InfinitiJ301994Overview/infiniti/j30/1994/base/

1994 Infiniti J30

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 J30.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Infiniti J30 is a passenger car equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission and EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. Maintenance specifications call for 4.5 quarts of 10W-30 or 10W-40 API SM viscosity oil. Within the model’s 1992–2006 production span, this model year accumulated the highest complaint volume at 27 owner reports—compared to just one in 2000—with air bags representing the top concern and one recall on record, marking the 1994 J30 as the most documented trouble spot in the series’ history.

Model year19971996199519941993

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 10W-40 API SMOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/22/18 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 1520855Y0A. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter1520855Y0A
Engine air filter16546V0100
Fuel filter1640053J10
Spark plug224011P116 alt 2240127N67
Front wiper blades2889010Y10 discontinued · alt 2889010Y00
Serpentine beltA172M0P5SMVW alt A192M0P5SMVW
Thermostat2120042L0A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.3 in
Overall width69.7 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase108.7 in
Curb weight3474 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 22 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume87 cu ft
Cargo volume10 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the J30 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.7–8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.70 sec — 1993 t Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993t Sedan 3.0L V68.70 sec16.80 sec210 hpRWD
1993Sedan 3.0L V68.90 sec16.70 sec210 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 / 10W-40 API SM engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.1 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · 10W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 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 60,000 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 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) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · 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) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miActive Suspension System (drain & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 105,000 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 Infiniti J30 sits squarely at the peak of the generation's complaint arc, recording 27 federal complaints — the highest of any model year — narrowly edging the 1993 model's 26 and well above the 1995 model's 22. Complaints then drop sharply to just 6 in 1996 and 11 in 1997, suggesting Infiniti resolved the bulk of the generation's issues after the 1994–1995 window. The recall count holds steady at one across 1993, 1994, and 1995, indicating a persistent multi-year recall condition, though the data does not specify its nature. The 1994 model's top complaint area is air bags (9 of 27 complaints), followed by power train and electrical system (3 each), and the year also carries 8 crash-related complaints and 1 fire complaint — figures that add a safety dimension beyond mere mechanical inconvenience. TSBs continued climbing from 40 in 1993 to 43 in 1994 to 45 in 1995, which suggests the manufacturer was still actively diagnosing and issuing fixes during this period rather than having reached maturity. Given that 1994 represents the crest of both complaint volume and unresolved technical service activity, a buyer should prefer the 1996 or 1997 model years, which show dramatically lower complaint counts, zero recalls, and fewer open technical bulletins.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
43
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
27
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 27 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags9
Power Train3
Electrical System3
Vehicle Speed Control2
Structure2
Tires1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Electrical System1
Equipment1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 43 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 J30. 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 J30 take?

4.5 qt of 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API SM-, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 J30 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the J30 get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.