JeepGrand Cherokee19944.0L/jeep/grand-cherokee/1994/4-0l/
ZJ platform

1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee — 4.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Grand Cherokee 4.0L.

Body SUVEngine 4.0LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee occupies the ZJ platform as an SUV powered by a 4.0L engine and four-speed automatic transmission, requiring 6 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API oil and carrying EPA ratings of 14/20/16 mpg. With 1,276 owner complaints and 12 recalls on record, this model year sits in the moderate-to-lower tier of the model's reliability history. Relative to the full 1993–2026 span—where annual complaint volume ranges from 9 to 2,369—this vehicle registers significantly fewer grievances than the 2014 peak but substantially more than the 2026 floor.

Model year200120001999199819971996199519941993

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy14/20/16 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the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter53007386AB discontinued
Fuel filter52005131 discontinued
Spark plug68304020AA alt 68308887AA
Front wiper blades56005186AB discontinued
Serpentine beltQ4060970 discontinued · alt 53031118AB
Thermostat83501426AD alt 52028185AC

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length176.8 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height65 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Curb weight3554 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.9 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined14 / 20 / 16 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

No 1994 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

9.4–10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.40 sec — 1993 Limited
190 hpHorsepower (as tested)
225 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993Limited 4.0L I-69.40 sec17.20 sec190 hp4x4
1993Laredo 4.0L I-610.00 sec17.40 sec190 hp4x4
1995Laredo 4.0L I-69.70 sec17.30 sec190 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6 qt w/ filter of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.4 Pints
Engine CoolantHOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity6 qt w/ filter
Power Steering FluidMS-5931

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; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 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 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBrake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Bands (adjust) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miDistributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)

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.

Within the first generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the 1994 model year sits at the beginning of an escalating complaint arc, recording 1,276 federal complaints compared to 1,224 in its 1993 debut and preceding a sharp rise to 1,503 in 1995 and an eventual peak of 2,113 in 1999. While recalls and investigations both dropped from 1993 (15 recalls, 26 investigations) to 1994 (12 recalls, 16 investigations), technical service bulletins slightly increased from 65 to 68, indicating ongoing manufacturer adjustments early in the generation's lifecycle. The 1994 model's primary federal complaint areas center on Structure (220), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (185), Engine & Engine Cooling (155), and Power Train (150), though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. These concerns correlate with 186 crash complaints and 47 fire complaints for this specific year. Compared to the significantly more problematic later years of its generation, the 1994 Grand Cherokee represents a relatively better year to buy, provided a prospective owner thoroughly vets the vehicle's structural and braking integrity prior to purchase.

12
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
68
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
16
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,276
Owner complaints
186 involved a crash · 47 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,276 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure220
Service Brakes, Hydraulic185
Engine & Engine Cooling155
Power Train150
Vehicle Speed Control105
Electrical System52
Steering44
Air Bags37

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

13V252000Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank AssemblyReported 19/06/2013

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear… Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 68 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
R2118796A2016-02-26Engine And Engine CoolingValve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
23-014-152015-04-23EquipmentChild Seat Tether Anchor Installation This bulletin describes procedures to install Child…
13002142014-12-18Trailer HitchesTowing Capacity For Vehicles Modified With N45 Or N46 Trailer-Hitch Assembly This…
13002142014-12-18Trailer HitchesTowing Capacity For Vehicles Modified With N45 Or N46 Trailer-Hitch Assembly This…
13-002-142014-12-18Trailer HitchesTowing Capacity For Vehicles Modified With N45 Or N46 Trailer-Hitch Assembly This…

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 Grand Cherokee. 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 Grand Cherokee 4.0L take?

6 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Grand Cherokee have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 4.0L get?

EPA figures are 14 city / 20 highway / 16 combined mpg.