ChevroletCamaro1994Overview/chevrolet/camaro/1994/base/

1994 Chevrolet Camaro

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1994 Chevrolet Camaro is a passenger car that, with its 4-quart oil capacity and required 5W-30 API viscosity, reflects the era’s straightforward maintenance demands. Owner records show 198 total complaints, with the engine and cooling system as the top trouble area, alongside six recalls. Within the model’s broader 1990–2023 complaint history—where the 2010 model year peaked at 295 complaints and the 2022 model hit a low of 13—the 1994 sits in the earlier, moderately problematic portion, indicating it is a generation that owners should approach with attention to its known engine issues.

Model year202420232022202120202019201820171994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter12731175 alt 12708762
Engine air filter19259086
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued · alt 25139035
Spark plug19301808 alt 05614168
Front wiper blades22121694 discontinued
Serpentine belt19244956 alt 10243486
Thermostat10226107 alt 12551507

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length193.3 in
Overall width74 in
Overall height52 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Curb weight3331 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 60.6 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

5.4–8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.40 sec — 1994 Z28 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1994Z28 Coupe 5.7L V85.40 sec14.10 sec275 hpRWD
1994Z28 Convertible 5.7L V86.20 sec14.50 sec275 hpRWD
1994V-6 Coupe 3.4L V68.90 sec16.80 sec160 hpRWD
1993Z28 Coupe 5.7L V85.30 sec14.00 sec275 hpRWD
1993Z28 Coupe 5.7L V85.60 sec14.00 sec275 hpRWD
1995Z28 Coupe 5.7L V85.70 sec14.20 sec275 hpRWD
1995V-6 Coupe 3.8L V67.40 sec15.70 sec200 hpRWD
1996Z28 Coupe 5.7L V85.70 sec14.10 sec285 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt

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 100,000 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 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (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.

Federal data shows 1994 sits at the beginning of a steep upward curve in owner complaints within the generation, with 198 complaints representing a nearly fivefold increase from the 42 recorded in 1993 and foreshadowing the 1995 peak of 269. While recalls held steady at six, matching both 1993 and 1995, technical service bulletins climbed from 26 to 33 as part of a sustained upward trend that reached 70 by 1995, indicating growing dealership documentation of service patterns. The 1994 model’s most reported complaint areas were Engine & Engine Cooling (24), Electrical System (21), Fuel System, Gasoline (19), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (19), while the year also logged 27 crash-related and 19 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Because 1994 sits on the leading edge of a complaint surge that crests at 269 in 1995 before declining to 144 in 1996 and 77 in 1997, it is a less favorable choice than 1993 or those later lower-complaint years.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
33
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
198
Owner complaints
27 involved a crash · 19 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 198 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling24
Electrical System21
Fuel System, Gasoline19
Service Brakes, Hydraulic19
Structure18
Power Train16
Air Bags15
Visibility14

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

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…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 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: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 33 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696D2019-09-05EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696C2018-05-31EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
020730024A2005-08-01Power TrainDIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY…

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

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VIN
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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 Camaro take?

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

Does the 1994 Camaro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.