Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1973 Civic.
The 1973 Honda Civic serves as the foundational reference entry for this nameplate, existing prior to the formal complaint-tracking window that spans 1990 to 2022. That dataset captures a reliability arc stretching from 102 complaints in the baseline year of 1990 to a peak of 1402 in 2006, documenting the escalation that accompanied increasing complexity in subsequent decades. Consequently, this 1973 model year sits outside the recorded complaint volatility, representing a period before the documented surge that defines the later reliability history.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 139.8 in |
| Overall width | 53.1 in |
| Overall height | 53.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 86.6 in |
| Curb weight | 1537 lb |
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.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 3-door Hatchback 1.2L I-4 | 12.90 sec | 18.70 sec | 50 hp | FWD |
| 1975 | CVCC 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-4 | 15.60 sec | 20.10 sec | 53 hp | FWD |
| 1975 | CVCC 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-4 | 17.40 sec | 21.00 sec | 53 hp | FWD |
| 1979 | CVCC Wagon 1.5L I-4 | 15.50 sec | 20.10 sec | 67 hp | FWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
PROLONGED CONTACT WITH ROAD SALT MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, CAUSE SERIOUS RUSTING. THIS CAN WEAKEN CERTAIN UNDERCARRIAGE COMPONENTS: LATERAL SUSPENSION ARMS, FRONT CROSSBEAM AND STRUT COIL SPRING LOWER SUPPORTS. Remedy: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, TREATED WITH A RUST PREVENTIVE COATING. IN SOME CASES, REPLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS WILL BE PERFORMED, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Remedy:
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.