HondaS20002005Overview/honda/s2000/2005/base/

2005 Honda S2000

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2005 S2000.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Manual 6-spd

The 2005 Honda S2000 arrives as a passenger car equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and EPA-rated fuel economy of 17/23/20 mpg. Its reliability profile shows 15 total owner complaints with the power train as the leading concern area, though no recalls were issued for the model year. Within the broader 2000–2008 production span — where complaint volumes ranged from a peak of 46 in 2000 to a low of 3 in 2007 — the 2005 edition sits roughly mid-pack, suggesting a moderate but not exceptional ownership experience relative to its siblings.

Model year200920082007200620052004200320022001

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/23/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51 · 430 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 51 · 430 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245-40R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length162.2 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height50.8 in
Wheelbase94.5 in
Curb weight2844 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)49/51

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 23 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the S2000 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.40 sec — 2005 Roadster
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2005Roadster 2.2L I-45.40 sec13.90 sec237 hpRWD
2004Roadster 2.2L I-45.40 sec14.10 sec240 hpRWD
2004Roadster 2.2L I-45.50 sec14.00 sec240 hpRWD
2004Roadster 2.2L I-45.80 sec14.19 sec240 hpRWD
2004Roadster 2.2L I-46.30 sec14.60 sec240 hpRWD
2008CR Roadster 2.2L I-45.30 sec13.80 sec237 hpRWD
2008CR Roadster 2.2L I-45.70 sec14.40 sec237 hpRWD
2008CR Roadster 2.2L I-46.30 sec14.70 sec237 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, 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

Differential Gear OilGL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity0 Pints

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts181 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub242 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing5, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.88-.99 lbs
Oil TypePAG 46
Oil Capacity4.33-5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number51
Standard BCI Cranking Performance430 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)40.0-47.0 psi
Engine Compression135
Engine Oil Pressure36 psi @ Idle, 85 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.0008-0.0010 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0010-0.011 in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH DISC BRAKES / WITH DRUM BRAKES
Torque Caliper to Bracket24 ft-lbs / 17 ft-lbs / 23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs / 41 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.063 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Brake ApplicationWITH DISC BRAKES / WITH DRUM BRAKES
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in / 0.0012 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in / 0.002 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep bolts 1-10:, If using old bolts:

122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees; If using new bolts:90 degrees
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
490 degrees; bolts A:90 degrees
116

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; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 120,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 120,000 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 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 105,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

Across the generation, the Honda S2000 shows a general downward trend in federal complaints and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), starting with 46 complaints and 107 TSBs in 2000 and falling to 3 complaints and 8 TSBs by 2008. The 2005 model year sits in the latter half of this arc, recording 15 complaints and 19 TSBs, which is a slight increase over the 5 complaints seen in 2004 but significantly lower than the volume seen from 2000 to 2003. For 2005, the primary complaint areas were the Power Train (4), Vehicle Speed Control (2), and Structure (2), though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. While the 2005 model had no recalls or investigations, the record does note 2 crash and 2 fire complaints. Given its position in a declining trend of technical issues and its lack of recalls, this is a good year to buy.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
19
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
15
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 15 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train4
Vehicle Speed Control2
Structure2
Suspension1
Seats1
Unknown Or Other,Engine1
Electrical System1
Air Bags1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 19 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A07-0302021-01-23Equipment"Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant…
DLR MSG - Honda2014-08-06Air BagsDealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for…
DLR MSG - Stop S2014-07-23Air BagsDealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for…
SB-99-0752013-08-09Engine And Engine CoolingHONDA: TROUBLESHOOTING OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P1456 AND P1457. DEALERS ARE TO…
SB-12-0022012-01-12Electrical SystemHONDA: ON SOME MODEL VEHICLES, THERE IS AN ALTERNATOR/STARTER TESTER (AST) MODULE CAPABLE…

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 S2000. 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 2005 S2000 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the S2000 get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 23 highway / 20 combined mpg.