VolkswagenCabrio (1V7)1995Overview/volkswagen/cabrio-1v7/1995/base/

1995 Volkswagen Cabrio (1V7)

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Cabrio (1V7).

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1995 Volkswagen Cabrio (model code 1V7) is a convertible equipped this model year with a four-speed automatic transmission, a powertrain combination EPA-rated at 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. Service specifications call for 3.7 quarts of engine oil in API-rated 5W-50, 10W-50, or 10W-60 viscosities. Reliability reporting for the year captures 17 owner complaints alongside zero recalls, a clean recall record whose top complaint cluster nonetheless sits in the engine and engine cooling area. For a researcher, that profile makes the 1995 model year a relatively quiet reference point, with engine thermal management flagged as the dominant theme worth tracking through the model's broader complaint history.

Model year200220012000199919981995

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-50 / 10W-50 / 10W-60 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque81 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/26/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 42 · 460 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 42 · 460 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-60HR14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-J inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length160.6 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase97.6 in
Curb weight2943 lb
Track (front / rear)57.5 / 56.3 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 26 / 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 3.7 qt of 5W-50 / 10W-50 / 10W-60 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 81 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0 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

Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.7 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-50 · 10W-50 · 10W-60 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE VW. PART NO. G002000

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts81 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerVW
Spark Plug Gap0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.75-1.90 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeSP-10
Oil Capacity3.90-4.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number42
Standard BCI Cranking Performance460 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test19-23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief19-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188 °F
Engine Oil Pressure29 psi @ Idle, 43.5-65.3 psi @ 2000
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle48 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.276; Rear: 0.276 specification
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.394 in / 0.472 in / 0.788 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.394 in / 0.472 in / 0.788 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.315 in / 0.394 in / 0.709 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.012 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
244 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
390 degrees.90 degrees
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 at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

At 7,500 miClutch Assembly (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBrake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Neutral Safety Switch (test) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Clutch Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Oxygen Sensor (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.

Owner complaints about the 1995 Volkswagen Cabrio (1V7) lead in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 3 of 17 reports (18%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling 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.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
22
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
17
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 17 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling3
Visibility2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Structure2
Interior Lighting1
Electrical System1
Latches/Locks/Linkages1
Air Bags1

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 22 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SM 33-20192019-03-27EquipmentThe part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria…
SM 44-2017 EN2017-06-28EquipmentThis special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the…
VHW-17-112017-06-22EquipmentVAS 6154 Replacement Part Setup Guide
1-2017 Update2017-02-01EquipmentThis communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest…
V691601 20104792016-10-31EquipmentUpdate model year applicability to include 2017.

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 Cabrio (1V7). 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 1995 Cabrio (1V7) take?

3.7 qt of 5W-50, 10W-50 OR 10W-60 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Cabrio (1V7) have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Cabrio (1V7) get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.