Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Civic.
The 2020 Honda Civic continues the nameplate's long-running compact formula, with routine maintenance keyed to 3.7 quarts of 0W-20 API oil — a spec that reflects the modern, efficiency-oriented engineering under the hood. With 217 owner complaints logged and five recalls issued, the power train stands out as the top complaint area, signaling that drivetrain components deserve particular scrutiny on any used example. In the broader arc of Civic complaint history spanning 1990 through 2022, this model year's volume sits well below the 2006 peak of 1,402 complaints and only modestly above the 1990 low of 102, placing it firmly in the model's quieter, more settled reliability era — good news for researchers tracking long-term ownership risk.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51R · 410 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 178 in |
| Overall width | 74 in |
| Overall height | 56.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in |
| Curb weight | 2917 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 61 / 61.4 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 62/38 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Type R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 4.90 sec | 13.40 sec | 306 hp | FWD |
| 2020 | Type R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 5.40 sec | 14.10 sec | 306 hp | FWD |
| 2020 | Si Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-4 | 6.40 sec | 14.90 sec | 205 hp | FWD |
| 2020 | Si Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-4 | 6.60 sec | 14.90 sec | 205 hp | FWD |
| 2020 | Si Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-4 | 6.80 sec | 15.10 sec | 205 hp | FWD |
| 2020 | Sport Touring 5-door Hatchback 1.5L Turbo I-4 | 7.10 sec | 15.30 sec | 180 hp | FWD |
| 2019 | Type R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 5.10 sec | 13.60 sec | 306 hp | FWD |
| 2019 | Type R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 5.10 sec | 13.70 sec | 306 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 3.7 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | Honda HCF-2 CVT fluid |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3.8 |
| Brake Fluid | Dot 3 |
| Clutch Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Engine Coolant | Honda Type 2 antifreeze/coolant |
| Engine Coolant Capacity | 5.2-5.4 |
| Engine Coolant | Honda Type 2 antifreeze/coolant |
| Engine Coolant | Honda Type 2 antifreeze/coolant |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | 55.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 108 inch lbs. ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 80 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R1234yf |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 0.83-0.94 lbs |
| Oil Group | POE |
| Oil Type | RL85HM POE oil or equivalent. |
| Oil Capacity | 2.60-3.50 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 51R |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 410 cca |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 47 |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 25.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 18.0 ft-lbs |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | 80.0 ft-lbs |
| ABS Sensor Torque | Front: 6.0; Rear: 6.0 |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Frront: 37.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 18.0 ft-lbs |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | 80.0 ft-lbs |
| ABS Sensor Torque | Front: 6.0; Rear: 6.0 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: .827; Rear: .315 |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | .0006 |
| 1 | 84.0 inch lbs., Step 2: 90° | 84 in |
| 1 | 52.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90° | 52 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 120°. | |
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Journal Bolts 1, 2, 4 & 5: 22°, Step 3: Journal Bolt 3: 32° | 22 ft. lbs |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2016 generation of the Honda Civic launched with a major spike of 1,061 federal complaints, but the data shows a steady downward trend in complaint volume over the subsequent years. The 2020 model year sits at the mature, stabilizing end of this arc with just 217 complaints, marking a notable drop from 348 in 2019 and sitting only slightly above the 2021 generational low of 134, before complaints spiked again to 877 in 2022. For the 2020 Civic specifically, the primary complaint categories are Power Train (25), Air Bags (23), Unknown or Other (21), and Steering (21), accompanied by 15 crash complaints, 1 fire complaint, and 5 recalls, though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. While recalls remained relatively consistent across the generation, the sharp decline in overall complaints by 2020 implies successful iterative refinements by the manufacturer following the troubled early-production years. Given its position in the generation's most stable period and comparatively low complaint volume, the 2020 Civic is a strong used buy, provided you ensure its 5 recalls have been properly addressed.
All 217 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the… Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer…
Showing 5 of 160 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A25-076 | 2025-07-28 | Engine | Service Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible… |
| ATI&09122024904 | 2024-09-12 | Electrical System | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021… |
| ATI&08072024901 | 2024-08-07 | Electrical System | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021… |
| ATI&08062024906 | 2024-08-06 | Fuel/Propulsion System | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020… |
| ATI&07232024904 | 2024-07-23 | Electrical System | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021… |
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.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
3.7 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.