AudiCabriolet1995Overview/audi/cabriolet/1995/base/

1995 Audi Cabriolet

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Cabriolet.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1995 Audi Cabriolet is a soft-top convertible fitted exclusively with a four-speed automatic transmission and EPA-rated at 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. Its powertrain calls for 5.3 quarts of 5W-30, 5W-40, or 10W-30 API oil. Within the model’s 1993–2003 production timeline, this model year records only three owner complaints and three recalls—positioning it as a relatively stable entry compared with the 1996 peak of eight reported issues, though not as spotless as the 1998 low of a single complaint.

Model year1998199719961995

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque81 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 41 · 650 CCA battery, OE oil filter 078115561J. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, thermostat and cabin air filter are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 41 · 650 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnSTOPOEM · verified
Tire size195-65HR15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter078115561J alt 06A115561B
Engine air filter191129620 discontinued
Fuel filter893133511 discontinued
Spark plug101000033AA
Front wiper blades4A0955427
Serpentine belt078903137AQ alt 078903137AJ
Thermostat078121113F discontinued
Cabin air filter8A0819439 discontinued

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length176 in
Overall width67.7 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase100.4 in
Curb weight3364 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-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 Cabriolet of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.70 sec — 1995 Convertible
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1995Convertible 2.8L V69.70 sec17.20 sec172 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.3 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 81 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-3-6-2-5.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.2-3.5
Brake FluidDOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil Capacity5.3 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE VW. PART NO. G002000

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts7 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs18 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.2

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts81 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-3-6-2-5
Spark Plug ManufacturerVW
Spark Plug Gap0.035-0.043 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.44 lbs
Oil TypeSP-10
Oil Capacity8.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number41
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17-22 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180 °F
Engine Compression203
Engine Oil Pressure14.5-36.3 psi
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle92 ft-lbs / 44 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.984 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.984 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.906 in / 0.315 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9044 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18030 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18044 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 at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 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.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBrake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Windshield Washer System (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 45,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 miOxygen Sensor (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 90,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Timing Belt (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 1995 Audi Cabriolet carries a moderate federal record with 3 complaints and the generation's highest count of 3 recalls, placing it at the crest of the model's early safety rectification arc. Across the generation, recalls trend downward from this 1995 peak—dropping to 2 in 1996 and 1 in 1997—while consumer complaints spike sharply immediately afterward, reaching 8 in 1996. The 1995 model's complaint areas focus entirely on visibility and electrical system issues, though the data does not specify the root causes for these defects. Fortunately, this year records zero crash or fire complaints, indicating these flaws did not manifest as severe safety hazards in the federal record. Because the 1995 model bears the heaviest recall burden of the generation and immediately precedes a spike in unresolved complaints, it represents a slightly riskier purchase than later years; however, ensuring all three recalls have been completed makes it an acceptable buy if the electrical and visibility systems are thoroughly vetted.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
3
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
3
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 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Visibility1
Electrical System,Visibility,Equipment1
Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

96V017000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 29/01/1996

DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

98V332000Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection SystemReported 23/12/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES. AN INTERNAL SEAL OF THE FUEL INJECTOR CAN MALFUNCTION, ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FUEL INJECTORS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB-44-08-142008-11-19WheelsAUDI: WHEEL BOLTS REQUIRE TORQUE ADJUSTMENT. TORQUE STICKS AND TORQUE EXTENSION BARS ARE…
200562432007-02-26Exterior LightingHEADLIGHT AIMING, USING HELLA UNIVERSAL BEAMSETTER. *KB
9711039701X1997-11-03StructureCONDITION WITH VEHICLES CONVERTIBLE TOP OPERATION IS SLOW OR INOPERATIVE. *YC

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 Cabriolet. 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 1995 Cabriolet take?

5.3 qt of ENERGY CONSERVING OILS: 5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API SL, EXCEPT ENGERGY CONSERVING OILS: 5W-50, 10W-50, OR 10W-60 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Cabriolet have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Cabriolet get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.