Subaru›Impreza›1994›Overview/subaru/impreza/1994/base/

1994 Subaru Impreza

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Subaru Impreza presents a straightforward mechanical package, pairing a 4-speed automatic transmission with an engine requiring 4.2 quarts of 5W-30 API oil to deliver EPA fuel economy figures of 21 city, 27 highway, and 23 combined mpg. Although the Impreza's broader complaint history from 1990 to 2026 would eventually peak at 300 grievances in 2002, the 1994 model year sits firmly near the quieter end of the spectrum with just 8 total owner complaints and 2 recalls. With power train issues leading those few complaints, this early iteration represents a notably stable chapter in the lineage, offering researchers a relatively trouble-free baseline compared to later, more problematic years.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 1994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy21/27/23 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	172 in
Overall width	67.3 in
Overall height	55.1 in
Wheelbase	99.2 in
Curb weight	2555 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.9 / 57.1 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	21 / 27 / 23 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	84 cu ft
Cargo volume	11 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

7.8–12.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.80 sec — 2000 2.5RS Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1993	L Wagon 1.8L F-4	12.70 sec	19.00 sec	110 hp	AWD
1998	2.5RS Coupe 2.5L F-4	8.30 sec	16.40 sec	165 hp	AWD
2000	2.5RS Sedan 2.5L F-4	7.80 sec	15.90 sec	165 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.6 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF
Transfer Case Fluid	80W-90 · GL-5

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi.

At 3,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Hill Holder System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Wheel Bearing (inspect)
At 105,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)

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 Subaru Impreza generated only 8 complaints and 2 recalls, a sharp drop from the 45 complaints and 3 recalls filed for 1993 and well below the 64 complaints recorded for 1995. Its federal profile marks a low point in the early arc of the record, with Power Train and Equipment leading the small complaint count at 3 and 2 respectively, alongside 1 crash complaint and 0 fire complaints. Notably, the 2 investigations in 1994 match the 1995 total and exceed the 0 seen in 1993, though the data does not specify the subject of those investigations. While TSBs rose slightly to 18 from 17 in 1993, the overall federal footprint for this year remains minimal compared with the substantially higher complaint volumes that appear later in the dataset. Given its low complaint exposure, modest recall count, and absence of fire-related complaints, 1994 presents as a comparatively sound choice in this longitudinal record.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’93’94’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Power Train3

Equipment2

Visibility1

Vehicle Speed Control1

Suspension1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

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 18 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
12-249-23R	2023-07-11	Equipment	This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering…
15-302-22	2022-08-23	Equipment	This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as…
01-167-08R	2022-08-23	Equipment	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
15-192-22R	2022-03-18	Electrical System	This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential…
01-167-08R	2021-06-17	Electrical System	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…

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 Impreza. 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.

Vehicles taking 4.2 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1994 Impreza take?

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

Does the 1994 Impreza have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Impreza get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 27 highway / 23 combined mpg.