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2009 Volkswagen Rabbit/GTI

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Rabbit/GTI.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit/GTI serves as a passenger car equipped with an Automatic (S6) transmission and achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 20/29/24 mpg. Engine maintenance requires 4.5 qt of oil adhering to 0W-40 / 5W-30 / 5W-40 viscosity specifications. In the context of the model's reliability history, this year recorded 62 total owner complaints with Service Brakes listed as the top complaint area, accompanied by 2 recalls that researchers must account for.

Model year2009 2007 2006

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

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

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy20/29/24 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 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 · 570 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP225-45R17OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	06D115562
Engine air filter	1K0129620G
Fuel filter	1K0201051K alt 6Q0201051J
Spark plug	06H905601A
Battery	000915089B alt 000915089F
Serpentine belt	06J260849D
Thermostat	06H121113B alt 06H121119E
Cabin air filter	1K1819669 alt 1K0819644B

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	20 / 29 / 24 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 4.5 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	6.5-7.5
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Engine Coolant	USE G012ABG-A1 COOLANT
Engine Oil	0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	5.8 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	11 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

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
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
Spark Plug Manufacturer	VW

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.10-1.21 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.73-6.41 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	570 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	48

Service checks

Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	58.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum	101.0 psi
Residual Pressure	43.5 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	1.0
Injector Primary Resistance	10.0

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH FN3
Torque Caliper to Bracket	18 ft-lbs / 26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	140 ft-lbs
Other	C38 / CII 38 / CII 41
Torque Caliper to Bracket	26 ft-lbs / 22 ft-lbs
Brake Application	FN3 / FNR-G
Brake Application	WITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Torque Caliper to Bracket	22 ft-lbs

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

111 ft. lbs., step 2: 90

111 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees.	90 degrees
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees
4	Front bolts	6 ft. lbs
5	90 degrees.; Do not re-use old bolts.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees.	90 degrees
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees
4	Front bolts	6 ft. lbs
5	90 degrees.; Do not re-use old bolts.	90 degrees

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

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

44 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

2 ft. lbs., step 2: 7

2 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

4 ft. lbs., step 2: 9 ft. lbs., step 3: 12 ft. lbs., step 4: 18

4 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

2 ft. lbs., step 2: 7

2 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

4 ft. lbs., step 2: 9 ft. lbs., step 3: 12 ft. lbs., step 4: 18

4 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 9,300 mi	Windshield Washer System (inspect)
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 18,600 mi	Battery (inspect)
Every 20,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Suspension Shock or Strut (inspect)
Every 37,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level) · Underbody (inspect)
Every 40,000 mi	CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Headlamp (inspect alignment)
Every 56,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	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.

Owner complaints about the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit/GTI lead in one area — the service brakes, 14 of 62 reports (23%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the service brakes are also the target of recall 16V-913 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 6 of the reports describe a crash and 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes 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

405

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

6 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 62 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes14

Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Service Brakes7

Steering,Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Service Brakes6

Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Electronic Stability Control (Esc)3

Air Bags2

Electrical System,Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Service Brakes2

Power Train2

Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V913000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipReported 20/12/2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6… Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic…

10V621000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 10/12/2010

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. THE JETTA, JETTA… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 405 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TT 10-18-02_2	2026-06-18	Engine	Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
TT 13-20-01_3	2026-06-18	Engine	Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
V6919012010479_17	2026-06-11	Air Bags	Inquiries
V1719012012855_81	2026-06-04	Engine	Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
VOS-26-21	2026-03-27	Engine	This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the…

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 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 06D115562 Engine air filter 1K0129620G Fuel filter 1K0201051K Spark plug 06H905601A

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 Rabbit/GTI take?

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

Does the 2009 Rabbit/GTI have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Rabbit/GTI get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 29 highway / 24 combined mpg.