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1974 Honda Civic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1974 Civic.

The reference page focuses on the 1974 Honda Civic Overview. The model's complaint history covers the years 1990 through 2022. During that period, the highest recorded complaints occurred in 2006, totaling 1,402. The lowest recorded complaints occurred in 1990, with 102 complaints.

Model year2026 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2018 2017 1974

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	146.9 in
Overall width	59.1 in
Overall height	52.4 in
Wheelbase	86.6 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.

12.9–17.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 12.90 sec — 1973 3-door Hatchback

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

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

81V136000SuspensionReported 06/11/1981

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.

74V233000Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 25/11/1974

Remedy:

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.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes

Frequently asked

Does the 1974 Civic have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.