HondaCivic1992Overview/honda/civic/1992/base/

1992 Honda Civic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Civic.

The 1992 Honda Civic specifies a 3.5‑quart oil capacity with 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 API viscosity, and its reliability record shows 106 owner complaints — predominantly in the electrical system — alongside 13 recalls. Across the model's 1990–2022 complaint history, the 1992 figure sits just above the series low of 102 complaints in 1990 and far below the 2006 peak of 1,402, placing this model year among the quieter chapters in the Civic's long‑term reliability profile.

Model year202620242023202220212020201820171992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length160.2 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height53.1 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Curb weight2147 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

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.

7.5–11.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 1992 Si 3-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1992Si 3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-47.50 sec16.10 sec125 hpFWD
1992VX 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-49.50 sec17.20 sec92 hpFWD
1992CX 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-411.20 sec18.30 sec102 hpFWD
1993EX Coupe 1.6L I-49.10 sec17.00 sec125 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 3,750 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 3,750 miEngine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miParking Brake System (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect alignment)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Antilock Brake System (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miBrake Line (replace) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace) · Water Pump (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 federal record for the Honda Civic displays a general upward trajectory in complaints and technical service bulletins, with volumes peaking significantly in later generations. The 1992 model year falls at the beginning of this arc, recording 106 complaints—a decrease from 130 in 1991 and significantly lower than the 181 complaints seen in 1993. While recalls increased to 13 from 8 in 1991 and TSBs rose to 16, the overall volume remains low compared to the steep increases observed from 1994 onward. Top complaint areas for 1992 include the electrical system (25) and air bags (16), although the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. With 28 crash and 4 fire complaints, this year represents a period of relative stability before the substantial spikes in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This is a good year to buy.

13
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
16
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
106
Owner complaints
28 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 106 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System25
Air Bags16
Seat Belts8
Tires8
Power Train5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5
Steering4
Seats4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 13 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E050000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/08/2008

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

06E040000Exterior LightingReported 15/05/2006

CERTAIN E SPEED RACING COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO… Remedy: E SPEED RACING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT E SPEED RACING 909-923-3636.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 16 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
050120042004-05-01EquipmentAUDIO UNIT AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM ANTI-THEFT CODES AVAILABLE ON INTERACTIVE NETWORK. *NM
4042004-04-16EquipmentAUDIO, ANTI-THEFT CODES. HONDA. TECH LINE SUMMARY. *TT
110120032003-11-01Engine And Engine CoolingHEATER BLOWER MOTOR GETS HOT OR BLOWS A FUSE. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT
0104022002-04-01Engine And Engine CoolingSUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THAT THE ENGINE HESITATES BRIEFLY WHEN…
3022002-03-16Engine And Engine CoolingCUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A BRIEF HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH ENGINE SPEEDS. *TT

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 1992 Civic take?

3.5 qt of ABOVE -4 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 32 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Civic have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 13 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.