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2009 Volkswagen New Beetle (1C1)

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 New Beetle (1C1).

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle (1C1) is the passenger car variant in the New Beetle lineup, paired here with an automatic (S6) transmission and EPA-rated at 20 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. Its 6.3-quart engine oil capacity is specified across three approved viscosities — 0W-40, 5W-30, and 5W-40 — covering the full range of factory service recommendations for this generation. The platform's documented owner complaint history, which runs from 1998 through 2008, peaked at 361 filings in 2004 and reached a low of just 32 in the model's 1998 debut year. Researchers should therefore view the 2009 model year as the car that arrives at the close of a sharply uneven reliability arc, with the 2004 spike still anchoring the New Beetle's public complaint record even as the recorded data set ends one year before this car was sold.

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.3 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type0W-40 / 5W-30 / 5W-40OEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy20/29/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 540 CCA battery, OE oil filter 06D115562. 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 47 · 540 CCAOEM · verified

Tire size205-55R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	06D115562
Engine air filter	1J0129620A
Fuel filter	1J0201511A alt 6Q0201051J
Spark plug	101905600C
Battery	000915089G alt 000915089BD
Front wiper blades	1C1955425C alt 1C1955425B
Serpentine belt	07K145933G alt 07K145933F
Thermostat	07K121119A alt 07K121113B
Cabin air filter	1J0819644A alt 1J0819648A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	161 in
Overall width	67.7 in
Overall height	59.1 in
Wheelbase	99.2 in
Curb weight	3164 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.1 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	20 / 29 / 23 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.3 qt of 0W-40 / 5W-30 / 5W-40 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-4-5-3. 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

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.5
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Engine Coolant	USE G012ABG-A1 COOLANT
Engine Oil	0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	6.3 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid	VW part number G052171A2
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity	4.0-5.50

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	11 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	52 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	6.6 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	89 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	129 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-4-5-3
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	730 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Spark Plug Manufacturer	VW
Spark Plug Gap	0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	18 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.48-1.66 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	100
Oil Capacity	4.60 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	540 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	48

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance	10.0
Engine Compression	130
Engine Compression	130

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH FN3
Torque Caliper to Bracket	18 ft-lbs / 26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	140 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Brake Application	WITH FS 111
Rotor Runout Limit	0.001 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.866 in / 0.984 in / 0.354 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.866 in / 0.984 in / 0.354 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

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	Bolts 1-12	30 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	90 degrees; Bolts 13; 7.3 ft. lbs.; Use new bolts. Do not lube bolts. A 2-3 mm bead of a suitable sealer must be placed on the block at the timing chain area front and back sides. Install head gasket and apply sealer on top of head gasket at the timing chain area rear only.	90 degrees

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

44 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

29 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

29 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 10,000 mi.

Every 10,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 20,000 mi	Battery (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Suspension Shock or Strut (inspect)
Every 40,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Convertible Top (inspect) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean)
At 80,000 mi	Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

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 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
941403	2014-06-04	Unknown Or Other	Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
941402	2014-03-08	Exterior Lighting	Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
921302	2013-06-07	Visibility/Wiper	Wiper Blade Inspection for Proper Warranty Coding
VWP1305	2013-03-12	Engine And Engine Cooling	Engine Exhaust Flap Limited Warranty Extension
921204	2012-11-02	Visibility/Wiper	Wiper Blade Inspection for Proper Warranty Coding

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 New Beetle (1C1). 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 47 battery Vehicles taking 6.3 qt Engine oil filter 06D115562 Engine air filter 1J0129620A Fuel filter 1J0201511A Spark plug 101905600C

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 2009 New Beetle (1C1) take?

6.3 qt of 0W-40, 5W-30 OR 5W-40 MEETING VW SPECIFICATION 502.00, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 New Beetle (1C1) have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the New Beetle (1C1) get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 29 highway / 23 combined mpg.