SubaruJusty1994Overview/subaru/justy/1994/base/

1994 Subaru Justy

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

Transmission Manual 5-spd

The 1994 Subaru Justy pairs a manual 5-speed transmission with EPA fuel economy ratings of 28 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, requiring 3 quarts of 5W-30 API oil for routine service. Within the 1990–1995 model timeline, this year represents the reliability apex, drawing just one owner complaint targeting the hydraulic service brakes and zero recalls—a stark improvement from the 18 complaints logged for the 1990 debut year. That minimal defect record establishes the 1994 Justy as the most dependable iteration in the model's six-year production history.

Model year1995199419921991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy28/33/30 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length145.7 in
Overall width60.2 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase90.2 in
Curb weight2044 lb
Track (front / rear)52.4 / 50.8 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined28 / 33 / 30 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

11.3–13.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.30 sec — 1992 GL 3-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1992GL 3-door Hatchback 1.2L I-311.30 sec18.40 sec66 hpFWD
1988RS 3-door Hatchback 1.2L I-312.40 sec18.70 sec66 hpAWD
1987GL 3-door Hatchback 1.2L I-313.50 sec18.70 sec66 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

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

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.6 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3 qt
Transfer Case Fluid80W-90 · GL-5
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity2.5 Pints

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 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBody 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 miBrake 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 miWheel Bearing (inspect)
At 105,000 miDrive 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.

Across the 1990–1995 generation, the Subaru Justy shows a clear downward arc in federal complaints, recalls, and investigations, with the early years (1990–1991) bearing the heaviest regulatory burden—18 and 9 complaints respectively, plus one recall and two investigations each year—before a sharp drop to single-digit complaints and zero recalls or investigations from 1992 onward. The 1994 model year sits at the bottom of that arc, tied with 1995 for the lowest complaint count in the entire generation at just one complaint, with no recalls and no investigations. The sole 1994 complaint involves the Service Brakes, Hydraulic category and is flagged as a crash-related complaint, though the federal record does not specify a root cause. Notably, TSBs hold steady at 10 across every year of the generation, suggesting Subaru maintained consistent technical service guidance even as major issues subsided. The 1994 Justy's position at the mature, low-complaint tail end of the generation implies that early-production problems had largely been resolved by this point. For a buyer considering a used 1994 Justy, the federal data points to a relatively stable model year—arguably one of the better years in the generation to purchase—though the lone brake-related crash complaint warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection of the braking system.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
10
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

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 10 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
15-302-222022-08-23EquipmentThis bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as…
01-167-08R2022-08-23EquipmentThis bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
15-192-22R2022-03-18Electrical SystemThis bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential…
01-167-08R2021-06-17Electrical SystemThis bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
09-51-08R2021-06-07EquipmentThis bulletin is to advise of SOA’s revised catalytic converter recycling program…

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 Justy. 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 Justy take?

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

Does the 1994 Justy have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Justy get?

EPA figures are 28 city / 33 highway / 30 combined mpg.