1988 Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
150,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 27 complaints (18.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 4 | 14.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 26 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 5; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2006: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10162325 · 2006-07-13 (July 13, 2006)
CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC. ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR ONLY STARTS WHEN JUMPED. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER WERE REPLACED. IT WAS OK FOR A WHILE, THEN IT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE TALKED WITH FOUR OWNERS OF 1988 - 1991 HONDA CIVIC'S AND ALL HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR IGNITION SYSTEM. ONE OF THE PERSONS WORK WITH MY WIFE. HE TOLD US THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS. HE TRIED TO FIX HIS CAR WITH THE SAME REPAIRS THAT WE DID, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550363 · 2000-04-13 (April 13, 2000)
THE VEHICLE COMPUTER BATTERY DIED IN TRAFFIC CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE MOTOR AND LIGHTS. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043809 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)
ENGINE "REVS" WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF WITHOUT APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR. CAR JOLTS FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM SEEMS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF LACK OF CONTROL OF THE CAR'S ACCELERATION. MECHANIC HAS SAID THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW THROTTLE, A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. ALSO, CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING, ESPECIALLY IN DAMP WEATHER. SPARK PLUGS AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. DISTRIBUTOR WAS REPLACED, AND THE CAR STARTS BETTER, BUT ONCE IN A WHILE IT STILL HAS TROUBLE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8018520 · 2002-09-12 (September 12, 2002)
PIPE THAT IS LOCATED ON OUTSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK HAS CORRODED THROUGH AND FUEL LEAKS WHEN PUTTING FUEL INTO TANK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8018520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 976543 · 1995-12-13 (December 13, 1995)
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP WHEN DRIVER DROVE INTO A CONCRETE BASE NO BRAKING WAS DONE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976543 at NHTSA ↗