1994 Honda CIVIC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
100 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
133,050 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 100 complaints (27.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 15.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.0% |
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 | 27 |
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Seats | 3 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 27; Air Bags: 14; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Tires: 5; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Seats: 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 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 94 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 | 35 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 35; 1996: 13; 2000: 15; 2001: 12; 2002: 6; 2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 10000320 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
I WAS DRIVING FROM SF HOME AND MY REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, TAKING A PIECE OF MY WINDSHIELD WITH IT. I DON'T HAVE A HOLE IN MY WINDSHIELD, MORE LIKE A CRATER ON THE INSIDE OF IT. MY CAR IS A 1994 HONDA CIVIC DX COUPE WITH ABOUT 116,000 MILES ON IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS OUT OF THE BASIC WARRANTY, BUT THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE THAT HAS TO DO WITH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. MY WINDSHIELD IS PERFECTLY FINE OTHERWISE AND NOTHING HIT MY CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED NOR DID I RUN OVER SOMETHING THAT MAY OF JOLTED MY CAR. I CALLED HONDA AND THEY DENIED MY CLAIM SAYIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 116,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000343 · 2002-12-23 (December 23, 2002)
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILS TO REMAIN LATCHED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. FEELS AS IF IT LATCHES WHEN PUSHED FULLY IN, BUT THEN POPS OUT OR CAN BE PULLED OUT.
Owner-reported narrative. 104,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002598 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004656 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
WHILE IN MOTION, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR BURST INTO PIECES. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020232 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028877 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
THE OEM CARPET/MAT WHICH I BOUGHT TOGETHER WITH THE CAR (NEW CAR FROM A HONDA DEALER) STARTED TO GET CAUGHT UP UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING AN UNSAFE SITUATION WHERE I WOULD LET OFF ON THE GAS, BUT THE MOTOR WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I FINALLY REPLACED THE MAT WITH A 3RD PARTY PRODUCT. THAT MAT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING, AND WAS REMOVED ALSO.*AK I RECALL SEEING A RECALL NOTICE IN CONSUMER REPORTS FOR HONDA CIVICS (OTHER YEARS) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MENTIONING THIS DID N…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059671 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
WHILE COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE'S MOTOR STARTED TO SOUND FUNNY, AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BOLT IN THE CRANK SHAFT HAD LOOSENED AND WALLOWED. *LA THE REFURBISHED CRANKSHAFT ONLY LASTED 3 WEEKS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061156 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES WHEN THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. *LA *JB *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061156 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V208000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 1993-12-09 (December 9, 1993)
THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAIN INCORRECT INFLATORS WHICH ARE OUT OF SPECIFICATION FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT PROVIDEADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE PASSENGER.
Remedy: HONDA DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MODULE WITH A MODULE CONTAINING THE CORRECT INFLATOR.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗