HondaCivic1994Overview/honda/civic/1994/base/

1994 Honda Civic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Civic.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1994 Honda Civic is a passenger‑car model that takes 3.5 qt of engine oil, with a recommended viscosity of 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 API. In its first year of ownership it generated 221 total complaints, the most frequent concerning the air‑bag system, and was subject to 16 recall campaigns. Compared with the broader 1990‑2022 complaint history—where the lowest point was 102 complaints in 1990 and the peak reached 1,402 in 2006—the 1994 model sits toward the low‑end of the spectrum, reflecting a reputation for solid reliability early in the Civic’s modern era.

Model year202620242023202220212020201820171994

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 weight2227 lb
Track (front / rear)58.3 / 57.9 in

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.

7.5–11.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 1992 Si 3-door Hatchback
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.

From 1990 to 1994 the federal record shows a steady increase in complaints, rising from 102 in 1990 to 221 in 1994, while recalls grew from 9 to 16 over the same span. The 1994 model year recorded 0 investigations and 19 technical service bulletins, slightly more recalls than the prior year but no investigations, whereas 1993 had 1 investigation and 18 TSBs. After 1994, complaint counts continued to climb, reaching 244 in 1995 and exceeding 300 by 1996, indicating that 1994 sits on an upward trajectory rather than a peak. Across the generation covered by the data (1990‑2000), the overall trend is one of increasing complaint and recall frequency, with 1994 positioned in the early‑mid phase of that rise. Consequently, based solely on the federal record, the 1994 Honda Civic exhibits higher reported issues than earlier years in the range and may be a less attractive purchase compared to the 1990‑1993 models.

16
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
19
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
221
Owner complaints
86 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 221 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags77
Service Brakes, Hydraulic18
Engine & Engine Cooling13
Seat Belts13
Tires12
Power Train11
Structure10
Vehicle Speed Control9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 14 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 19 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 1994 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 1994 Civic have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 16 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.