Car Model History

Second generation · SS/SL (1980–1983) · 1980–1983

1980Honda Civic

Larger and more angular, with continued CVCC lean-burn engines. US model years 1980–1983.

Second generation · SS/SL (1980–1983)

1980 Honda Civic — silver hatchback, front three-quarter view

Photo: “File:1980 Honda Civic 3-door hatchback (2010-07-22).jpg” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain. Cropped to 16:9.

The 1980 model year

Overview

The 1980 Honda Civic belongs to the second-generation SS/SL. In US-market context, this year sits within a larger second generation with further-developed CVCC engines. Exact equipment, engine availability, and emissions calibration varied by body style, trim, state, and build date.

Specifications

Engines
  • 1.3 L CVCC inline-four
  • 1.5 L CVCC inline-four
Transmissions
Manual, Hondamatic
Body styles
Three-door hatchback, Five-door wagon

Year over year

What changed

  • All-new second-generation Civic launched for the US market.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • 1980 is part of Honda's second-generation SS/SL; market-specific performance models should not be assumed to have been sold in the United States.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • For a 1980 Civic, condition and documented maintenance matter more than the nameplate's general reputation. Check the VIN for open recalls, confirm the installed engine and transmission, and compare service history with Honda's year-specific schedule.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1980 Civic on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1980 Honda Civic. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
9
Scheduled topics
9
Applicability stated
9
Exact references
1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oilView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil

    Sourced interval available

    US 1980 Civic 1300/1500 CVCC; verify engine and transmission before ordering parts or fluids.

    Applies to: 1980 · 1335 cc CVCC, 1488 cc CVCC · US · US Civic hatchback, sedan, and wagon with 1300 or 1500 CVCC engine; manual, Hondamatic, and automatic transmissions are covered.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km · More frequently under severe operating conditions.

    Source: Haynes — Honda Civic CVCC, 1980 thru 1981 Owners Workshop Manual · Routine maintenance, page 17 — every 7,500 miles · checked

  • Engine oil filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil filter

    Exact reference available

    US 1980 Civic 1300/1500 CVCC; verify engine and transmission before ordering parts or fluids. Baldwin lists B156 for both cataloged Civic engine rows; this establishes fitment only, not a service interval.

    Applies to: 1980 · 1.3 L CVCC inline-four, 1.5 L CVCC inline-four · United States · Cataloged 1.3L and 1.5L Civic applications; confirm the installed engine before ordering.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km · Replace with the engine oil.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Printed catalog page 313, Honda 1980 Civic rows — Lube — B156 · checked

    Verified ordering references

  • Spark plugsView intervals, applicability and sources

    Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    US 1980 Civic 1300/1500 CVCC; verify engine and transmission before ordering parts or fluids.

    Applies to: 1980 · 1335 cc CVCC, 1488 cc CVCC · US · US Civic hatchback, sedan, and wagon with 1300 or 1500 CVCC engine; manual, Hondamatic, and automatic transmissions are covered.

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 24,000 km · Inspect, clean, and reset gap at 7,500 miles; replace at 15,000 miles.

    Source: Haynes — Honda Civic CVCC, 1980 thru 1981 Owners Workshop Manual · Routine maintenance, page 17 — inspect at 7,500 miles; renew at 15,000 miles · checked

  • Alternator drive beltView intervals, applicability and sources

    Alternator drive belt

    Sourced interval available

    US 1980 Civic 1300/1500 CVCC; verify engine and transmission before ordering parts or fluids.

    Applies to: 1980 · 1335 cc CVCC, 1488 cc CVCC · US · US Civic hatchback, sedan, and wagon with 1300 or 1500 CVCC engine; manual, Hondamatic, and automatic transmissions are covered.

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 24,000 km · Check tension and condition.

    Source: Haynes — Honda Civic CVCC, 1980 thru 1981 Owners Workshop Manual · Routine maintenance, page 17 — every 15,000 miles · checked

  • Engine air-cleaner elementView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine air-cleaner element

    Sourced interval available

    US 1980 Civic 1300/1500 CVCC; verify engine and transmission before ordering parts or fluids.

    Applies to: 1980 · 1335 cc CVCC, 1488 cc CVCC · US · US Civic hatchback, sedan, and wagon with 1300 or 1500 CVCC engine; manual, Hondamatic, and automatic transmissions are covered.

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 24,000 km · Replace; more frequently in dusty conditions.

    Source: Haynes — Honda Civic CVCC, 1980 thru 1981 Owners Workshop Manual · Routine maintenance, page 17 — every 15,000 miles · checked

  • Fuel filter and charcoal canisterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Fuel filter and charcoal canister

    Sourced interval available

    US 1980 Civic 1300/1500 CVCC; verify engine and transmission before ordering parts or fluids.

    Applies to: 1980 · 1335 cc CVCC, 1488 cc CVCC · US · US Civic hatchback, sedan, and wagon with 1300 or 1500 CVCC engine; manual, Hondamatic, and automatic transmissions are covered.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km · Replace both.

    Source: Haynes — Honda Civic CVCC, 1980 thru 1981 Owners Workshop Manual · Routine maintenance, page 17 — every 30,000 miles · checked

  • Transmission oil or fluidView intervals, applicability and sources

    Transmission oil or fluid

    Sourced interval available

    US 1980 Civic 1300/1500 CVCC; verify engine and transmission before ordering parts or fluids.

    Applies to: 1980 · 1335 cc CVCC, 1488 cc CVCC · US · US Civic hatchback, sedan, and wagon with 1300 or 1500 CVCC engine; manual, Hondamatic, and automatic transmissions are covered.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km · Renew manual-transmission oil or automatic-transmission fluid as applicable.

    Source: Haynes — Honda Civic CVCC, 1980 thru 1981 Owners Workshop Manual · Routine maintenance, page 17 — every 30,000 miles · checked

  • Engine coolantView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine coolant

    Sourced interval available

    US 1980 Civic 1300/1500 CVCC; verify engine and transmission before ordering parts or fluids.

    Applies to: 1980 · 1335 cc CVCC, 1488 cc CVCC · US · US Civic hatchback, sedan, and wagon with 1300 or 1500 CVCC engine; manual, Hondamatic, and automatic transmissions are covered.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Whichever comes first.

    Source: Haynes — Honda Civic CVCC, 1980 thru 1981 Owners Workshop Manual · Routine maintenance, page 17 — every 30,000 miles or two years · checked

  • Brake hydraulic fluidView intervals, applicability and sources

    Brake hydraulic fluid

    Sourced interval available

    US 1980 Civic 1300/1500 CVCC; verify engine and transmission before ordering parts or fluids.

    Applies to: 1980 · 1335 cc CVCC, 1488 cc CVCC · US · US Civic hatchback, sedan, and wagon with 1300 or 1500 CVCC engine; manual, Hondamatic, and automatic transmissions are covered.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Whichever comes first.

    Source: Haynes — Honda Civic CVCC, 1980 thru 1981 Owners Workshop Manual · Routine maintenance, page 17 — every 30,000 miles or two years · checked

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. Honda Global — Civic heritage and 40th-anniversary history
  2. Honda Global — 75 Years of Honda History: automobile business
  3. Honda Owners — owner manuals and maintenance information
  4. NHTSA — VIN recall lookup
  5. Wikipedia — "Honda Civic"

Other Second generation years

All Second generation · SS/SL (1980–1983) years →

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1980 Civic

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

1factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

1versions shown
Browse 1 documented records — use the filters above to narrow the list
Three-door hatchback

Honda Civic 1300 Three-door hatchback

Body
Three-door hatchback
Engine
1.3-liter CVCC inline-four
Gearbox
4-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

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