Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1982 Civic.
The 1982 Honda Civic is recorded with only a single owner complaint, centered on steering, and it registers no manufacturer recalls, making it an exceptionally low‑issue example within the model line. When placed against the broader complaint record that spans 1990‑2022, the 1982 year sits far below the highest spike of 1,402 complaints in 2006 and even under the lowest documented year of 1990, which still saw 102 complaints. This contrast highlights the early Civic’s reputation for dependable construction and suggests that, for researchers, the 1982 iteration represents a benchmark of reliability that predates the later variability seen in the model’s history.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 148 in |
| Overall width | 62.2 in |
| Overall height | 53.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 88.6 in |
| Curb weight | 1715 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 1500S 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-4 | 12.10 sec | 18.50 sec | 76 hp | FWD |
| 1980 | 1500GL 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-4 | 10.90 sec | 17.80 sec | 67 hp | FWD |
| 1980 | 1500GL 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-4 | 12.00 sec | 18.40 sec | 67 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | 33 ft-lbs |
| 1 | 7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 7 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 18 ft. lbs., Step 2: 40 | 18 ft. lbs |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1982 Honda Civic shows only one complaint (steering-related) and one crash complaint, with no fire complaints, indicating minimal documented issues for that model year. In contrast, the federal record from 1990 onward reveals a clear trend: complaints start at 102 in 1990, surge to a peak of 1,128 in 2001, and remain elevated through the mid-2000s before gradually declining, while recalls similarly spike in the early 2000s. The 1982 model year predates this arc entirely, and its negligible complaint count stands in stark contrast to the high-volume problem years that followed. This suggests the 1982 Civic may have been a more reliable vintage before the generation’s quality issues intensified, though the data does not specify the root cause of the single steering complaint. Given the extremely low federal record, the 1982 Honda Civic appears to be a good buy from a complaint and recall standpoint, but buyers should still seek a thorough mechanical inspection due to the vehicle’s age.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
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 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.