ChryslerTown and Country19943.8L V6/chrysler/town-and-country/1994/3-8l-v6/
AS platform

1994 Chrysler Town and Country — 3.8L V6

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Town and Country 3.8L V6.

Body VANEngine 3.8L V6Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Chrysler Town and Country is a front-wheel-drive minivan built on Chrysler's AS platform and powered by a 3.8L V6 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, returning EPA ratings of 15/20/17 mpg and calling for 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil with filter at each change. In the model's 1990-2018 complaint history, the 1994 model year logged 201 owner complaints—well below the 2011 peak of 773 and a notable step above the 1990 low of 14—with power-train issues cited as the top complaint area and six recalls on record. That placement makes it a relatively quiet year in the Town and Country's reliability timeline, worth noting for researchers comparing long-term durability across generations.

Model year200320022001199919981997199619951994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/20/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug, front wiper blades and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter05281090AB
Engine air filter04306113 discontinued
Fuel filter04682923 discontinued
Spark plug68305411AA discontinued
Front wiper blades1AMWC018AA discontinued · alt 04673043
Thermostat04573560AE discontinued · alt 04781661AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.9 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height65 in
Wheelbase119.3 in
Curb weight3924 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 20 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainFront-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 4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 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; 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 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEmission Control System (inspect)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

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 federal record shows complaint volumes of 14 in 1990 and 28 in 1991, then a sharp increase to 473 complaints by 2001, indicating an overall upward trend in reported issues across the generation. Although the JSON does not provide total complaint or recall numbers for the 1994 model year, it lists the top complaint areas as Power Train (29), Service Brakes (27), Structure (23) and Air Bags (15), along with 19 crash‑related and 1 fire‑related complaints. Placing 1994 between the low‑complaint early years and the later high‑complaint years suggests that its issue frequency likely falls somewhere in the middle of that arc, but the exact level cannot be determined from the supplied data. Given the notable power‑train and brake complaints and the presence of crash reports, a prospective buyer should treat the 1994 Town and Country as a model that warrants a thorough pre‑purchase inspection before purchase.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
70
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
6
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
201
Owner complaints
19 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 201 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train29
Service Brakes, Hydraulic27
Structure23
Air Bags15
Latches/Locks/Linkages14
Visibility13
Engine & Engine Cooling12
Steering9

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 5 of 70 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
230272016-08-23Electrical SystemReturn: Wiring Assy - Engine You have been identified as either having stock, or have…
231372016-08-22EquipmentInspect and Return: Trim Cover Assy - A-Pillar Rt/Lt You have been identified as either…
231042016-08-22Equipment05182535AD - Lamp Assy ?Tail Light LT You have been identified as either having stock, or…
202442016-08-18EquipmentCBXDP361AA Return: Spacer Kit - Visor You have been identified as either having stock, or…
Volume 2, Issue2016-08-18EquipmentWarranty Operations Newsletter Updates from Warranty Operations

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 Town and Country. 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 Town and Country 3.8L V6 take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Town and Country have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 3.8L V6 get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 20 highway / 17 combined mpg.