LexusLS4001994Overview/lexus/ls400/1994/base/

1994 Lexus LS400

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 LS400.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Lexus LS400 pairs a 4-speed automatic transmission with an engine that takes 5.4 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API oil and returns EPA ratings of 16 city and 22 highway mpg. Within the model's 1990–2001 complaint history, this particular year stands out as the high-water mark with 68 total owner complaints, the largest cluster centered on the electrical system, though none triggered a recall. That positions 1994 at the peak of the LS400's documented reliability concerns—a trajectory that would steadily improve across the generation until bottoming at just two complaints by 2001.

Model year200019991998199719961995199419931992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · 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 90915YZZD3. 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 filter90915YZZD3
Engine air filter178015001083
Fuel filter2330050020
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades8522250030 alt 8521250041
Serpentine belt9091602586
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 1632562010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 22 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume97 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.4 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.9 Pints
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.4 qt

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 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) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Spark Plugs (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 Lexus LS400 sits at the peak of the first-generation complaint arc, with its 68 federal complaints marking a dramatic spike from just 8 complaints in 1992 and slightly surpassing the 66 complaints recorded in 1993. This trend sharply reverses in 1995, where complaints drop to 44 alongside the introduction of two recalls, suggesting the manufacturer addressed underlying issues for the updated model. For the 1994 model specifically, the data indicates a heavy concentration in electrical issues, with 37 complaints targeting the Electrical System alone and an additional 8 citing interior lighting, though the record does not specify a root cause for these failures. Despite the high complaint volume, the 1994 model saw zero recalls, zero investigations, zero fire complaints, and only 3 crash-related complaints. Given that the 1994 model represents the highest complaint year of the early LS400 run just before significant improvements were implemented, prospective buyers should proceed with caution and prioritize thorough electrical system inspections, making a 1995 or newer model a statistically stronger purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
26
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
68
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 68 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System37
Seat Belts6
Interior Lighting5
Interior Lighting,Electrical System3
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting2
Air Bags2
Tires2
Unknown Or Other2

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 26 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Safety Recall 222022-04-13EquipmentLexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Lexus PRO19-02 -2022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
Lexus Safety Re2020-05-01EquipmentSafety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
L-SB-0179-17 Obs2020-04-06EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
L-SB-0008-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

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 LS400. 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 LS400 take?

5.4 qt of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 LS400 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the LS400 get?

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