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2006 Saturn Relay AWD

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

Body VANTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2006 Saturn Relay AWD is a minivan equipped with an automatic 4-speed transmission and achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined, placing it among the less fuel-efficient options in its class for that era. This model year recorded 19 total owner complaints, with the Power Train system representing the most frequently cited concern among buyers, and it has also been subject to two recalls. For researchers examining the Relay's historical performance, the 2006 model represents a year where powertrain-related issues were notably prominent, indicating that this particular model year falls within a period of elevated reliability concerns for the nameplate.

Model year2006 2005

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/21/17 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 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory cabin air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 34 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175 alt 12731179
Engine air filter	10354942
Spark plug	12681664 alt 12681662
Front wiper blades	15192144 alt 15192143
Serpentine belt	12578274 alt 12571918
Thermostat	24507563 alt 12591881
Cabin air filter	10322538 discontinued

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	204.7 in
Overall width	72 in
Overall height	72 in
Wheelbase	121.3 in
Curb weight	4231 lb
Track (front / rear)	63 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 21 / 17 mpg
Drivetrain	4-Wheel or All-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 DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 19.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. 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	7.4
Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	8.7
Brake Fluid	DOT 3

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	118 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	13 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	21.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	24.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	118 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	192 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.50-3.00 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	7.00-7.77 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	34
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	34

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	195-205 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-60
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-60
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 na ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 na ohms
Engine Compression	100

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	40 ft-lbs / 25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	137 ft-lbs / 96 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.27 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.27 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.22 in / 0.425 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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

52 ft. lbs., step 2: 72

52 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
2	140 degrees.	140 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
2	140 degrees.; Do not re-use old bolts.	140 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 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 25,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 2006 Saturn Relay AWD top in one area — the power train, 3 of 19 reports (16%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 recall campaigns target the power train, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 2 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train 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

659

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 19 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train3

Air Bags2

Structure2

Electrical System,Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Service Brakes1

Power Train,Electrical System,Exterior Lighting1

Engine1

Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1

Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E005000SteeringReported 17/02/2009

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE… Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009…

05V552000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 07/12/2005

CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION… Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2006…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 659 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT3532C	2026-01-30	Unknown Or Other	This PI directs technician to training regarding sliding door operation.
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…

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 Relay AWD. 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 34 battery Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 10354942 Spark plug 12681664 Front wiper blades 15192144

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 Relay AWD have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Relay AWD get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 21 highway / 17 combined mpg.