Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
35
Latest Mar 20, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 23, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 35 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Honda Civic. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 35 · page 1 of 2
Seat belts
Filed Mar 20, 2025
The contact owns a 1986 Honda Civic. The contact stated that whether the vehicle was parked, stationary, or driven, the seat belt was difficult to retract. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the seat belts became difficult to retract even more frequently over time. The contact tested the seat belts, and the seat belts stopped recoiling. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,368.
NHTSA ID
11649594
Incident
Feb 27, 2025
Mileage
135,368 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 24, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 HONDA CIVIC. THE ENGINE CONSTANTLY BROKE DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE BROKEN DOWN FIVE TIMES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND A REASON WHY THIS IS HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER FIRST BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. *AK
NHTSA ID
10134135
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Aug 26, 2003
THE 1986 HONDA CRX HAS PLASTIC FENDERS THAT HOLD THE SIDE MARKER LAMPS. THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME VERY BRITTLE OVER TIME. MY SIDE MARKER LIGHTS ARE ONLY HELD ON BY A CLUMSY, PLUG-IN ATTACHMENT NEXT TO THE HEADLIGHT. THE TWO SCREW HOLES THAT HOLD THE LAMPS ARE USELESS IN THE FENDERS THAT ARE BOTH BROKEN IN SEVERAL SPOTS. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10036632
Incident
Aug 26, 2003
Mileage
80,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jul 12, 2001
THE SEATBELT ANCHOR POINTS NEAR THE DOORS HAVE BOTH RUSTED OUT AND DO NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY. THE CAR IS NOW IN VIOLATION OF NATIONAL SEATBELT LAWS. WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT WILL HONDA DO? THANK YOU.
NHTSA ID
748378
Incident
Jul 9, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Jun 4, 2001
THE TRIM PIECE ABOVE THE FRONT BUMPER IN FRONT OF THE HOOD IS CRACKED IN 3 PLACES. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER CRX'S AND EVERY SIMILAR CRX I HAVE SEEN IS CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACES.
NHTSA ID
746401
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Feb 28, 2001
THE LOW BEAM SWITCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CAUSING THE LIGHT TO GO OUT, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. NLM
NHTSA ID
559956
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 5, 2001
WHILE DRIVING WITH LOW BEAM, BEAMS DIED OUT AND WENT TO 0. CONSUMER STATED SWITCH WAS FAULTY. *AK THE LOW BEAM SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE LOW BEAM INOPERATIVE. *YH
NHTSA ID
879767
Incident
Feb 5, 2001
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 5, 1999
Fire reported
AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, 5 MINUTES LATER, THE HORN WAS BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY, THEN CONTINUOUSLY BEEPING. TWO MINUTES AFTER A LOUD NOISE LIKE EXPLOSION, FOUND OUT VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THEN HOUSE CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. FRICTION FROM WHEEL BEARING TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE LINE CAUSED THE FIRE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
834909
Incident
Feb 5, 1999
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Mar 24, 1998
CLUTCH FAILURE. ALSO ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
NHTSA ID
533198
Fuel system
Filed Sep 24, 1997
Fire reported2 injuries reported
DISINTEGRATED/CORRODED FUEL FILTER PIPE, RESULTING IN PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER CAR IN THE MORNING ONLY WHEN TANK IS FULL. DURING REPAIRS CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO VAPORS IGNITING DURING A PASSINGELECTRICAL STORM. *AK
NHTSA ID
521354
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Jul 16, 1997
CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK CORRECTED. PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE LISTED RECALL 95V103001, SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
814283
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 23, 1997
THE DRIVESHAFT HAS A CRACK IN IT .THERE IS A RECALL ON THE HONDA CIVIC , CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WITH VIN . CONSUMER WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ID
813376
Incident
Apr 4, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Jun 10, 1997
SEAT BELT RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED BY DEALER.
NHTSA ID
518457
Seat belts
Filed Apr 29, 1997
RECALL #95V1030.01, ORDERED PARTS IN NOVEMBER OF 96. RECEIVED CALL FROM DEALER ON APRIL 25, 1997 STATING THAT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. WAITED MORE THAN (60) DAYS. *AK
NHTSA ID
811799
Incident
Apr 28, 1997
Fuel system
Filed Mar 11, 1997
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN TANK IS FILLED.
NHTSA ID
515455
Incident
Mar 3, 1997
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 4, 1997
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY RUSTED AND CORRODED AND RUPTURED THE VEHICLE LINE, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK DAMAGE. *AK
NHTSA ID
808583
Incident
Nov 1, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Dec 12, 1996
REAR HATCHBACK SUPPORT RODS FAILED. *AK
NHTSA ID
512384
Engine
Filed Nov 19, 1996
ENGINE FAILED 2 TIMES.
NHTSA ID
511483
Incident
May 1, 1994
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 1, 1996
DRIVESHAFT FAILED.
NHTSA ID
510856
Incident
Oct 2, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Oct 18, 1996
Crash reported
AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE, CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM BELT BUCKLE. RECALL#96V103001. *AK
NHTSA ID
803722
Body & structure
Filed Oct 15, 1996
REAR CROSSMEMBER BAR ROTTED IN TWO PLACES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWAY WHEN TURNING THE CAR. *AK
NHTSA ID
509765
Incident
Feb 1, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 4, 1996
DRIVER'S SEAT SPRING BROKE CAUSING SEAT TO SWING BACK.
NHTSA ID
509580
Incident
Jul 14, 1995
Brakes
Filed Jul 1, 1996
Crash reported
APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
986379
Incident
Jun 29, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 30, 1996
HEADLIGHT ON AND OFF SWITCH BROKE, ALSO CONTROLS TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, UNABLE TO TURN LIGHTS ON OR OFF, OR INDICATE THAT VEHICLE IS TURNING. TT
NHTSA ID
978451
Incident
Jan 30, 1996
Electrical
Filed Dec 14, 1995
PURCHASE CAR NEW WHEN DRIVING PUSH ON THE BRAKE CAR STALLED . TT
NHTSA ID
976572
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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