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2006 Volkswagen Rabbit/GTI

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Rabbit/GTI.

Transmission Automatic (S6)

The 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit and GTI variants are the model-year entries in that line, specified with a 4.4-quart engine oil capacity and allowable viscosity grades of 0W-40, 5W-30, or 5W-40. The configuration detailed here pairs the engine with a six-speed automatic (S6) and EPA fuel-economy ratings of 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpg. Reliability data for the year are modest: 13 owner complaints, one recall, and engine/engine-cooling issues as the top complaint category. Those counts give the 2006 Rabbit/GTI a relatively quiet reliability profile, suggesting it is not a particularly troubled model year.

Model year2009 2007 2006

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.4 qtOEM · verified

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

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy19/28/22 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 · 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 48 · 540 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	06D115562
Engine air filter	07K129620
Fuel filter	6Q0201051J
Spark plug	101905600C
Battery	000915105AF alt 000915105AD
Front wiper blades	1Q1998002
Serpentine belt	07K145933C alt 07K145933E
Thermostat	07K121119A alt 07K121113B
Cabin air filter	1K1819669

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	19 / 28 / 22 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 4.4 qt of 0W-40 / 5W-30 / 5W-40 engine oil, FINAL DRIVE W/01M: USE AUDI PART NO. G052145 in the differential, 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

Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	FINAL DRIVE W/01M: USE AUDI PART NO. G052145
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.7 Pints
Differential Gear Oil	FINAL DRIVE W/01M: USE AUDI PART NO. G052145
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.7 Pints
Engine Coolant	USE G012ABG-A1 COOLANT
Engine Oil	0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	4.4 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	11 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

89 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-4-5-3
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	710 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	90 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	20 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	730 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.10-1.21 lbs
Oil Type	PAG
Oil Capacity	5.73-6.41 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	540 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	540 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	58.0 psi
Residual Pressure	43.5 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	12-20 ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	12-20 ohms
Engine Compression	145
Engine Compression	159
Engine Compression	130

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH FS III
Torque to Knuckle	18 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	18 ft-lbs / 26 ft-lbs
Other	C38 / CII 38 / CII 41
Torque Caliper to Bracket	26 ft-lbs / 22 ft-lbs
Brake Application	FN3 / FNR-G / FSIII
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Brake Application	WITH FS III

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Torque to Knuckle — tightening sequence 1 stages

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

6 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

6 ft. lbs

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

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

22 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

7 ft. lbs., step 2: 90

7 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

37 ft. lbs., step 2: 90

37 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees	90 degrees
4	90

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: 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 at 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

At 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Neutral Safety Switch (test)
At 20,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 mi	Battery (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection)
Every 40,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Final Drive (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level) · Sunroof Assembly (inspect) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 80,000 mi	Timing Belt (inspect)

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 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit/GTI lead in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 3 of 13 reports (23%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the engine & engine cooling, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling 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

289

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 13 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling3

Fuel System, Gasoline,Fuel/Propulsion System1

Seats1

Engine1

Air Bags1

Electrical System,Seats1

Power Train1

Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07V442000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 24/09/2007

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 289 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
V171901201285565	2023-08-21	Engine And Engine Cooling	Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
V171901201285562	2023-05-30	Engine And Engine Cooling	Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
V171901201285560	2023-04-24	Engine And Engine Cooling	Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
V941901201152119	2022-12-12	Equipment	Update model year applicability to include 2023.
V271901201189422	2022-12-06	Electrical System	Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to…

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 Rabbit/GTI. 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 4.4 qt Engine oil filter 06D115562 Engine air filter 07K129620 Fuel filter 6Q0201051J 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 2006 Rabbit/GTI take?

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

Does the 2006 Rabbit/GTI have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Rabbit/GTI get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpg.