HondaCivic1980Overview/honda/civic/1980/base/

1980 Honda Civic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1980 Civic.

The 1980 Honda Civic predates the model’s complaint history dataset, which spans 1990 to 2022, but the earliest tracked year—1990—holds the lowest recorded total of just 102 complaints, while the 2006 model year peaked at 1,402. This wide range frames the Civic’s reliability trajectory, and for the 1980 model year, its position before this data means its long-term dependability must be contextualized against that strong early-1990s baseline.

Model year202620242023202220212020201820171980

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length148 in
Overall width61.8 in
Overall height53.1 in
Wheelbase89 in
Curb weight1850 lb

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.

10.9–12.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.90 sec — 1980 1500GL 3-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
19801500GL 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-410.90 sec17.80 sec67 hpFWD
19801500GL 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-412.00 sec18.40 sec67 hpFWD
19831500S 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-412.10 sec18.50 sec76 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts33 ft-lbs

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 907 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4018 ft. lbs

Reliability & federal safety record

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

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
0
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

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.

Frequently asked

Does the 1980 Civic have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.