LexusGS3001994Overview/lexus/gs300/1994/base/

1994 Lexus GS300

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 GS300.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Lexus GS300 is a passenger car fitted with an automatic four‑speed transmission and an engine that takes 5.7 qt of 10W‑30/5W‑30 API oil. It returns EPA estimates of 16 city, 21 highway and 18 combined mpg. Owner‑reported issues total nine, with suspension the leading complaint area and a single recall recorded. Across the 1993‑2019 span the model’s complaints peaked at 69 in 1998 and fell to one in 2013, placing the 1994 year near the low‑end of the range and suggesting comparatively solid early‑generation reliability.

Model year201920182006200520042003200220011994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/21/18 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 90915YZZD1. 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 filter90915YZZD1
Engine air filter1780150020
Fuel filter2330050050
Spark plug9008091184
Front wiper blades8521217071 alt 852221G090
Serpentine belt9091602310
Thermostat9091603093 alt 1632562010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 21 / 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 5.7 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 Capacity5.7 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 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension 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 GS300, as the second model year, shows 9 complaints and 35 technical service bulletins — a modest increase over 1993's 7 complaints and 24 TSBs but well below the 1995 uptick to 20 complaints and the sharp 1998 spike to 69 complaints and 73 TSBs. Across the generation, complaint volumes remain low through 1997 before surging in 1998 and staying elevated through the early 2000s, while recall counts hold steady at one per year for most model years. The 1994 complaint profile cites Suspension (two reports), Vehicle Speed Control and Engine (one each), and Electrical System (one), with a single crash complaint and no fire incidents; the data does not specify root causes for these categories. TSB volume rises steadily from 1993 onward, peaking at 77 in 2002, indicating growing dealer-service activity over the model run. Positioned before the mid-generation complaint escalation, the 1994 model benefits from lower owner-reported issue frequency. For a buyer prioritizing a cleaner early-generation example, the 1994 GS300 represents a favorable year relative to the broader federal record.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
35
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
9
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 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 9 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension2
Vehicle Speed Control,Engine1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Electrical System1
Seat Belts1
Visibility1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V072000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball JointReported 03/04/1995

THE SPHERICAL PORTIONS OF CERTAIN LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD FINISHED SURFACES THAT WERE NOT SMOOTH CAUSING FRICTION WITH THE SURFACE OF THE BALL JOINT CAP. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 35 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 GS300. 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 GS300 take?

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

Does the 1994 GS300 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the GS300 get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg.