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1995 Volkswagen Golf/GTI/Jetta

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Golf/GTI/Jetta.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1995 Volkswagen Golf/GTI/Jetta is a passenger car featuring an engine that utilizes 3.7 quarts of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 20W-20 API viscosity oil. Reliability data for this model year shows five recalls and a total of 72 owner complaints. Within these reports, the electrical system emerges as the top complaint area.

Model year19991998199719961995

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 20W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque81 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 41 · 575 CCA battery, OE oil filter 056115561G. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 · 575 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLIGHTOEM · verified
Tire size185-60HR14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter056115561G alt 021115562
Engine air filter1H0129620
Fuel filter1H0201511A
Spark plug101000044AA alt 101000035AH
Front wiper blades1H0998003 discontinued · alt 357955425D
Thermostat044121113 alt 075121113D
Cabin air filter1H0819644B

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 20W-20 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 81 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.7 Pints
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.7 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilAPI · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 20W-20
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts81 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Spark Plug ManufacturerVW
Spark Plug Gap0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.76-1.81 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeSP-10
Oil Capacity3.90-4.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number41
Standard BCI Cranking Performance575 cca
Optional BCI Group Number41

Service checks

Pressure Test17-22 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature185 °F
Pressure Test17-22 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-22 psi
Pressure Test17-22 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176 °F

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle48 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle48 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.276; Rear: 0.276 specification
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.394 in / 0.472 in / 0.788 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.394 in / 0.472 in / 0.788 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.315 in / 0.394 in / 0.709 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
244 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
390 degrees.90 degrees
490 degrees.90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
244 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
390 degrees.90 degrees
490 degrees.90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat bolt head washers and threads with clean engine oil

129.5 ft. lbs.29.5 ft. lbs
244.2 ft. lbs.44.2 ft. lbs
390 degrees90 degrees
490 degrees90 degrees

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 30,000 mi.

At 7,500 miClutch Assembly (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBrake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Neutral Safety Switch (test) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Clutch Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Oxygen Sensor (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 1995 Volkswagen Golf/GTI/Jetta top in one area — the electrical system, 10 of 72 reports (14%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 5 recall campaigns target the electrical system, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 6 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system 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.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
43
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
72
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 72 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System10
Equipment9
Latches/Locks/Linkages8
Air Bags7
Engine & Engine Cooling6
Structure5
Exterior Lighting5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

98V195000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 17/08/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK. THE LINE COULD BE DAMAGED BY CHAFING AGAINST THE FUEL TANK. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.

95E034000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 18/08/1995

WHEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLES, A TIE WRAP IS USED TO GUIDE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SOME TIE WRAPS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH A LARGE LOOP OPENING IMPROPERLY GUIDING THE CABLE WHICH COULD… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CRUISE CONTROL TIE WRAP AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED GUIDE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 43 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SM 33-20192019-03-27EquipmentThe part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria…
SM 44-2017 EN2017-06-28EquipmentThis special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the…
VHW-17-112017-06-22EquipmentVAS 6154 Replacement Part Setup Guide
1-2017 Update2017-02-01EquipmentThis communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest…
V691601 20104792016-10-31EquipmentUpdate model year applicability to include 2017.

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 Golf/GTI/Jetta. 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 41 batteryVehicles taking 3.7 qtEngine oil filter 056115561GEngine air filter 1H0129620Fuel filter 1H0201511ASpark plug 101000044AA

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1995 Golf/GTI/Jetta take?

3.7 qt of ABOVE 68 degrees F: 40W API SL, 32 degrees F TO 86 degrees F: 30W API SL, ABOVE 14 degrees F: 20W-40, 20W-50 API SL, 14 degrees F TO 50 degrees F: 20W-20 API SL, BELOW 25 degrees F: 10W API (STARBU, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Golf/GTI/Jetta have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.