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2006 Chevrolet Optra

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2006 Chevrolet Optra pairs a 4-speed automatic transmission with EPA fuel-economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, defining its practical positioning in Chevrolet's passenger-car range. Across the model year, just two owner complaints have been logged—with exterior lighting as the leading issue and two recalls on record—giving it a notably light trouble footprint. Viewed against the Optra's full 2004-2007 complaint arc, where 2005 peaked at six complaints and 2004 bottomed out at one, the 2006 model year sits in the calmer half of that range, offering a relatively stable reference point for researchers tracking the model's reliability trajectory.

Model year2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

Quick specs

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

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 86 · 640 CCA battery. 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 86 · 640 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	169.3 in
Overall width	68.1 in
Overall height	57.1 in
Wheelbase	102 in
Curb weight	2765 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.9 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	19 / 28 / 22 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	95 cu ft
Cargo volume	12 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Torque the oil drain plug to 15.0 ft-lbs.

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	10 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number	86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	640 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	60 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-60
RPM	40-59 @ Idle rpm
Engine Compression	100

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	41 ft-lbs / 70 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.95 in / 0.4 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.95 in / 0.4 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.87 in / 0.31 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 75

74 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 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 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 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Clutch Hydraulic System (drain & refill) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)
Every 90,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace)

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 Optra recorded only two federal complaints—half the six reported in 2005—yet it experienced the highest number of recalls (two) among the four‑year span, matching the upward recall trend that began in 2005. Technical Service Bulletins rose steadily each year, reaching 312 in 2006, indicating that manufacturers were addressing an expanding set of service issues even as complaint counts fell. No investigations were opened in any year, and crash‑ and fire‑related complaints were zero for 2006, suggesting no serious safety incidents were reported for this model year. Because 2006 sits at the peak of recall activity while complaints remain low, the data imply that the vehicle required more corrective actions than adjacent years but did not exhibit acute safety problems; buyers should weigh the extra recall work against the otherwise modest complaint profile before deciding if 2006 is a good purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

312

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’04 ’05’06’07

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Exterior Lighting1

Steering1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07V328000Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 20/07/2007

CERTAIN VEHICLES LOCATED IN GUAM AND SAIPAN WERE BUILT WITH A SEAT BELT BUCKLE WITH AN IMPROPER ULTRASONIC WELD OF THE SPRING RIB AND FIXATION RIB OF BUCKLE UNDERCOVER IN BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS. A SPRING RIB OR FIXATION… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GM DAEWOO AT 1-671-648-8453.

07V482000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 16/10/2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES LOCATED IN GUAM AND SAIPAN, THE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK (S201) ON THE IP HARNESS. Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM SPLICING TYPE AND SEPARATE IT FROM SPLICE PACK 201 TO PROTECT HOUSING MELTING DUE TO POTENTIAL POOR CONTACT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 312 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
02-00-89-002X	2024-09-09	Unknown Or Other	This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on When and How 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 Optra. 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 86 battery

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

Does the 2006 Optra have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Optra get?

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