ChryslerLebaron19942.5L/chrysler/lebaron/1994/2-5l/
AJ platform

1994 Chrysler Lebaron — 2.5L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Lebaron 2.5L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.5LTransmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1994 Chrysler Lebaron is a mid‑size passenger car built on the AJ platform and powered by a 2.5‑liter inline‑four engine that runs on 4.0‑5.0 lb/gal and accepts 15W‑40, 10W‑30, or 5W‑30 oil. Coupled to a 3‑speed automatic transmission, the model averages 19 mpg city/25 mpg highway (22 mpg combined) and is known for its solid, if not spectacular, drivetrain. In the broader 1990‑2003 complaint window, 1994 stands out as the year with the most owner grievances—151 complaints, chiefly concerning structural issues—yet it remains free of recalls, indicating that while the vehicle may have had design quirks, it did not suffer from widespread safety defects.

Model year1995199419931992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0-5.0OEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/25/22 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 Note the factory engine air filter, spark plug and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter04288899 discontinued · alt 04213583AB
Fuel filter04495781 alt 04495780
Spark plug68305411AA discontinued · alt 68304174AA
Front wiper blades4334667 alt 04389350
Serpentine beltB0015396 alt 04798390
Thermostat04494470 discontinued · alt MD997310

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 25 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.0-5.0 of 15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.0-5.0

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm

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 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.

Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Automatic Seat Belt Track (lubricate) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Timing Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (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.

The 1994 model year represents a pronounced spike in the LeBaron’s federal complaint record, with 151 filings nearly doubling the 78 logged in 1993 and exceeding the 107 seen in 1995. Across the generation, complaint volumes remained relatively stable between 78 and 95 from 1990 through 1993 before this 1994 surge, after which filings declined sharply as the platform aged out of daily use. While recalls dropped to zero in 1994—continuing a trend that began in 1993—technical service bulletins climbed to 64, up from 58 the prior year, indicating dealer service channels were addressing emerging patterns even without mandated safety campaigns. The 1994 data shows 8 crash-related and 5 fire-related complaints among elevated concerns in Structure, Engine & Engine Cooling, and Power Train, though the data does not specify root causes. Given that 1994 carries the highest complaint volume of this generation with zero accompanying recalls to address potential systemic issues, this represents the riskiest model year in the LeBaron arc; prospective buyers should prioritize 1993 or earlier examples with lower complaint frequencies, or exercise exceptional diligence inspecting any 1994 vehicle for structural, cooling, and powertrain integrity.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
64
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
151
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 151 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure29
Engine & Engine Cooling24
Power Train22
Visibility9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic8
Steering7
Suspension7
Seat Belts5

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.

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 Lebaron. 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 Lebaron 2.5L take?

4.0-5.0 of ABOVE 20 degrees F 30W SJ, SL, ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40 SJ, SL, ABOVE 0 degrees F 10W-30 SJ, SL, BELOW 32 degrees F 5W-30 SJ, SL, BELOW 100 degrees F 5W-30 SJ, SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Lebaron have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 2.5L get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 25 highway / 22 combined mpg.