1991 Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
72 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
151,795 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 72 complaints (20.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 13.9% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.4% |
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 | 15 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 8 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 6 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 4 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
Seat Belts: 15; Electrical System:Ignition: 8; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 6; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 4; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 2; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Manual 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 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 60 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 | 15 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
1995: 15; 1996: 15; 2000: 9; 2001: 10; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2006: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 4; 2011: 1; 2013: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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 10070649 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I TOOK MY HONDA IN TO HAVE RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CHECKED OUT BY HOLMES HONDA, CLIVE, IOWA. PROBLEM IS THE SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT FLASHING AND BUZZER GOING OFF, AND TENSIONERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY DRIVERS SEAT BELT FEELS LOOSE, DOESN?T TIGHTEN WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. I HAD MENTIONED TO SERVICE MANAGER THAT ON THE ALLDATA WEBSITE FOR THAT YEAR OF VEHICLE FRONT SEAT BELTS WAS A RECALL ISSUE, AND THAT ALSO IN MY RESEARCH I HAD FOUND THAT HONDA CORP DOES WARRANTY THEIR "SEAT BELT SYSTEM" FOR LIFE OF VEHICLE. WHEN I PICKED CAR UP, SE…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10551301 · 2013-11-06 (November 6, 2013)
1991 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEAT BELT PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT FLASHED AND AN ALARM SOUNDED. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PULL TIGHT, IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10551301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163540 · 2006-07-26 (July 26, 2006)
1991 CIVIC THAT IS HAVING THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM THAT HONDA ISSUED RECALLS FOR IN MID TO LATE 90'S VEHICLES. (INTERMITTENT CURRENT IN RUN POSITION) FROM A BRIEF WEB SEARCH, I FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON HONDA PROBLEM. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS. CAR WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AT IT'S OWN DISCRETION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 175,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483717 · 1995-09-04 (September 4, 1995)
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO STOP. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163373 · 2006-07-25 (July 25, 2006)
VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HONDA. SPEED OF HONDA AT TIME WAS 40 MPH. ON IMPACT DRIVERS SEAT BELT WORKED BUT THEN FAILED, SPOOLING OUT, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT WINDSHIELD AND STEERING WHEEL. INJURIES INCLUDED BROKEN JAW, COLLARBONE,NECK, BOTH FEMURS,LOWER LEG AND LEFT FOOT, HAND, FINGERS AND NINE RIBS ONE OF WHICH SEVERED LOWER LEFT AORTA, EVERY ORGAN SEVERELY DAMAGED RESULTING IN DEATH. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10163373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 751487 · 2001-08-31 (August 31, 2001)
VEHICLE WAS REARENDED WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A SIGNAL. SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP AND DRIVER WAS THROWN AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND INJURED. THE NHTSA RECORD SHOWS NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLIANTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296287 · 2009-12-17 (December 17, 2009)
I OWN A 1991 HONDA CIVIC 4-DOOR SEDAN. I WAS HAVING MY CAR WORKED ON FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNRELATED WHEN, ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT (SHOULDER HARNESS) ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IT WILL NO LONGER RUN ALONG THE TRACK WHEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS OPENED. I AM UNSURE ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS FAILURE ON ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I KNEW OF HONDA'S "LIFETIME WARRANTY" ON THEIR SEATBELTS AND TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506077 · 1996-07-10 (July 10, 1996)
GAS TANK SPECIFIED AT 12 GALLONS, BUT IT WOULD ONLY ACCOMODATE 9 GALLONS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8017895 · 2002-09-04 (September 4, 2002)
INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING OR NOT STARTING AT ALL. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO REPLACED FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, STALLING STILL OCCURRING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8017895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 963971 · 1995-04-18 (April 18, 1995)
TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AT 65 THOUSAND MILES, WILL NOT GO INTO 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963971 at NHTSA ↗