SuzukiSamurai1994Overview/suzuki/samurai/1994/base/

1994 Suzuki Samurai

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

Transmission Manual 5-spd

The 1994 Suzuki Samurai is equipped with a manual five‑speed transmission and requires 3.9 qt of engine oil, with acceptable viscosities of 20W‑50, 15W‑40 or 15W‑50 API. Its EPA fuel‑efficiency rating stands at 24 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined. Reliability data show only two owner complaints total for the model year, the most frequent concerning the seats, and there were no recalls issued. Within the broader 1990‑1998 Samurai complaint history, the 1994 figure sits well below the 1992 peak of six complaints and above the 1998 low of one, indicating a comparatively trouble‑free year.

Model year199519941993199219911990198919881987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-50 / 15W-40 / 15W-50 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy24/26/25 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 5-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 26 / 25 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.9 qt of 20W-50 / 15W-40 / 15W-50 API engine oil, 75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.2 Pints
Engine OilABOVE 14 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity3.9 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-4
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity1.7 Pints

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 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 miBrake System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Suspension Shock or Strut (inspect) · Throttle Cable (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Frame Fasteners (torque) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate)
Every 30,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEGR System (inspect)
At 60,000 miTransfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)
Every 80,000 miOxygen Sensor (replace)
At 90,000 miTiming Belt (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.

The 1994 model recorded two federal complaints, matching the 1990 level but well below the six complaints logged in 1992, the peak of the generation. No recalls or investigations were filed for 1994, continuing a post‑1992 pattern of zero recall activity, while earlier years (1990‑1991) each had one recall and one investigation. The sole complaint category listed for 1994 was seats, accounting for both complaints, and no fire‑related complaints were reported. Compared with the upward spike in 1992 and the subsequent decline to a single complaint in 1998, 1994 sits in a low‑complaint trough of the arc. Because the data shows only minor seat complaints and no safety‑critical recalls, it suggests 1994 is a relatively reliable year to purchase, though buyers should verify seat condition.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
2
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Seats2

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 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
N-Q-G-0452018-11-20SuspensionThis Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki…
0104145Engine And Engine CoolingCORRECT COOLANT USAGE. *EH

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 Samurai. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 Samurai take?

3.9 qt of ABOVE 14 degrees F: 20W-50 API, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 15W-40 OR 15W-50 API, ABOVE -4 degrees F: 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API, -4 degrees F TO 86 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 86 degrees F: 5W-30 API (STARBURS, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Samurai have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Samurai get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 26 highway / 25 combined mpg.