AcuraIntegra1996Overview/acura/integra/1996/base/

1996 Acura Integra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Integra.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1996 Acura Integra is a passenger car equipped with an automatic four‑speed transmission and a 4‑quart oil capacity lubricated by 5W‑30 API oil, achieving EPA‑rated 21/29/24 mpg. Its straightforward mechanical layout paired a modest powerplant with a compact, well‑balanced chassis that appealed to drivers seeking practical performance. In the model’s reliability timeline, the 1996 version accounts for 48 total owner complaints, with the most frequent grievance concerning air bags, a figure that appears modest compared with later peaks of 206 complaints in 2023 and the single complaint recorded for 2026 — indicating that its early years were marked by comparatively solid reliability.

Model year202620242023200120001999199819971996

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/29/24 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 size2 DOOR and 4 DOOR: P195-55VR15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim2 DOOR: 6-JJ, 4 DOOR and 2 DOOR OPTIONAL: 5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172.4 in
Overall width67.3 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Curb weight2529 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 29 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume83 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 Integra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.90 sec — 1996 SE Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1996SE Coupe 1.8L I-47.90 sec16.10 sec140 hpFWD
1995GS-R Coupe 1.8L I-47.10 sec15.50 sec170 hpFWD
1995GS-R Coupe 1.8L I-47.10 sec15.50 sec170 hpFWD
1997Type R Coupe 1.8L I-46.20 sec14.80 sec195 hpFWD
1997Type R Coupe 1.8L I-46.60 sec15.20 sec195 hpFWD
1997Type R Coupe 1.8L I-46.60 sec15.10 sec195 hpFWD
1997Type R Coupe 1.8L I-47.00 sec15.30 sec195 hpFWD
1997Type R Coupe 1.8L I-47.00 sec15.50 sec195 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings23 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings33 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts87 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 54, MT: 76 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 54, MT: 76 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub134 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub134 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)750 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.6-0.8 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance12,800-19,200 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.047-0.051 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.40-1.50 lbs
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Oil Capacity4.50-4.70 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)47.0-55.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)38.0-46.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)40.0-47.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)31.0-36.0 psi
Engine Compression135-270. 28 maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket17 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle28 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.060 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.822 in / 0.35 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.83 in / 0.358 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.748 in / 0.315 in

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 60,000 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 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miSteering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDistributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
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 1996 Acura Integra sits above a sharp spike in complaints seen in 1994 (82 complaints) and below the higher complaint count of the following year, 1995 (55 complaints). Recall activity was steady at five in both 1995 and 1996, indicating no major new safety defects that year. The trend shows a gradual decline in complaints from 1996 onward, with 1997 dropping to 22 complaints, suggesting the 1996 model was a transition year before the series improved. Top complaint areas in 1996—air bags, service brakes, and electrical system—were not unusually high compared with other years, and the single fire complaint indicates a low fire risk. Overall, the 1996 Integra’s complaint profile is moderate and better than the peak year, making it a reasonable choice if a well‑maintained vehicle is found.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
45
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
48
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 48 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags7
Service Brakes, Hydraulic6
Electrical System4
Vehicle Speed Control4
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Suspension3
Visibility3
Structure3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E060000Exterior LightingReported 29/06/2006

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

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 45 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DORE5C4S092019-07-11SuspensionThis SKU is a Front Upper Ball Joint. The customer communication requested return of…
BJA461672017-01-01EquipmentSending vehicle data to tech line.
B99-0402015-12-08Fuel System, Gasoline"SERVICE BULLETIN - THIS BULLETIN UPDATES THE TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES FOR DTC P1456…
SB-07082010-11-01TiresACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE…
020120042004-02-01Air BagsAIRBAG ON OFF SWITCH. *EH

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 Integra. 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 1996 Integra take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 Integra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Integra get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined mpg.