HyundaiElantra1994Overview/hyundai/elantra/1994/base/

1994 Hyundai Elantra

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1994 Hyundai Elantra is a passenger car whose engine calls for 4.2 quarts of oil, with acceptable viscosity grades spanning 20W-40, 20W-50, and 10W-30 API — a lubrication spec that reflects the era's conventional-oil expectations rather than modern low-viscosity formulations. Across the model's full complaint history running from 1992 through 2026, this model year accrued 97 owner complaints, with air bags ranking as the top complaint area alongside a single recall. That volume places the 1994 Elantra far below the nameplate's peak of 1,325 complaints in 2013, positioning it in the quieter tier of the Elantra's reliability record and suggesting that, for researchers, early-generation issues here are comparatively contained rather than emblematic of the model's worst years.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920181994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length171.7 in
Overall width66.1 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase98.4 in
Curb weight2474 lb
Track (front / rear)57.1 / 56.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

8.0–8.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.00 sec — 2002 GT 5-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2000GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.30 sec16.60 sec140 hpFWD
2001GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.40 sec16.50 sec140 hpFWD
2002GT 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-48.00 sec16.30 sec135 hpFWD
2002GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.50 sec16.70 sec138 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Engine OilABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

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.

At 7,500 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Rack & Pinion Assembly (inspect)
Every 52,500 miFuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miTiming Belt (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.

The 1994 Hyundai Elantra logged 97 federal complaints, 1 recall, and 2 investigations, with airbag issues (31 complaints) and electrical system failures (14 complaints) dominating the reports. Compared to the 1992 and 1993 model years—which saw only 38 and 40 complaints respectively with zero recalls—the 1994 model represents a sharp escalation in reported problems. Within the early generational arc, 1994 marks the beginning of a steep upward trend in federal complaints and the introduction of safety recalls, preceding even higher complaint volumes in 1995 (151) and 1996 (109). The data does not specify the root causes for this decline, but the 25 associated crash complaints and 2 fire complaints indicate serious safety implications. Given its position at the forefront of a severe quality decline and its elevated airbag concerns, the 1994 Elantra is a risky purchase that used buyers should avoid.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
12
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
97
Owner complaints
25 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 97 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags31
Electrical System14
Engine & Engine Cooling10
Power Train9
Structure5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Steering3
Latches/Locks/Linkages2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94V090000Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/RegulatorReported 11/05/1994

IN SOME VEHICLES, THE MANUFACTURER'S PROTECTIVE INTERNAL COATING OF THE ELECTRONIC CRANK ANGLE SENSOR DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT AT HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURES. THIS CAN CAUSE THE… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE SENSOR IS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, AND REPLACE ANY SENSOR FOUND WITH THE DEFECTIVE INTERNAL COATING.

95V101000Air Bags:FrontalReported 24/05/1995

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED AND COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE FROM INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO DETERMINE IF IT CONTAINS A TERMINAL HOLDER. IF IT DOES NOT, ONE WILL BE INSTALLED.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 12 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
23-BD-002H2023-01-30VisibilityThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
21-EM-003H2021-03-10Engine And Engine CoolingThis bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain…
20-BR-002H2020-11-30Service BrakesThis bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear…
20-SS-004H2020-11-19WheelsThis bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize…
20-EE-003H2020-04-23EquipmentThis bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: •…

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 Elantra. 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 Elantra take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SM, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SM, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Elantra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.