1993 Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
86 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
140,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 86 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 13 | 15.1% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 7.0% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 5.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 14 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 9 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 5 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 14; Electrical System:Ignition: 9; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 5; Steering: 4; Tires: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3
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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 69 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 | 15 |
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
1995: 24; 1996: 15; 2000: 13; 2001: 6; 2002: 3; 2003: 10; 2004: 7; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10047757 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
VEHICLE SUFFERED BROKEN TIE ROD CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD.*MR THE CONSUMER HIT A DITCH. THE FAILURE WAS A BROKEN ROD ON THE RIGHT STEERING AXLE. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10047757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482442 · 1995-03-18 (March 18, 1995)
STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480243 · 1995-01-27 (January 27, 1995)
VEHICLE GOES INTO SIDEWAYS SKID WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON WET SURFACES. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724195 · 2000-06-19 (June 19, 2000)
WHEN HIT A POOL OF WATER (~ 1" DEEP), ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER BRAKE SYSTEM DIED. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR FOR ~5 MTS AND CHANGING THE GEAR F/R AND STEERING DO NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT. FORTUNATELY HAND BRAKE HELPED TO SLOW DOWN. IT LOOKS LIKE I HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT PROBLEM. NEED MORE EXPLANATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER ON WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016721 · 2003-04-29 (April 29, 2003)
DISTRIBUTOR CAP BEARING FAILURE RESULTED IN DISTRIBUTOR CAP / ROTOR WELDED TOGETHER, ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018605 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
1993 HONDA CIVIC LX STALLED WHILE IN MOTION. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE ODOMETER READ ABOUT 100,000 MILES BACK IN 2000. THE PROBLEM WAS PINPOINTED TO A FAULTY IGNITOR WHICH WAS PROMPTLY REPLACED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED NOR WAS THERE AN ACCIDENT. RECENTLY IN MAY 13, 2003 THE SAME PART FAILED WITH THE ODOMETER READING 165,000 MILES. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS PART AND/OR DISTRIBUTOR PREMATURELY CAUSED SUCH FAILURE. ASIDE FROM THIS VEHICLE, A 1993 HONDA ACCORD EX COUPE ALSO HAD THE SIMILAR PART REPLACED BEFORE THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101621 · 2004-11-24 (November 24, 2004)
VEHICLE BURNEDD UP. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER HEARD A FAINT POP, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE COMING FROM THE DIMMER. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND GOT OUT. THEY LET THE VEHICLE STAND FOR A FEW SECONDS, WENT INTO THE CHURCH TO CALL 911. BY THE TIME THEY RETURN TO THE VEHICLE ,THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. *NM......*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 182,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203415 · 2007-09-19 (September 19, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE BATTERY AND ENGINE OIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND ALL ELECTRICAL POWER FAILED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE COIL FAILED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048043 · 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING OIL AND SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 176,260 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419940 · 2021-06-07 (June 7, 2021)
the automatic transmission shift cable is recalled and the rear window also. I called norm reeves honda in port charlotte florida at 9417438883 and spoke to a woman in service. she took my information and told me she would call me back. Less than 10 minutes later she called me back and told me the parts aren't available and she wouldn't be able to help me any further.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11419940 at NHTSA ↗