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2005 Audi A6/Quattro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2005 A6/Quattro.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2005 Audi A6/Quattro is a passenger car equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, requiring 9.3 quarts of 5W-30 or 5W-40 API oil, and delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. This model year carries 91 documented owner complaints with air bags cited as the primary concern, alongside 3 recalls. These reliability metrics indicate specific vulnerabilities in the safety systems that position this production run as a year requiring particular scrutiny from researchers evaluating long-term dependability against other model years.

Model year2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2005 2000 1999

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity9.3 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy17/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 570 CCA battery, OE oil filter 06D115475. 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.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 570 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnTAILOEM · verified

Tire size245-45R17OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	06D115475 alt 06E115562C
Engine air filter	4F0133843
Fuel filter	4F0201511D alt 4F0201511E
Spark plug	101905615A alt 101905621
Battery	000915089K alt 000915089J
Front wiper blades	4F1955425F
Thermostat	06E121119B alt 079121119
Cabin air filter	4F0820261 alt 4F0819439A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	17 / 24 / 19 mpg
Drivetrain	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	98 cu ft
Cargo volume	16 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 9.3 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	Audi part number G060162A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	8.5-11.0
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4 Pints
Engine Oil	5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	9.3 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · 5W-40 · API

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	22 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	15 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.2

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	89 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	26.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	26.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-3-6-2-5
Cylinder Firing Order	1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	0.3-0.5 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	VW
Spark Plug Gap	0.035 in
Spark Plug Torque	22.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	VW
Spark Plug Gap	0.028-0.035 in

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	570 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	94R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	640 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	570 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	95R

Service checks

Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188 °F

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	25 ft-lbs / 22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	103 ft-lbs / 144 ft-lbs / 140 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.472 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.472 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.394 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

22 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

44 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45

44 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 55,000 mi.

At 5,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect) · Windshield Washer System (inspect) · Windshield Wiper Linkage (lubricate)
Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Windshield Washer System (inspect fluid level)
Every 10,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect) · Windshield Washer System (inspect) · Windshield Wiper Linkage (lubricate)
At 15,000 mi	Air Intake Hose Debris Screen (clean) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection)
Every 20,000 mi	Air Intake Hose Debris Screen (clean) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection)
At 35,000 mi	Power Steering System (inspect fluid level)
Every 40,000 mi	Air Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level) · Sunroof Assembly (inspect)
At 55,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	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.

Owner complaints about the 2005 Audi A6/Quattro dominate in one area — the air bags, 40 of 91 reports (44%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the air bags pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

380

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 91 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags40

Steering5

Electrical System4

Visibility4

Electrical System,Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Service Brakes3

Vehicle Speed Control3

Electrical System,Exterior Lighting2

Exterior Lighting2

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 380 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
A0023742052680_4	2023-10-04	Equipment	This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety…
DC_AudiRingsV12	2023-04-28	Equipment	Inside the Rings \| Volume 12, Spring 2023
TRMDMV_NM_Audi	2023-03-13	Air Bags	In conjunction with the New Mexico DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall…
TRMDMV_MA_Audi	2023-03-13	Air Bags	In conjunction with the Massachusetts DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall…
TRMDMV_CO_Audi	2023-02-13	Air Bags	In conjunction with the Colorado DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder…

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 A6/Quattro. 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.

Group 48 battery Vehicles taking 9.3 qt Engine oil filter 06D115475 Engine air filter 4F0133843 Fuel filter 4F0201511D Spark plug 101905615A

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2005 A6/Quattro take?

9.3 qt of 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API MEETING VW SPECIFICATION VW50200, per the factory manual.

Does the 2005 A6/Quattro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the A6/Quattro get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.