HondaCivic1985Overview/honda/civic/1985/base/

1985 Honda Civic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1985 Civic.

The 1985 Honda Civic specifies a 3.7-quart oil capacity with approved viscosities of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-40, reflecting the era's lubrication standards. Owner-reported data tallies 17 total complaints for this model year, with seat belts emerging as the leading concern and two recalls recorded. Compared against the broader Civic complaint history spanning 1990 through 2022 — where annual totals ranged from 102 in 1990 to a peak of 1,402 in 2006 — the 1985's figure sits notably lower, suggesting a relatively trouble-free entry in the nameplate's long-term record.

Model year202620242023202220212020201820171985

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-40OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length150 in
Overall width64.2 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase93.7 in
Curb weight1962 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.

10.6–11.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.57 sec — 1986 Si 3-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1984S 5-door Wagon 1.5L I-411.60 sec18.20 sec76 hpFWD
1986Si 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-410.57 sec17.82 sec91 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-40 engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt

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

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; 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 6,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Suspension System (torque)
Every 7,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect)
At 15,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Suspension System (torque)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (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 1985 Honda Civic exhibits a low volume of reported issues, with five complaints regarding seat belts and two each for the gasoline fuel system, engine and engine cooling, and latches/locks/linkages. Safety records for the target year include five crash complaints and one fire complaint. As the provided federal record begins in 1990, the 1985 model predates the listed trend and cannot be compared to the years immediately preceding or following it within this dataset. The overall trend from 1990 to 2022 demonstrates a significant escalation in complaints, peaking in 2001 and 2006. Because the 1985 model falls before this arc of increasing complaints and technical service bulletins, it avoids the high-volume issues seen in later iterations. This is a good year to buy.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
17
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 17 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts5
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Latches/Locks/Linkages2
Seats2
Tires1
Suspension1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

88V180000Visibility:Windshield Wiper/WasherReported 18/11/1988

UNDER HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTACT UNIT COULD LOOSEN AND BECOME DISLODGED. Remedy: INSTALL A CONTACT UNIT HOLDER THAT WOULD PREVENT LOOSENING.

88V117000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 22/07/1988

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, MECHANICAL FUEL PUMPS MAY DEVELOP FUEL LEAKAGE AT CRIMPED SEAM BETWEEN THE TWO FUEL PUMP HALVES. Remedy: INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY.

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.

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 1985 Civic take?

3.7 qt of ABOVE 14 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50, ABOVE -4 degrees F: 10W-40, -4 degrees TO 90 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 32 degrees F: 5W-30, BELOW 14 degrees F: 5W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 1985 Civic have open recalls?

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