ToyotaHighlander2006L4/toyota/highlander/2006/l4/

2006 Toyota Highlander — L4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Highlander L4.

Body SUVEngine L4Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2006 Toyota Highlander L4 is a four‑cylinder SUV that runs on 4 qt of 5W‑30 API oil and is mated to an automatic four‑speed transmission, delivering EPA‑rated fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. With 274 total owner complaints—most frequently involving the service brakes—and seven recalls on file, this model year falls in the middle of the Highlander’s complaint spectrum, well below the 2021 peak of 475 reports but far above the lone complaint recorded for the 1997 debut. Consequently, the 2006 edition represents a moderately reliable point in the vehicle’s long‑term history.

Model year201120102009200720062005200420032001

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/25/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZD1. 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 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnTRLYOEM · verified
Tire size225-65R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD1 alt 90915YZZF1
Engine air filter1780120050 alt 17801YZZ01
Fuel filter233000A020 alt 2330020130
Battery2880064132 alt 2880020060
Front wiper blades8522248040 alt 8521253051
Serpentine belt9008091212 alt 9936631040
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 9091603136
Cabin air filter871394802083

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.6 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height68.5 in
Wheelbase107.1 in
Curb weight3880 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 25 / 22 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 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.7
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.7
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.8
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs12 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts133 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts162 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts61 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug27.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug33.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.25-1.38 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
RPM44.0-50.0 rpm
Residual Pressure21 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum44.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum50.0 psi
Residual Pressure21.0 psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs / 25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58 ft-lbs / 79 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Runout Limit0.0059 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.433 in / 1.102 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 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 5,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 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 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Driveshaft Flange Yoke (torque) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (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.

In 2006 the model recorded 274 federal complaints, 7 recalls and 2 investigations, with a total service‑bulletin count of 179. That complaint level exceeds the 225 complaints reported for 2005 but is well below the 403 complaints seen in 2008, while recalls are comparable to the 6 recorded the prior year. The most frequently cited problem categories are Service Brakes (48 complaints) and Vehicle Speed Control (29 complaints), together accounting for a sizable share of the 29 crash‑related and 4 fire‑related complaints. The data does not specify a root cause for these issues, only that the patterns appear within the broader generation’s fluctuation. Given the moderate recall count but notable brake‑related complaints, a buyer should weigh the risk of future service‑brake work against the vehicle’s overall reliability before deciding to purchase a 2006 Highlander.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
179
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
274
Owner complaints
29 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 274 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes48
Vehicle Speed Control29
Engine & Engine Cooling18
Service Brakes, Hydraulic16
Power Train14
Engine13
Electrical System12
Visibility12

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V743000Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/CoolerReported 19/11/2014

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4… Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The…

16V396000Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/CoolerReported 02/06/2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and… Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 179 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
T-SB-0038-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…
T-SB-0039-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
T-SB-0061-23 Rev22024-12-05StructureToyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed 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 Highlander. 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 Highlander L4 take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 Highlander have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the L4 get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 25 highway / 22 combined mpg.