ChryslerTown and Country20063.8L/chrysler/town-and-country/2006/3-8l/
RS platform

2006 Chrysler Town and Country — 3.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Town and Country 3.8L.

Body VANEngine 3.8LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

Built on Chrysler's RS platform as a 3.8L-powered minivan paired with a four-speed automatic, the 2006 Town and Country delivers EPA ratings of 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg and uses a 5-quart oil capacity of 5W-20 or 5W-30 API. Across the nameplate's 1990–2018 complaint history, this model year registers 486 owner complaints — with steering as the leading issue and four recalls on file — placing it between the cleanest year, 1990 at just 14 complaints, and the trouble-prone 2011 model that drew 773. For a researcher, that mid-pack standing means the 2006 sits in a transitional band of the Town and Country lineage, having moved well past the early-1990s low but still clear of the platform's later reliability downturn.

Model year20102009200820072006200520042000

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 economy16/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 34 · 500 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05281090AB. 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 34 · 500 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-70R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter04861480AA
Spark plugSP303917AC
Battery05082205AA alt 05144502AA
Front wiper blades05096134AC
Serpentine belt04593684AA
Thermostat68210217AA alt 04781674AA
Cabin air filter82205905

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length200.8 in
Overall width78.7 in
Overall height68.9 in
Wheelbase119.3 in
Curb weight4442 lb
Track (front / rear)63 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 23 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular 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, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.0-5.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.5 Pints
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt w/ filter
Power Steering FluidMS9602

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts40 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts65 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 8.8 ft-lbs; Lower: 16.6 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts16.6 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs21 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

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

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerMopar
Spark Plug Gap.048-.053 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Gap0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Optional BCI Group Number34
Optional BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number34
Standard BCI Cranking Performance500 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)58.0 + or - 5.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12
Engine Compression100
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH TEVES / WITH TRW
Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle125 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Brake ApplicationWITH TEVES / WITH TRW
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0003 in / 0.0004 in / 0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0039 in / 0.003 in / 0.0055 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.098 in / 1.097 in / 0.482 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 21 ft. lbs., Step 3: 905 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 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 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 60,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 60,000 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 6,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 18,000 miBrake Linings (inspect)
Every 30,000 miTie Rod (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (replace) · Spark Plugs (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 Town & Country sits amid the generation’s peak complaint period, with 2001 showing 473 complaints and 2011 rising to 773; the surrounding years (2001‑2011) consistently record several hundred complaints each, far above the near‑zero figures seen after 2017. Recall counts for the decade remain modest, ranging from 3 to 7, and do not show a clear upward or downward swing around 2006, suggesting recall activity was relatively stable. The top complaint categories for 2006—Steering (100), Air Bags (60), Exterior Lighting (44), and Electrical System (25)—mirror the broader pattern of mechanical and safety‑system issues that dominate the high‑complaint years. Crash‑related complaints (27) and fire‑related complaints (17) are also present, but they are small fractions of the total issue count. **Takeaway:** 2006 falls in the generation’s high‑complaint window, indicating more reported problems than later, lower‑complaint years, so it is a less favorable year to buy compared with post‑2016 models.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
54
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
486
Owner complaints
27 involved a crash · 17 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 486 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering100
Air Bags60
Exterior Lighting44
Electrical System25
Fuel/Propulsion System24
Service Brakes, Hydraulic21
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting18
Visibility11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

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 54 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.

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 Town and Country. 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 Town and Country 3.8L take?

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

Does the 2006 Town and Country have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.8L get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.