility1

Visibility1

Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

98V069002Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 07/04/1998

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…

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 Laser. 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 4.5 qt w/ filter BD-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 05012967AA Engine air filter MR571477 Fuel filter MB504761 Spark plug 68304142AA

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 Laser take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 20 degrees F 30W SJ, SL, ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40 SJ, SL, ABOVE 0 degrees F 10W-30 SJ, SL, BELOW 32 degrees F 5W-30 SJ, SL, BELOW 100 degrees F 5W-30 SJ, SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Laser have open recalls?

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