1996 Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
148 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
100,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 148 complaints (12.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 25 | 16.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 6.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 18 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
Air Bags: 18; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Unknown Or Other: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 7; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 108 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 | 1 |
| 1996 | 25 |
| 2000 | 30 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
1995: 1; 1996: 25; 2000: 30; 2001: 20; 2002: 7; 2003: 14; 2004: 14; 2005: 7; 2006: 6; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 4; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 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 10007289 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FAULTY KEY MOUNT ON CRANKSHAFT, AND 2 BELTS CAME OFF PULLEY, VEHICLE LOSS CONTROL RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, REPLACED WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, EXHAUST SYSTEM, THROTTLE CABLE, EMISSIONS, AXLES, BRAKES, CV BOOTS, AND FLOOR MAT. *AK 8JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052547 · 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
I OWN A 1996 HONDA CIVIC EX,, I AM HAVING ALOT OF TROUBLE WITH ROTORS GOING BAD. I HAVE CHANGED THE BRAKES BOUGHT NEW ROTERS AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE ABS NOT WORKING RIGHT.AS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023710 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1996 HONDA CIVIC WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY, AND USUALLY IT DOES NOT WORK. AT TIMES WHEN GOING OVER 40 MPH ON THE RARE OCCASION THAT I HAVE GOTTEN THE CRUISE CONTROL TO WORK, IT JUST CLICKS OFF BY ITSELF. I AM DISABLED AND MUST HAVE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN DRIVING FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A FIX FOR THIS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 71,464 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151347 · 2006-02-27 (February 27, 2006)
WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES THE OF 75 MPH THERE IS A BURNING SMELL THAT COMES FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. SERVICING INCLUDES AN OIL AND FLUID CHANGE AND A TRANSMISSION CHECK. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10151347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069730 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE COMPUTER CONTROL ISSUE IS UNRESOLVED. THE FACTORY DEFAULT SETTINGS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING WERE LOST AFTER A BATTERY EXCHANGE. EXPENSIVE CHARGES FOR HOURLY FISHING EXPEDITIONS HAVE NOT APPEALED TO ME. THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKS IT JUST DOESN'T APPLY TO THE APPROPRIATE BUTTONS ON THE CONTROL PANEL THEY SETTINGS ARE OFF LINE. HONDA WAS NO HELP TO ME. TODAY, MY IGNITION COIL WENT. HONDA SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED VIA FACTORY SERVICE BULLETIN ALTHOUGH THE ACCORD WAS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069814 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE AIRBAG/SUPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM CHECK LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE LIGHT WAS RESET. A CHARGE OF $90.00 HAD TO BE PAID FOR THE LABOR COST. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN BECAUSE I HAD JUS REPLACED THE CAR BATTERY. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND RESET THE WARNING LIGHT. I WAS OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SUPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS A 10 YEAR WARRANTY, THEREFORE I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED. THE DEALER IS ADAMANT THAT THEY PROPERLY CHARGED M…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10370496 · 2010-12-13 (December 13, 2010)
MY 1996 HONDA CIVIC WOULD NOT START ONE MORNING, I HAD INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE CHILLY WEATHER. A WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65+ MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR STALLED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF!!!! AFTER MY CAR FINISHES COASTING ON THE FREEWAY (AND RESIDENTIAL ROAD), I WILL HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM TRYING TO RESTART MY CAR, BUT IT WILL EVENTUALLY RESTART! I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE FOR THE OBVIOUS REASONS (ONE SECOND YOU'RE GOING 65MPH AND THE NEXT, YOUR CAR DIES ON THE FREEWAY WITH CARS SPEEDING BEHIND YOU)!! I FOUND ONL…
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10586077 · 2014-05-02 (May 2, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE. DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE GOING 20 MILES OR 60 MILES AN HOUR. I CAN CRANK IT AFTER A FEW MOMENTS AND IT STARTS BACKUP. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES. WHEN DRIVING, IT WILL SOMETIMES JERK SLIGHTLY LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL. RECENTLY, IT WOULD NOT START I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED RIGHT UP. THE HONDA DEALER THOUGHT IT COULD BE MY OLD ALARM SYSTEM SO THEY REMOVED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK. THEY AGAIN PLACED IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 280,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10586077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000209 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
IF A HARD TAKE OFF IS MADE THE STEERING WHEEL ALONG WITH THE CAR ABRUPTLY PULLS RIGHT. I'VE TOOK MY VEHICLE WHICH IS A 1996 HONDA CIVIC EX TO A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME MY ALIGNMENT WAS IN SPECIFICATIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND IN MY OPINION THIS COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND EITHER CAUSE OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 561450 · 2001-06-04 (June 4, 2001)
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL BECAUSE THE PINION GEAR IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE.THE DEFECT WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 561450 at NHTSA ↗