ChryslerPT Cruiser20062.2L Diesel/chrysler/pt-cruiser/2006/2-2l-diesel/
PT platform

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser — 2.2L Diesel

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 PT Cruiser 2.2L Diesel.

Body VANEngine 2.2L DieselTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser 2.2L Diesel is a VAN built on the PT platform with a 2.2‑liter diesel engine paired to an Automatic 4‑spd transmission. It requires a 5‑qt oil change using 5W‑20 or 5W‑30 API oil and achieves EPA fuel economy of 17 city, 24 highway, and 19 combined miles per gallon. The model carries a single recall and 349 total owner complaints, positioning its 2006 production year near the lower end of the 2001‑2010 complaint range — well below the 630 complaints recorded in 2001 but still above the 22 complaints logged in 2010, with electrical‑system issues topping the complaint list.

Model year2009200820072006200520042003

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 26R · 510 CCA battery, OE oil filter 04105409AE. Note the factory engine air filter, spark plug and cabin air filter are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 26R · 510 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size195-65R15OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04105409AE alt 04781452BF
Engine air filter04891691AA discontinued
Spark plug68303920AA discontinued · alt 68307021AA
Battery04671579AB
Front wiper blades05018430AA alt 05018431AA
Serpentine belt04668380AF alt 04891519AE
ThermostatP5278144AA
Cabin air filter05058040AB discontinued

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length168.9 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height60.6 in
Wheelbase102.8 in
Curb weight3457 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt w/ filter of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0-21.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. 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 FluidATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.0-5.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt w/ filter
Manual Transmission FluidATF +4
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity5.1
Manual Transmission FluidATF +4

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts100 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts70 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts8.8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts16.7 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug21.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0-21.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0-21.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub180 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub160 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.45-.65 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance11,500-14,700 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerMopar
Spark Plug Gap.048-.053 in
Spark Plug Torque13 +/- 2 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Oil Capacity6.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number26R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance510 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature192-199 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)58.0 + or - 5.0 psi
Engine Compression170
Engine Oil Pressure25-80 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs / 15 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 70 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in / 0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.005 in / 0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.099 in / 0.463 in / 0.902 in / 0.344 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.106 in / 0.482 in / 0.909 in / 0.364 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.039 in / 0.404 in / 0.843 in / 0.285 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
125 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
250 ft. lbs.50 ft. lbs
350 ft. lbs.50 ft. lbs
490 degrees.90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant at 102,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 102,000 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.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 20,000 miBrake Linings (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 60,000 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
At 102,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 105,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

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 2006 PT Cruiser shows a noticeable uptick in complaints—349—compared with the 258 in 2005 and the 149 in 2007, while recalls drop sharply to just one. Investigations remain steady at two, and the total safety bulletins (TSBs) are 55, slightly below the 2005 figure of 67 but above the 2004 level. The top complaint categories for 2006—Electrical System (75), Visibility (26), Engine & Engine Cooling (25), and Air Bags (23)—suggest recurring issues that were less pronounced in 2005 and 2007. This year sits at the peak of the complaint trend for the generation, implying higher likelihood of encountering the highlighted problems. Given the elevated complaint count and the specific system concerns, 2006 is a less attractive purchase year compared to adjacent years.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
55
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
349
Owner complaints
35 involved a crash · 5 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 349 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System75
Visibility26
Engine & Engine Cooling25
Air Bags23
Engine16
Electrical System,Engine13
Power Train12
Steering11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07V149000Visibility:Glass, Side/RearReported 04/04/2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR QUARTER GLASS ATTACHING FASTENERS MAY PULL THROUGH THEIR MOUNTS AND ALLOW THE GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR QUARTER GLASS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 55 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
90040092021-04-07Power TrainTransmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles…
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
23-015-202020-04-30EquipmentDisinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19
08-049-202020-04-22Electrical SystemCharging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…

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.

P2002
Diesel particulate filter efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0401
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow insufficient
P20EE
SCR NOx catalyst efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0087
Fuel rail / system pressure too low
P0299
Turbocharger / supercharger underboost condition

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 PT Cruiser. 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 2006 PT Cruiser 2.2L Diesel take?

5 qt w/ filter of 5W-20 API OR 5W-30 API REFER TO OIL CAP, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 PT Cruiser have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 2.2L Diesel get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.