U.S. public vehicle records

Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

15,428 owner complaints analyzed

79 distinct recall campaigns

54,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1973 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 7,982 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2,459 of 15,428 complaints (15.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	2,759	17.9%
Braking behavior	1,697	11.0%
Transmission and shifting	1,535	9.9%
Electrical and battery issues	786	5.1%
Engine operation	618	4.0%
Fuel system concerns	278	1.8%

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.

Steering

2,459

Air Bags

2,156

Unknown Or Other

1,318

Electrical System

1,106

Engine

1,104

Power Train

867

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

647

Service Brakes

548

Steering: 2,459; Air Bags: 2,156; Unknown Or Other: 1,318; Electrical System: 1,106; Engine: 1,104; Power Train: 867; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 647; Service Brakes: 548

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

2,201

25,000 to 49,999

1,515

50,000 to 74,999

1,301

75,000 to 99,999

1,014

100,000 to 149,999

1,275

150,000 and above

676

Under 25,000: 2,201; 25,000 to 49,999: 1,515; 50,000 to 74,999: 1,301; 75,000 to 99,999: 1,014; 100,000 to 149,999: 1,275; 150,000 and above: 676

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2,201). 7,446 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.

1995

228

1996

150

2000

257

2001

329

2002

357

2003

341

2004

360

2005

256

2006

271

2007

313

2008

539

2009

631

2010

1,069

2011

654

2012

460

2013

439

2014

555

2015

587

2016

793

2017

644

2018

562

2019

619

2020

570

2021

458

2022

539

2023

1,056

2024

1,212

2025

682

2026

497

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	228
1996	150
2000	257
2001	329
2002	357
2003	341
2004	360
2005	256
2006	271
2007	313
2008	539
2009	631
2010	1069
2011	654
2012	460
2013	439
2014	555
2015	587
2016	793
2017	644
2018	562
2019	619
2020	570
2021	458
2022	539
2023	1056
2024	1212
2025	682
2026	497

1995: 228; 1996: 150; 2000: 257; 2001: 329; 2002: 357; 2003: 341; 2004: 360; 2005: 256; 2006: 271; 2007: 313; 2008: 539; 2009: 631; 2010: 1,069; 2011: 654; 2012: 460; 2013: 439; 2014: 555; 2015: 587; 2016: 793; 2017: 644; 2018: 562; 2019: 619; 2020: 570; 2021: 458; 2022: 539; 2023: 1,056; 2024: 1,212; 2025: 682; 2026: 497

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2,759 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1,697 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1,535 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 10367745 · 2010-11-24 (November 24, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1979 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED. THE DRIVER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER; THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BUT WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10367745 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 967254 · 1995-06-20 (June 20, 1995)

FUEL FILLER IS LEAKING GAS ONTO THE REAR BRAKES. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967254 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 986088 · 1996-06-24 (June 24, 1996)

SON DRIVING VEHICLE, WENT ACROSS 4 LANES, STOPPED AT SIGN, PULLED ONTO MERIDIAN, BRAKES FAILED, PUMPED BRAKES HARD, NOT WORKING, FOUND BRAKE FLUID ON SEALS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986088 at NHTSA ↗

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 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 10043809 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)

ENGINE "REVS" WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF WITHOUT APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR. CAR JOLTS FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM SEEMS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF LACK OF CONTROL OF THE CAR'S ACCELERATION. MECHANIC HAS SAID THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW THROTTLE, A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. ALSO, CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING, ESPECIALLY IN DAMP WEATHER. SPARK PLUGS AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. DISTRIBUTOR WAS REPLACED, AND THE CAR STARTS BETTER, BUT ONCE IN A WHILE IT STILL HAS TROUBLE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043809 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10162325 · 2006-07-13 (July 13, 2006)

CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC. ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR ONLY STARTS WHEN JUMPED. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER WERE REPLACED. IT WAS OK FOR A WHILE, THEN IT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE TALKED WITH FOUR OWNERS OF 1988 - 1991 HONDA CIVIC'S AND ALL HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR IGNITION SYSTEM. ONE OF THE PERSONS WORK WITH MY WIFE. HE TOLD US THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS. HE TRIED TO FIX HIS CAR WITH THE SAME REPAIRS THAT WE DID, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162325 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 960538 · 1995-02-24 (February 24, 1995)

COIL/DISTRIBUTOR CABLE HAD BECOME DISLODGED FROM DISTRIBUTOR CAP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960538 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 976572 · 1995-12-14 (December 14, 1995)

PURCHASE CAR NEW WHEN DRIVING PUSH ON THE BRAKE CAR STALLED . TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976572 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 969058 · 1995-07-19 (July 19, 1995)

FUEL TANK FAILURE, FUEL INLET TUBE WAS CORRODED, REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 969058 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 481742 · 1995-05-11 (May 11, 1995)

FUEL PUMP FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL. (88V-117) *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481742 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.