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1994 Chevrolet Cavalier

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier is a passenger car that runs a 4‑quart oil system specified for 5W‑30 API. Owner‑reported issues total 300, with the leading complaint category being service brakes, hydraulic, and the model was subject to two recalls. In the broader 1990‑2005 complaint record — where the lowest yearly total was 63 in 1990 and the peak reached 705 in 2003 — the 1994 figure places it in the middle of the range, indicating a moderate reliability profile for that generation.

Model year2024 2023 2021 2020 2019 2005 2004 2003 1994

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 Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter	12731175
Engine air filter	25043504 alt 25043119
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19354418 alt 05614281
Front wiper blades	22110234 discontinued
Serpentine belt	88986808 alt 14092201
Thermostat	24507563 alt 24577299

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	182.3 in
Overall width	66.1 in
Overall height	52 in
Wheelbase	101.2 in
Curb weight	2679 lb
Track (front / rear)	55.5 / 55.5 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

7.9–10.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.90 sec — 2003 LS Sport Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1995	LS Sedan 2.2L I-4	10.10 sec	17.30 sec	120 hp	FWD
1996	LS Sedan 2.4L I-4	8.30 sec	16.10 sec	150 hp	FWD
1990	Z24 Coupe 3.1L V6	8.40 sec	16.40 sec	140 hp	FWD
2003	LS Sport Coupe 2.2L I-4	7.90 sec	16.10 sec	140 hp	FWD

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, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

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 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark 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.

Across the generation, the Chevrolet Cavalier shows a steady upward trend in reported issues, with annual complaints rising from 63 in 1990 to a peak of 705 in 2003. The 1994 model year sits at the start of this escalation, recording 300 complaints, an increase from the 210 reported in 1993. Primary concerns for 1994 include hydraulic service brakes (65 complaints) and engine and engine cooling (54 complaints), though the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. While 1994 had only 2 recalls and 32 technical service bulletins (TSBs), it immediately precedes a sharp spike in 1995, where recalls jumped to 9 and TSBs rose to 108. The 1994 model also recorded 38 crash-related complaints and 3 fire-related complaints. Because it precedes the most severe spikes in recalls and technical bulletins seen in later years, this is a relatively better year to buy than the models that followed.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

300

Owner complaints

38 involved a crash · 3 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93’94’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 300 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic65

Engine & Engine Cooling54

Electrical System25

Seat Belts22

Power Train18

Visibility16

Seats11

Suspension11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

96I001000Electrical System:HornReported 23/01/1996

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INSUFFICIENT RETENTION OF THE HORN PAD. Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE HORN PAD RETENTION CLIPS, INSTALL HORN PAD RETENTION BRACKETS TO THE STEERING WHEEL, REINSTALL THE HORN PAD AND ASSURE THAT THE HORN PAD IS PROPERLY…

94V115000Steering:Linkages:Knuckle:Spindle:ArmReported 24/06/1994

THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OVERTORQUED DRIVE AXLE SPINDLE NUTS. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE SPINDLE NUT AND DRIVE AXLE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE DRIVE AXLE OR THE SPINDLE NUT. FAILURE OF EITHER… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 32 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696D	2019-09-05	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696C	2018-05-31	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
130089009	2013-09-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
00966B	2004-01-01	Service Brakes, Air	ABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT

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 Cavalier. 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 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 25043504 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19354418

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 Cavalier take?

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

Does the 1994 Cavalier have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.