1989 Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 59 complaints (13.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 10.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 6.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.7% |
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 | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 5 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Electrical System:Ignition: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 5; Seat Belts: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2
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 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 56 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 | 24 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
1995: 24; 1996: 16; 2000: 7; 2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2006: 2
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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 505723 · 1996-06-28 (June 28, 1996)
WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD; HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE/SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505723 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728519 · 2000-08-21 (August 21, 2000)
THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE GETS IN THE WAY OF THE BRAKES AND THE GAS PETALS. SOMETIMES IT KEEPS THE GAS PETAL DOWN. SOMETIMES, IT KEEPS THE BRAKE PETAL DOWN. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE FLOOR MATS. THESE MATS WERE PURCHASED NEW WITH THE VEHICLE. THE AIR CONDITIONER BROKE TWICE. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW COMPRESSOR, NEW EVAP COIL, NEW FAN -- I RELPACED EACH COMPONTENT TWICE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063362 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. A TECHNICIAN SERVICED THE VEHICLE ON 3-15-04, AND DETERMINED THAT IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151024 · 2006-02-23 (February 23, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IDLED IN PARK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE GEARS WERE HARD TO SHIFT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE STALLING ISSUE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. DURING THE SECOND INSPECTION THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485371 · 1995-06-22 (June 22, 1995)
RUSTED FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY DAMAGED FUEL PUMP/OXYGEN SENSOR AND CONTAMINATED GASOLINE, LEAVING VEHICLE INOPERABLE. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558711 · 2001-01-03 (January 3, 2001)
GAS TANK LEAKING, OWNER HAD GAS TANK REPLACED. *CJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 716861 · 2000-01-04 (January 4, 2000)
THE 1989 HONDA CIVIC DX USES MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS. MY NIECE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THIS WEEKEND, HIT A FREEWAY RAILING THAT CAUSED THE BATTERY TO BECOME DISCONNECTED; UPON ITS DISCONNECT, THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS WERE RELEASED WHICH RESULTED IN MY NIECE BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS KILLED IN SUBJECT ACCIDENT. IS THERE ANY AUTOMOTIVE RECALL OR LITIGATION INFORMATION AVAILABLE ABOUT SIMILAR ACCIDENTS? HAVE THERE BEEN SIMILAR LITIGATIONS? *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 716861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156742 · 2006-05-03 (May 3, 2006)
I HAD AUTO ACCIDENT, I WAS GOING 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN I HIT SMALL TREE. THE STEERING WHEEL CRUSHED MY CHEST AND I SUFFERED A SPINAL CORD INJURY AT THE T~2 LEVEL AND NOW I'M NOW A QUADRIPLEGIC. MY SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN RECALLED MINE WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL. IN 1996 RECALL NO.- 95-028 I WAS STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE BELT LATCH NOT STAYING FASTENED CALLED THE HONDA COMPANY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THEY DIDN'T HELP ME AT ALL. A DEALER TOLD ME HONDA HAS A LIFETIME SEAT BELT WARRANTY O…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 987322 · 1996-07-25 (July 25, 1996)
THE RACK AND PINON STEERING GOES OUT FREQUENTLY AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO STEERING.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 987322 at NHTSA ↗