AcuraVigor1994Overview/acura/vigor/1994/base/

1994 Acura Vigor

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Acura Vigor utilizes a 4-speed automatic transmission and requires 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil, achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 18/24/20 mpg. Within the 1992-1994 model run, this year records the lowest frequency of owner feedback with only 3 total complaints, a significant reduction from the 1992 peak of 17 incidents. While steering remains the top complaint area, the absence of any recalls and this minimal complaint volume frame the 1994 model as the most reliable iteration for researchers assessing the vehicle's service history.

Model year199419931992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/24/20 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.2 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height53.9 in
Wheelbase110.2 in
Curb weight3150 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 59.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 24 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume86 cu ft
Cargo volume14 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 Vigor of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.70 sec — 1991 LS Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991LS Sedan 2.5L I-57.70 sec16.10 sec176 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

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

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.6
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · API
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings24 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 54, MT: 76 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9 ft-lbs

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4922 ft. lbs

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; 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 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miParking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (torque)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Antilock Brake System (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBrake Line (replace) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV System (inspect)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace) · Water Pump (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 Acura Vigor represents a notable improvement in reliability within its generation, as evidenced by the federal data. Complaints dropped sharply from 17 in 1992 to just 3 in 1994, with no recalls or investigations across all three model years, suggesting Honda addressed early issues through technical service bulletins (TSBs)—which also declined from 10 in 1992 to 1 in 1994. The 1994 model’s complaints were minor, concentrated in steering (2) and wheels (1), with no reported crashes or fires, indicating these were likely isolated or wear-related rather than systemic flaws. Compared to 1992’s higher complaint volume and 1993’s transitional dip, 1994 sits at the tail end of a clear downward trend, implying the most refined iteration of the generation. The data doesn’t specify root causes, but the absence of recalls or investigations reinforces stability. **Takeaway: The 1994 Vigor is the strongest year to buy in this dataset, offering the lowest complaint rate and no red flags.**

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
3
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Steering2
Wheels1

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 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SB-07082010-11-01TiresACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE…

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 Vigor. 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 Vigor take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 SL, API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Vigor have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Vigor get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg.