Nissan240SX1994Overview/nissan/240sx/1994/base/

1994 Nissan 240SX

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 240SX.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Nissan 240SX runs on a 4.2‑quart engine that requires 5W‑30 API SM oil and is mated to an automatic four‑speed transmission, yielding EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 18/23/20 mpg. Owner feedback for the year is minimal, with just two complaints logged and no recalls, noting potential issues in the suspension, fuel system, gasoline delivery, structure, or interior lighting. When placed alongside the 19901998 complaint trend—where 1995 saw a high of 76 reports and 1998 dropped to a single complaint—the 1994 model year occupies the low‑complaint end, signaling a notably reliable version of the 240SX.

Model year199819971996199519941993199219911990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 API SMOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/23/20 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 1520855Y0A. 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 filter1520855Y0A
Engine air filter16546V0100
Fuel filter1640041B1A
Spark plug2240150Y05 alt 2240150Y07
Front wiper bladesB889070F70 alt 2889061S05
Serpentine belt1195071E11 alt A195053F10
Thermostat212000C82A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 23 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the 240SX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.9–10.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.90 sec — 1992 SE Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993Coupe 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.50 sec155 hpRWD
1992SE Coupe 2.4L I-47.90 sec16.20 sec155 hpRWD
1992SE Convertible 2.4L I-410.60 sec18.10 sec155 hpRWD
1991SE Coupe 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.60 sec140 hpRWD
1989SE Coupe 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.40 sec140 hpRWD
1989SE Coupe 2.4L I-49.50 sec17.00 sec140 hpRWD

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 SM engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

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 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.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miSpark 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 model recorded only 2 federal complaints, zero recalls and zero investigations, placing it among the lowest complaint years in the 19901998 generation. Its complaint count is markedly lower than the 16 complaints in 1993 and the 76 complaints reported in 1995, and its total service bulletin count of 25 is also below the surrounding years. The top complaint categories — suspension, fuel system, gasoline, structure and interior lighting — each accounted for a single instance, and no crash or fire complaints were logged. Compared with the upward spike in 1995 and the relatively stable but higher counts of 1992‑1993, 1994 sits at the trough of the complaint arc. Consequently, based solely on the available federal records, 1994 appears to be a favorable year to purchase a used 1994 Nissan 240SX, as it carries minimal documented defect activity.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
25
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Suspension,Fuel System, Gasoline,Structure,Interior Lighting1
Structure1

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 25 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB08-097L2023-09-21SteeringDIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been…
NTB23-0492023-06-16Electrical System12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service…
NTB23-0532023-06-16Electrical SystemSILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION…
NTB13-107F2023-04-27Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB16-003C2023-04-17Electrical SystemINTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended…

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 240SX. 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 240SX take?

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

Does the 1994 240SX have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 240SX get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined mpg.