PontiacTrans Sport1994Overview/pontiac/trans-sport/1994/base/

1994 Pontiac Trans Sport

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

Body VAN

The 1994 Pontiac Trans Sport is a VAN requiring 4 qt of 5W-30 API oil, recorded within the model's 1990-2003 history with 108 total owner complaints and 4 recalls. Although the Power Train stands out as the top complaint area for this specific year, the reported issues are significantly fewer than the 1998 peak of 259 complaints while exceeding the 2000 low of 2. This placement indicates a reliability profile that avoids the peak complaint volumes of 1998 but lacks the minimal complaint volume of the 2000 model year. Consequently, researchers should weigh the specific Power Train concerns against the year's avoidance of the model history's highest complaint totals.

Model year199819971996199519941993199219911990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737090. 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.

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12737090 alt 12731175
Engine air filter25040929 alt 24577608
Fuel filter25121468
Spark plug19300382 alt 19302723
Front wiper blades10284387 alt 10284388
Serpentine belt10219783 alt 10230725
Thermostat24505924 alt 24507563

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.1 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height65.7 in
Wheelbase109.8 in
Curb weight3576 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

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 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 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (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 Pontiac Trans Sport sits mid-generation within a clearly rising complaint arc—its 108 owner complaints exceed the 41, 73, and 90 recorded for 1991-1993 and trail only the 1995 model's 126, while its 4 recalls and 30 TSBs both step up from 1993's 3 and 23. The generation's most troubled years come later (1997-1998, at 254 and 259 complaints), so 1994 precedes rather than coincides with the sharpest deterioration, but the upward trend is already visible by this model year. The 1994's complaint mix is notably broad and safety-adjacent: Power Train (13), Visibility (12), Seat Belts (11), and Structure (10) lead the counts, and 13 fire-related complaints alongside 7 crash-related complaints are meaningful signals the data does not tie to any single identified root cause. Open investigations had quieted to 2 in 1994 (down from 7-10 in 1990-1992), indicating the regulatory posture had stabilized even as field complaints climbed. Concrete takeaway: 1994 is a defensible used buy only with a pre-purchase inspection emphasizing the transmission, seat belt system, and structure, plus documentation that all four recalls were completed—because the trend line points toward materially worse reliability in the two to three model years immediately following.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
30
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
108
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 13 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 108 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train13
Visibility12
Seat Belts11
Structure10
Engine & Engine Cooling9
Electrical System9
Latches/Locks/Linkages8
Wheels4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94V015000Seat Belts:Front:RetractorReported 21/01/1994

THE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS MAY BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND MAY LOCK-UP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON SLOPES OF LESS THAN 15 DEGREES, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS AND REINSTALL THEM PROPERLY.

96V015000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And LinesReported 23/01/1996

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 30 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696D2019-09-05EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696C2018-05-31EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
018802004-01-01Power TrainNO TCC APPLY, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON, TCC SURGE, POSSIBLE P0740, P1870, OR…

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 Trans Sport. 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 Trans Sport take?

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

Does the 1994 Trans Sport have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.