1990 Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
168,862 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 63 complaints (11.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 6 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 5 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 5 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 7; Seat Belts: 6; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
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: 3; 150,000 and above: 4
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 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 | 16 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 16; 1996: 13; 2000: 12; 2001: 3; 2002: 6; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2011: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10071311 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
A LOT OF THE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I AM STILL HAVING A PROBLEM WITH SOME THING THAT ISNT LISTED,IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR,I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL 5 TIMES AND THEY ARE NOT CHEEP AT 200 A POP. THE STEERING IS A PAIN BUT AN EASY FIX FOR A BUSHING ON THE RIGHT SIDE, MINUS THE STIFF LOCK UP STEER THAT I THINK COMES WITH THE HONDA CIVIC SI ENGINE FIRST WENT AT 60.000 KM AND NOW IT HAS 170 ON THE ODOMETER AND WENT TODAY, NOT SURE WHAT IM GONNA DO,TRY AND DO WARRANTY ON IT OR FIX IT MY SELF AND HAVE IT DONE RIGHT.... T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 507861 · 1996-08-23 (August 23, 1996)
METALLIC CLICKING FROM RIGHT REAR WHEEL WHEN BRAKING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013751 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, ROLLS IN PARK, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DRIVE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501123 · 1996-01-06 (January 6, 1996)
PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN COIL AND IGNITOR, CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 734415 · 2000-10-16 (October 16, 2000)
THE FIRST TIME THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED THE CAR SLOWLY LOST POWER TIL IT JUST STOPPED, THIS ALSO HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME, THEN THE 3RD TIME THE CAR STARTED AND STALLED AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN, THE 4TH TIME THE CAR WAS RUN FOR A SHORT TRIP(5 MILES) AND AFTER TURNED OFF A LEFT FOR A COUPLE HOURS WOULD NOT START AT ALL , HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT LIGHT, EITHER. THE 5TH TIME WAS A FAULTY ALTERNATOR...
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177248 · 2006-12-28 (December 28, 2006)
AFTER DRIVING MY CAR AND IT SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 AND A HALF HOURS I NOTICED THAT THEIR WAS FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I RAN OUT AND TURNED ON THE WATER HOSE AND STARTED TO SQUIRT IT AS A NEIGHBOR OPENED THE HOOD FOR ME BUT WE QUICKLY REALIZED THAT WASN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS ELECTRICAL, SO WE THEN DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. WHICH STOPPED THE FIRE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10177248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 982333 · 1996-04-04 (April 4, 1996)
WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY, FRONT LEFT WHEEL COLLAPSED; STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP; SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN WITH AXLE; AXLE BROKE; SPEED 30 MPH; NO WARNING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982333 at NHTSA ↗