The Lemon Index
Honda's 1.6-liter inline-4, SOHC VTEC, naturally aspirated. This page covers the versions we have sourced so far: the Honda Civic Coupe, model years 1993–1995. The engine is used in other cars too; those aren't covered here yet.
Less liked than most on YouTube: YouTube owner tone None/100, #119 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the bottom third); 1 engine-related recall on record, 2 known issues listed below.
Known issues on record
- Theft target (Outlet report). The NICB's count of cars stolen in 2010 put the 1995 Honda Civic second in the US. That count covers every Civic body style. 1 owner complaint to NHTSA mention it (EJ Civic Coupe).
- Automatic shifter clip (recall) (Recall). Honda recalled 1992 to 1994 Civics with the automatic gearbox because a clip on the shift cable could come off, so the lever could show the wrong gear. Dealers fitted a better clip. Fix: Check that recall 94V063000 was done. 1 owner complaint to NHTSA mention it (EJ Civic Coupe).
What YouTube owners say Tone 0-100, higher = more praise than trouble.
Average owner tone 44/100 across 3 model years, from 153 videos about this engine and its cars (#119 of 165 engines with a YouTube study).
Most-watched videos
- How to Finish Your Abandoned Project Car (Turbo Del Sol) 5,860,579 views
- Regular Car Reviews: 1995 Honda Del Sol 1,002,846 views
- Bisimoto Level X, ITB's & more/D16Z6 all motor SOHC - PART 2 279,172 views
- D16Z6 vs B16A2 243,278 views
Counted from video titles and captions: praise words against trouble words, weighted by views. Videos only count when the title names this engine or a car that had only this engine in those years.
Owner complaints and recalls
Counts for the cars on this page, from NHTSA. They cover every part of the car, not only the engine.
| Car | Years | Owner complaints | Recall campaigns | NHTSA files it as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EJ Civic Coupe | 1993–1995 | 480 | 14 | Civic |
Specs by generation
Honda D16Z6: EJ Civic Coupe, 1993–1995
- Layout: Inline-4, SOHC 16-valve with VTEC
- Output: 125 hp at 6,600 rpm, 106 lb-ft at 5,200 rpm
- Size: 1,590 cc, 75 x 90 mm bore x stroke
- VTEC: Switches to the high-lift cam at about 4,800 rpm
- Redline: 7,200 rpm
What we don't have yet
- The engine's other cars: only the versions above are sourced so far.
Quick answers
What cars have the Honda D16Z6 engine?
On this site so far: the Honda Civic Coupe, model years 1993–1995. It is used in other cars we haven't covered yet.
Is the Honda D16Z6 reliable?
Not one of the safer bets on our data. YouTube owner tone None/100, #119 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the bottom third); 1 engine-related recall on record, 2 known issues listed below. Owner complaints are filed by car, not engine, and cover the whole car, so none of these numbers is an engine failure rate.
How much horsepower does the Honda D16Z6 make?
125 hp in the versions on this page (factory figures).
Sources: Wikipedia: Honda D engine · Driving Line: Remembering the Civic Coupe (Andy Carter, Jul 18, 2020) · Insurance Journal: Top 10 most stolen vehicles in U.S. (NICB 2010 data, Aug 3, 2011) · NHTSA recall 94V063000: automatic transmission shift cable clip (Honda, Oct 1994). Complaints and recalls: NHTSA (api.nhtsa.gov).