HondaCivic2016Overview/honda/civic/2016/base/

2016 Honda Civic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Civic.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2016 Honda Civic is a passenger car that has accumulated 1,061 owner complaints, with steering standing out as the top reported problem area and five recalls on record. Within the Civic's 1990–2022 complaint history, that total sits below the 2006 high of 1,402 complaints but well above the 1990 low of 102, placing the 2016 model in the upper portion of reported problem volume for the nameplate. For researchers, that combination of elevated steering complaints, five recalls, and a complaint count closer to the historical peak than the floor makes the 2016 Civic a notable reference point when assessing later-model Civic reliability.

Model year202620242023202220212020201820172016

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 15R · 340 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.

Battery groupBCI 15R · 340 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215/50R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.3 in
Overall width74 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight2743 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

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.

6.6–8.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 2016 EX-L Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016EX-L Coupe 1.5L Turbo I-46.60 sec15.10 sec174 hpFWD
2016Touring Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-46.80 sec15.30 sec174 hpFWD
2016Touring Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-46.80 sec15.30 sec174 hpFWD
2016Touring Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-46.90 sec15.30 sec174 hpFWD
2016Touring Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-47.20 sec15.50 sec174 hpFWD
2016LX Coupe 2.0L I-47.50 sec15.80 sec158 hpFWD
2016Touring Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-47.50 sec15.70 sec174 hpFWD
2016LX Coupe 2.0L I-47.60 sec15.90 sec158 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHonda HCF-2 transmission fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.9
Brake FluidDOT 3
Clutch FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantUse Honda Type 2 anti-freeze/coolant,
Engine Coolant Capacity5.6 qt
Engine CoolantUse Honda Type 2 antifreeze
Engine Coolant Capacity5.4

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Automatic Transmission Drain Plug33.0-36.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK, DENSO
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque16 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK, DENSO
Spark Plug Gap.047 - .051 in
Spark Plug Torque20 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK, DENSO

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity0.83-1.00 lbs
Standard BCI Group Number15R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance340 cca

Service checks

Intake Valve Lash0.008-0.010 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.010-0.011 in
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.007 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.010-0.011 in
Intake Valve Lash0.008-0.010 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.010-0.011 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25; Rear: 17 /; Front: 25; Rear: 18
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 80; Rear: 55 /
ABS Sensor Torque7.2 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.060 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.079 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .827; Rear: .315
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0006
Maximum Rotor Runout.0016

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts lightly with specified motor oil.

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
2165 degrees165 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts lightly with specified motor oil.

130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
490 degrees90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

At 160,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

Looking at the federal record, complaints for the Honda Civic rose steadily from the early 1990s, peaked in the mid‑2000s, then fell to a low of 168 in 2011 before climbing again. In 2016 the complaint count jumped to 1,061, which is markedly higher than the surrounding years (377 in 2015 and 574 in 2017). Recall activity in 2016 was five recalls, similar to the 2015 figure of one and the 2017 figure of six, indicating that the spike in complaints was not accompanied by a proportional increase in recalls. The trend shows a sharp upward spike in complaints in 2016 within an otherwise declining phase after 2011, suggesting a temporary increase in reported issues for that model year. Given the elevated complaint volume without a corresponding recall surge, a prospective buyer should treat the 2016 Civic as a year that warrants extra pre‑purchase scrutiny or consider neighboring years with lower complaint counts.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
316
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,061
Owner complaints
36 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,061 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering392
Unknown Or Other181
Engine50
Service Brakes40
Electrical System36
Structure24
Visibility/Wiper23
Air Bags20

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V526000Exterior LightingReported 11/07/2016

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic 2-Door vehicles manufactured February 23, 2016, through May 20, 2016. The affected vehicles may have a damaged LED side marker light circuit… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect both the taillight assemblies, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2016. Owners may…

16V725000Parking BrakeReported 11/10/2016

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Civic two door and four door 1.5L turbo and 2.0L vehicles. The electric parking brake (EPB) may not engage if it is applied immediately after… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to allow the EPB to engage immediately after the ignition is turned off, free of charge. The recall began…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 316 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A25-0762025-07-28EngineService Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible…
ATI&080620249062024-08-06Fuel/Propulsion SystemDealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020…
ATI&072220249062024-07-22Fuel/Propulsion SystemDealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020…
ATI&070520249012024-07-06Fuel/Propulsion SystemDealer Message - Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for…
A23-0392024-06-19Visibility/WiperService Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new…

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

Does the 2016 Civic have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.