Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1976 Civic.
The 1976 Honda Civic represents the foundational era of the vehicle's platform, arriving well before the documented reliability tracking that would begin in 1990. Within that broader historical context, the Civic nameplate experienced dramatic shifts in long-term dependability, ranging from a low of 102 complaints in 1990 to a peak of 1,402 in 2006. Consequently, the 1976 model sits entirely outside the recorded complaint history, meaning researchers must evaluate its early mechanical integrity without the benefit of the quantitative reliability metrics used for later decades.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 146.9 in |
| Overall width | 59.1 in |
| Overall height | 52 in |
| Wheelbase | 86.6 in |
| Curb weight | 1605 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1973 | 3-door Hatchback 1.2L I-4 | 12.90 sec | 18.70 sec | 50 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.
THE INTERNAL MUFFLER PRESSURE CAN CREATE A SPLIT IN THE SEAM IF THE MUFFLER IS IN A DETERIORATED CONDITION. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE EXHAUST GAS ESCAPING FROM THE SPLIT SEAM CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE HEATING OF A SMALL… Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A MUFFLER COVER TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE FLOOR TEMPERATURES IN CASE OF MUFFLER SEAM SPLITTING.
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.