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U.S. public vehicle records

1991 Honda CIVIC: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1013.9%
Engine operation68.3%
Steering behavior45.6%
Electrical and battery issues34.2%
Fuel system concerns22.8%
Transmission and shifting11.4%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Seat Belts15
Electrical System:Ignition8
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly6
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage4
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor4
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch2
Power Train2
Power Train:Manual Transmission2

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above7

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199515
199615
20009
200110
20024
20034
20041
20062
20082
20094
20111
20132
20151
20171
20231

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10007117 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)

THE HOOD OPENED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007117 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10010889 · 2003-03-22 (March 22, 2003)

THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON MY 1991 HONDA CIVIC FAILS TO CLOSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT IS STUCK IN THE "OPEN" POSITION INTERFERING WITH DRIVING AND NOT PROVIDING ANY SHOULDER RESTRAINT. THE COMPONENT THAT RIDES ALONG THE FRONT DOOR TRACK WHERE THE SEAT BELT OPENS AND CLOSES WILL NOT MANUALLY MOVE ALONG THE TRACK. IT APPEARS, THIS IS THE WAY THE SEAT BELT IS CONSTRUCTED, IT CAUSES TENSION OR PULLS ON THE COMPONENT THAT SLIDES ALONG THE DOOR. THAT MAY CAUSE AN OBSTACLE TO MY SEAT BELT CLOSING. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A FAULTY DOOR LATCH ON THE DRIVER…

Owner-reported narrative. 129,058 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010889 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034564 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT SEAT BELTS ARE NOT ON TRACK WHEN SHE STOPS SEAT BELT GOES FORWARD. ALSO, WHILE SHE IS DRIVING SEAT BELTS GO BACK AND FORTH AT WILL. THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT SECURE, AND DO NOT HOLD.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034564 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10045445 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)

IGNITION FAILURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 220,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045445 at NHTSA ↗

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 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 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 10243817 · 2008-09-28 (September 28, 2008)

91 HONDA CIVIC LX, THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, MAKES CONSTANT BEEPING NOISE AND LIGHT IS BLINKING . *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10243817 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

95V103001 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly

Reported: 1995-05-24 (May 24, 1995)

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

NHTSA campaign record ↗