1993 Honda CIVIC: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000886 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
CAR ON 3RD DISTRIBUTOR BEARING AND INGNITOR FAILURES
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000886 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 10021921 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
CONSUMER WA SHAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025547 · 2003-07-07 (July 7, 2003)
DISTRIBUTOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE STOP ON THE FREEWAY. WHEN I HAD THE CAR FIXED, THE MECHANIC SAID ALL THE HONDAS DURING THIS PERIOD HAVE THE SAME FAILURE. ONE YEAR LATER MY 1990 HONDA CIVIC HAD THE DISTRIBUTOR FAIL ALSO. I AM CONCERNED THAT ACCIDENTS ARE OCCURRING BECAUSE THE DISTRIBUTOR FAILS IN HEAVT TRAFFIC. IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THE BEARINGS ARE LOW QUALITY AND FREEZE UP.
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031818 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *AK *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 177,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031818 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040110 · 2003-09-16 (September 16, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC INSIDE THE VEHICLE. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE WIRES MELTED. WIRES UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND WIRES NEAR THE DOOR SPEAKERS WERE WARM TO THE TOUCH.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040110 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
94V063000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1994-04-10 (April 10, 1994)
A RETAINING CLIP THAT CONNECTS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE TO THE SHIFT LEVER ACTUATING ROD CAN HAVE INSUFFICIENT RETENTION PRESSURE AND MAY EVENTUALLY COME OFF AFTER REPEATED SHIFT LEVER OPERATION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POSITION OF THE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNANTICIPATED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED RETAINING CLIP.
NHTSA campaign record ↗