1986 Honda Civic Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Honda Civic, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Seat belts1331.0%
- Body & structure511.9%
- Exterior lighting49.5%
- Electrical49.5%
- Powertrain (other)49.5%
- Engine37.1%
- Fuel system37.1%
- Interior & seats24.8%
- Brakes24.8%
- Steering12.4%
- Transmission12.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE LOW BEAM SWITCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CAUSING THE LIGHT TO GO OUT, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. NLM
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH FAILURE. ALSO ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
PURCHASE CAR NEW WHEN DRIVING PUSH ON THE BRAKE CAR STALLED . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
ENGINE FAILED 2 TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN TANK IS FILLED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SEAT SPRING BROKE CAUSING SEAT TO SWING BACK.
REAR SEAT BELTS STUCK/WON'T PULL OUT FROM SEAT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
CONSUMER PURCHASED USED CAR AND FOUNG OUT THAT CAR HAD THE WRONG BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER PURCHASED USED CAR AND FOUNG OUT THAT CAR HAD THE WRONG BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH FAILURE. ALSO ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .