HondaCivic1993Overview/honda/civic/1993/base/

1993 Honda Civic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Civic.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1993 Honda Civic is a compact passenger car built on Honda’s reliable B platform and powered by a modest, fuel‑efficient inline‑four that requires 3.5 quarts of 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 API‑rated oil; this model year’s reputation sits near the mid‑range of the Civic’s long‑term reliability record, with 181 owner complaints and a top issue of air‑bag malfunctions, and it is one of 13 recalled units during its lifespan, reflecting a steady but not exceptional performance within the broader 1990‑2022 complaint spectrum.

Model year202620242023202220212020201820171993

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172.8 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height53.1 in
Wheelbase103.1 in
Curb weight2390 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Civic of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.10 sec — 1993 EX Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993EX Coupe 1.6L I-49.10 sec17.00 sec125 hpFWD
1992Si 3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-47.50 sec16.10 sec125 hpFWD
1992VX 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-49.50 sec17.20 sec92 hpFWD
1992CX 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-411.20 sec18.30 sec102 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 3,750 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 3,750 miEngine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miParking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect alignment)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Antilock Brake System (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miDistributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV System (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace) · Water Pump (inspect)

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 1993 Civic’s complaint count of 181 sits above the 1992 figure (106) but below the 1994 peak (221), indicating a moderate rise in owner issues during that year. Recall activity remained steady at 13, matching the 1992 level and slightly below the 1994 total of 16, showing no significant spike in safety‑related defects. Investigations were minimal, with only one in 1993, and the number of traffic‑safety‑bulletin (TSB) actions (18) was comparable to 1992 (16) and 1994 (19). In terms of specific problem areas, Air Bags led complaints (34), followed by Electrical System (25), Engine & Engine Cooling (16), and Steering (14), while crash complaints (51) and fire complaints (4) were relatively low. Compared to the surrounding years, 1993 falls near the middle of an overall upward trend that peaks later in the decade; this suggests that the model was reasonably reliable but not without its share of issues. Consequently, a 1993 Civic could be a viable purchase if recent maintenance is verified, but buyers should be vigilant about the listed complaint categories.

13
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
18
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
181
Owner complaints
51 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 181 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags34
Electrical System25
Engine & Engine Cooling16
Steering14
Seat Belts11
Service Brakes, Hydraulic9
Power Train8
Tires7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 13 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E050000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/08/2008

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 18 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
050120042004-05-01EquipmentAUDIO UNIT AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM ANTI-THEFT CODES AVAILABLE ON INTERACTIVE NETWORK. *NM
4042004-04-16EquipmentAUDIO, ANTI-THEFT CODES. HONDA. TECH LINE SUMMARY. *TT
110120032003-11-01Engine And Engine CoolingHEATER BLOWER MOTOR GETS HOT OR BLOWS A FUSE. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT
0104022002-04-01Engine And Engine CoolingSUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THAT THE ENGINE HESITATES BRIEFLY WHEN…
3022002-03-16Engine And Engine CoolingCUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A BRIEF HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH ENGINE SPEEDS. *TT

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. 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 1993 Civic take?

3.5 qt of ABOVE -4 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 32 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Civic have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 13 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.