1997 Honda Civic | Car Model History

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What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1997 Honda Civic model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1997 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.

Two-door coupe

Honda Civic DX Two-door coupe

Body: Two-door coupe
Engine: 1.6-liter inline-four
Gearbox: 5-speed manual
Built: Regular production

Open exact version

The 1997 model year

Overview

The 1997 Honda Civic belongs to the sixth-generation EK. In US-market context, this year sits within the EK generation, spanning economy models, the US Si coupe, and the Japan-market Type R. Exact equipment, engine availability, and emissions calibration varied by body style, trim, state, and build date.

Specifications

Engines: 1.6 L inline-four
Transmissions: Manual, Automatic, Continuously variable transmission on selected variants
Body styles: Three-door hatchback, Two-door coupe, Four-door sedan

Year over year

What changed

The EK9 Type R debuted in Japan; it was not a US-market model.

Worth knowing

Notable

1997 is part of Honda's sixth-generation EK; market-specific performance models should not be assumed to have been sold in the United States.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

For a 1997 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 1997 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 topics: 9
Factory intervals: 8
Fitment-scoped: 9
Exact references: 2

Before orderingIdentify 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 oil
Sourced interval available
US 1997 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.
Applies to: 1997 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.
Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 12 months · Whichever comes first.
Source: 1997 Civic Owner's Manual — normal-conditions maintenance schedule · Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions — engine oil · checked 2026-08-05
Engine oil filter
Exact reference available
US 1997 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.
Applies to: 1997 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.
Published interval: 15,000 mi / 24,000 km / 12 months · Whichever comes first.
Source: 1997 Civic Owner's Manual — normal-conditions maintenance schedule · Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions — oil filter · checked 2026-08-05
Cataloged replacement-filter fitment
Baldwin lists B1402 for the cataloged 1.6L Civic application; this establishes fitment only, not a service interval.
Applies to: 1997 · 1.6 L inline-four · United States · Cataloged 1.6L Civic application. The catalog shows multiple air-filter dimensions for some years, so no engine-air number is inferred without the installed element measurement.
Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Printed catalog page 311, Honda 1997 Civic row — Lube — B1402 · checked 2026-08-30
Verified ordering references
- Validated equivalentBaldwin B1402
  Qty. 1 · Spin-on engine lubricating-oil filter · catalog-listed
  Cataloged for the 1997 Civic 1.6L application.
  Catalog: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Printed catalog page 311, Honda 1997 Civic row — Lube — B1402 · checked 2026-08-30
  Search this part on Amazon
Engine air-cleaner element
Sourced interval available
US 1997 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.
Applies to: 1997 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.
Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Whichever comes first.
Source: 1997 Civic Owner's Manual — normal-conditions maintenance schedule · Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions — air cleaner · checked 2026-08-05
Spark plugs
Sourced interval available
US 1997 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.
Applies to: 1997 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.
Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Whichever comes first.
Source: 1997 Civic Owner's Manual — normal-conditions maintenance schedule · Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions — spark plugs · checked 2026-08-05
Timing belt and water-pump inspection
Sourced interval available
US 1997 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.
Applies to: 1997 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.
Published interval: 90,000 mi / 144,000 km / 72 months · Replace belt and inspect water pump; whichever comes first.
Source: 1997 Civic Owner's Manual — normal-conditions maintenance schedule · Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions — timing belt/water pump · checked 2026-08-05
Transmission fluid
Sourced interval available
US 1997 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.
Applies to: 1997 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.
Published interval: 90,000 mi / 144,000 km / 72 months · Confirm automatic/manual fluid specification before ordering.
Source: 1997 Civic Owner's Manual — normal-conditions maintenance schedule · Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions — transmission fluid · checked 2026-08-05
Engine coolant
Sourced interval available
US 1997 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.
Applies to: 1997 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.
Published interval: 45,000 mi / 72,000 km / 36 months · Initial replacement; then every 30,000 miles/24 months.
Source: 1997 Civic Owner's Manual — normal-conditions maintenance schedule · Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions — engine coolant · checked 2026-08-05
Brake fluid
Sourced interval available
US 1997 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.
Applies to: 1997 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.
Published interval: 36 months · Independent of mileage.
Source: 1997 Civic Owner's Manual — normal-conditions maintenance schedule · Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions — brake fluid · checked 2026-08-05
Fuel filter
Exact reference available
Baldwin lists BF1193 for the cataloged 1.6L Civic application; this establishes fitment only, not a service interval.
Applies to: 1997 · 1.6 L inline-four · United States · Cataloged 1.6L Civic application. The catalog shows multiple air-filter dimensions for some years, so no engine-air number is inferred without the installed element measurement.
Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Printed catalog page 311, Honda 1997 Civic row — Fuel — BF1193 · checked 2026-08-30
Verified ordering references
- Validated equivalentBaldwin BF1193
  Qty. 1 · Inline fuel filter · catalog-listed
  Cataloged for the 1997 Civic 1.6L application.
  Catalog: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Printed catalog page 311, Honda 1997 Civic row — Fuel — BF1193 · checked 2026-08-30
  Search this part on Amazon

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