InfinitiG201994Overview/infiniti/g20/1994/base/

1994 Infiniti G20

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 G20.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Infiniti G20 is a premium sedan whose powertrain pairs a four-speed automatic transmission with an engine calling for 3.6 quarts of 5W-30 oil, returning EPA fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 22 combined. Across the 1991-2002 reliability record the dataset covers, this model year logged the fewest owner complaints of any year in the run — just 7 against a peak of 29 in 1995 — even as two recalls were filed and the engine and engine cooling category accounted for the leading share of grievances. For a researcher, that makes the 1994 G20 the cleanest reference point in the nameplate's history, establishing a baseline that subsequent model years only moved away from and underscoring that the earliest examples remain the most dependable of the lot.

Model year200220012000199919961995199419931992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 API SMOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/26/22 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 1520853J0A. Note the factory spark plug is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter1520853J0A
Engine air filter16546V0100 alt 165460Z000
Fuel filter1640041B1A
Spark plug2240120J06 discontinued · alt 2240120J07
Front wiper blades2889059J05 alt 2889035V15
Serpentine belt119200E001 alt 1195053J20
Thermostat212000C82A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 26 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume89 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the G20 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.40 sec — 1994 t Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1994t Sedan 2.0L I-48.40 sec16.50 sec140 hpFWD
1991Sedan 2.0L I-48.20 sec16.50 sec140 hpFWD
1991Sedan 2.0L I-48.70 sec16.70 sec140 hpFWD
1991Sedan 2.0L I-48.70 sec16.80 sec140 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.6 qt of 5W-30 API SM engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.6 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 at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 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 3,750 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 Infiniti G20 sits at the low point of a clear complaint trend within the first generation (1991–1996). Complaints steadily declined from 14 in 1991 to 7 in 1994, then spiked sharply to 29 in 1995 before settling back to 14 in 1996. Recalls remained constant at 2 for all years except 1996, which had 1, and TSBs were stable across the range. The 1994 model’s top complaint areas—engine and engine cooling, steering, air bags, and power train—each registered only a single or double instance, with no fire complaints and just one crash complaint. This places 1994 as the quietest year in the generation, suggesting it may have avoided the issues that drove the 1995 spike. Based on the federal data, the 1994 Infiniti G20 appears to be a particularly good year to buy within this generation.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
34
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
7
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 7 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling2
Steering1
Air Bags1
Power Train1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Power Train1
Tires1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

96V083000Seat Belts:Front:AnchorageReported 09/05/1996

A HARNESS CONNECTOR PROTECTOR LOCATED NEAR THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER CAN IGNITE DUE TO THE PROXIMITY TO THE COMBUSTION GAS GENERATED BY THE PRE-TENSIONER WHEN THE DEVICE IS TRIGGERED. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR PROTECTORS WITH ONES HAVING SUFFICIENT RESISTANCE TO THE COMBUSTION GAS OF THE PRE-TENSIONERS WHEN ACTIVATED.

97V072000Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And CapReported 22/04/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND REPLACE THE TUBE WITH A NEW ONE. ANY OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY WHICH ARE DAMAGED OR DETERIORATED WILL ALSO BE…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 34 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
ITB13-007H2023-02-27StructureREMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See…
ITB09-039J2023-02-27VisibilityWINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last…
ITB10-067C2023-02-22WheelsWHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on…
ITB16-006A2021-03-24Electrical SystemINFINITI; FRONT SONAR PARKING SENSOR SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended…
ITB19-0082019-04-02EquipmentEXTERIOR CLEANING INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION When cleaning the exterior of an…

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 G20. 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 G20 take?

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

Does the 1994 G20 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the G20 get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.