Model year guide

1981 Honda Civic

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1981 Honda Civic is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 2 on record.

1981 Honda Civic — representative photo
Representative photo

1981 Honda Civic at a glance

Safety recallsNone
Owner complaints1

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1981 Honda Civic recalls 0

No NHTSA safety-recall campaigns are on record for the 1981 Honda Civic.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1981 Honda Civic common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

Dimensions & weight

Length
148.0–161.0 in
Width
62.2 in
Height
53.1–54.3 in
Wheelbase
88.6–91.3 in
Curb weight
1,814–1,962 lb

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1981 Honda Civic — ranges cover the 6 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

SEAT BELT RETRACTORS Closed

SEAT BELT RETRACTORS

NHTSA #DP86013 · Seat Belts · opened Jul 1986 · closed Aug 1986

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the CIVIC. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1972. As of 2023, the Civic is positioned between the Honda Fit/City and Honda Accord in Honda's global passenger car line-up. It is one of the best-selling automobiles in history, with over 27 million units sold through 2021.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1981 Honda Civic vehicles on record

1981 Honda Civic 1981 Honda CivicJH1EK0000B3034438 1981 Honda Civic 1981 Honda CivicJHMASS3520S107452

Other Honda Civic model years

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982

1981 Honda Civic — frequently asked questions

Does the 1981 Honda Civic have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists no safety-recall campaigns for the 1981 Honda Civic. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1981 Honda Civic?

Across all 1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine and engine cooling.

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.