HondaCivic1997Overview/honda/civic/1997/base/

1997 Honda Civic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Civic.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 1997 Honda Civic is a passenger‑car sedan whose engine requires 3.5 qt of 5W‑20 API oil and is matched with an automatic transmission featuring variable gear ratios, delivering EPA‑rated fuel economy of 29 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined. Owner‑reported data show 401 total complaints for this model year, with air‑bag issues leading the list and 17 recalls issued. Across the Civic’s 1990‑2022 complaint history, the 1997 figure sits well below the peak of 1,402 complaints in 2006 and above the low of 102 complaints in 1990, indicating a relatively reliable point in the model’s long‑term record.

Model year202620242023202220212020201820171997

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy29/35/31 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51R · 410 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 51R · 410 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP185-65SR14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length175.2 in
Overall width67.3 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase103.1 in
Curb weight2346 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined29 / 35 / 31 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

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.

7.1–11.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.10 sec — 1999 Si Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1996DX 3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-48.50 sec16.70 sec106 hpFWD
1996EX Coupe (14" Wheels) 1.6L I-49.40 sec17.20 sec127 hpFWD
1996EX Coupe (16" Wheels) 1.6L I-49.40 sec17.30 sec127 hpFWD
1996EX Coupe (17" Wheels) 1.6L I-49.40 sec17.30 sec127 hpFWD
1996HX Coupe 1.6L I-49.40 sec17.10 sec115 hpFWD
1996LX Sedan 1.6L I-49.40 sec17.20 sec106 hpFWD
1996EX Coupe (15" Wheels) 1.6L I-49.60 sec17.40 sec127 hpFWD
1996EX Sedan 1.6L I-410.50 sec17.60 sec127 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 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.8 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs6MM Bolts: 9 ft-lbs, 8MM Bolts: 14 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings23 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts134 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts88 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

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

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 670, AT: 700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 670, AT: 700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 670, AT: 700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.63-0.77 Hitachi ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.32-1.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacitySanden compressor, 4.33; Nippondenso compressor, 4.66. oz
Standard BCI Group Number51R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance410 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature169-176 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)38-46 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)28-36 psi
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ Idle, 50 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.007 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.007-0.008 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket17 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle28 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.060 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.079 in
Drum Nominal Diameter7.874 in / 7.087 in
Drum Maximum Machining7.913 in / 7.126 in
Drum Discard at-or-over NoteDiscard value not supplied by manufacturer
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 3818 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 45,000 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 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 30,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 45,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 90,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 105,000 miTiming Belt (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) · 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.

In the 1990‑2000 federal record, 1997 records 401 complaints, 17 recalls, 1 investigation and a TSB count of 141. That complaint level exceeds the 1996 figure of 343 but is below the 1998 total of 464, placing 1997 near the apex of the early‑generation complaint surge. The complaint distribution shows Air Bags accounting for 127 of those reports, followed by Vehicle Speed Control (37), Visibility (28) and Tires (27), while crash‑related complaints number 67 and fire‑related complaints 2. Compared with the surrounding years, recall frequency (17) is comparable to the 18 recalls recorded in both 1996 and 1998, and the data does not specify a root cause for any of the reported issues. Consequently, while the 1997 Civic is not the most problematic year in terms of recalls, its elevated complaint volume suggests buyers may prefer later models with lower complaint rates.

17
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
141
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
401
Owner complaints
67 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 401 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags127
Vehicle Speed Control37
Visibility28
Tires27
Engine & Engine Cooling21
Power Train20
Service Brakes, Hydraulic20
Electrical System18

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 16 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V026000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 17/01/2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The…

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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 141 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A990342016-09-21Vehicle Speed ControlSERVICE BULLETIN - DUE TO THE FLOOR DESIGN, A MISPOSITIONED FLOOR MAT COULD PREVENT THE…
A15070B - 7-2-152015-07-02Power TrainSERVICE NEWS ARTICLE - PLANNING ON USING A LEAK CHECK DYE TO HELP FIND A LEAK? HERE’S THE…
SB-99-0752013-08-09Engine And Engine CoolingHONDA: TROUBLESHOOTING OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P1456 AND P1457. DEALERS ARE TO…
090120052005-09-01Electrical SystemTROUBLESHOOTING TIPS FOR DTC P1381. *NM
050272005-06-10Engine And Engine CoolingMALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0420 OR ENGINE PING UNDER…

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

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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 1997 Civic take?

3.5 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1997 Civic 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 get?

EPA figures are 29 city / 35 highway / 31 combined mpg.