HondaCivic Hybrid2006Overview/honda/civic-hybrid/2006/base/

2006 Honda Civic Hybrid

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

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid is a passenger car equipped with an automatic transmission utilizing variable gear ratios, delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 40/45/42 mpg and requiring 3.4 quarts of 0W-20 API oil at service intervals. This particular model year registers 1,457 total owner complaints, the highest concentration within the 2004-2025 production span, with visibility issues cited as the primary grievance category. Compounded by 17 recalls, these metrics mark 2006 as the most documented and problem-prone iteration in the model's reliability history.

Model year201520132012201120102009200820072006

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy40/45/42 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 151R · 350 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 151R · 350 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length176.8 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height56.7 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight2875 lb
Track (front / rear)58.3 / 59.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined40 / 45 / 42 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume91 cu ft
Cargo volume10 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.4 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 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

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.5-3.0
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.2 qt
Engine Oil0W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.4 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.9 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8mm Bolts: 16 ft-lbs, 6mm Bolts: 9 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts33 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 54 ft-lbs, MT: 86 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Boltsin two steps: 17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Boltsin three steps: 16 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug33.0-36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub134 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)820 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)670 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)710 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)750 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.80-.98 lbs
Oil TypePAG
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.21 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.33 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature169-176 °F
Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)48.0-55.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)55.0

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket17 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle54 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.060 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.079 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0016 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 907 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
127 ft. lbs., 9027 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
151 ft. lbs., step 2: 9051 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
136 ft. lbs., step 2: 9036 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Measure the diameter of each cylinder head bolt at point A and point B. Point A = 45.00 mm from thread end and point B = 50.00 mm from thread end. If either diameter is less than 11.3 mm (0.445 in), Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

122.0.0 ft. lbs.
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4018 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5718 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

At 160,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

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 Civic Hybrid represents a dramatic inflection point in this generation's federal record, with complaints surging from 48 in 2005 to 1,457 — roughly a thirtyfold increase — alongside recalls jumping from 6 to 17 and technical service bulletins more than doubling to 107. This pattern is consistent with a major redesign year introducing multiple systemic issues, and the complaint volume remains elevated for several model years afterward (1,267 in 2007, 979 in 2008) before gradually declining to a low of 166 by 2011, suggesting the underlying problems were progressively addressed over the production run. The 2006 model's top complaint areas — Visibility (195), Engine (193), Air Bags (155), and Suspension (148) — are broadly distributed, indicating no single isolated defect but rather widespread teething issues across multiple vehicle systems, and the 81 crash-related and 21 fire-related complaints further underscore the severity. Notably, investigations dropped from 4 in prior years to 1 in 2006, though the data does not specify why; it does not identify root causes for any of the complaint categories. The 2006 model sits squarely at the peak of the generation's problem arc, making it the least desirable year to purchase. A used 2006 Civic Hybrid is a poor choice relative to later years in this generation — buyers should strongly prefer 2009 or later models, by which point complaint volumes had fallen to roughly a quarter of the 2006 peak.

17
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
107
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,457
Owner complaints
81 involved a crash · 21 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,457 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility195
Engine193
Air Bags155
Suspension148
Engine & Engine Cooling126
Electrical System52
Structure52
Power Train44

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V502000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 27/06/2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer…

06V270000Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other ManualReported 26/07/2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES, THE OWNER'S MANUALS CONTAIN INCORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE. Remedy: HONDA WILL SEND A POSTCARD TO DEALERS AND OWNERS WITH THE CORRECT NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE INFORMATION AND WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO INSERT THE CARD INTO THE "REPORTING SAFETY…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 107 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A18-0662026-06-30Air BagsService Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's…
A07-0782026-01-27SuspensionService Bulletin - There is a pop or clunk from the front suspension area when driving…
A21120B2023-06-13Electrical SystemService News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS…
A21120B2022-01-29Electrical SystemServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited…
A20-0162020-03-10Air BagsService Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…

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 Civic Hybrid. 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 Civic Hybrid take?

3.4 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 Civic Hybrid have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 17 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Civic Hybrid get?

EPA figures are 40 city / 45 highway / 42 combined mpg.