1988 Honda Civic Owner Complaints

THE SPEEDOMETER NEVER WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEITHER DOES THE MILEAGE INDICATOR WORK. SO I COULDN'T PUT AN ANSWER FOR THAT VALUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10273716

Incident

Jun 6, 2009

CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC. ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR ONLY STARTS WHEN JUMPED. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER WERE REPLACED. IT WAS OK FOR A WHILE, THEN IT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE TALKED WITH FOUR OWNERS OF 1988 - 1991 HONDA CIVIC'S AND ALL HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR IGNITION SYSTEM. ONE OF THE PERSONS WORK WITH MY WIFE. HE TOLD US THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS. HE TRIED TO FIX HIS CAR WITH THE SAME REPAIRS THAT WE DID, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED UNTIL HE CHANGED THE IGNITION HARNESS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE HARNESS AS OF 7/13/2006. I TALK WITH HONDA MOTORS CORP AND THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS MODEL. ONE FOR THE 1997 - 1999 CIVIC. RECALL NUMBER 02031 DATED 2002. ANY HELP YOU BE ABLE TO GIVE ME WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU! *JB

NHTSA ID

10162325

Incident

Jul 12, 2006

Mileage

150,000 mi

ENGINE "REVS" WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF WITHOUT APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR. CAR JOLTS FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM SEEMS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF LACK OF CONTROL OF THE CAR'S ACCELERATION. MECHANIC HAS SAID THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW THROTTLE, A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. ALSO, CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING, ESPECIALLY IN DAMP WEATHER. SPARK PLUGS AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. DISTRIBUTOR WAS REPLACED, AND THE CAR STARTS BETTER, BUT ONCE IN A WHILE IT STILL HAS TROUBLE STARTING. ALSO, THE FUEL LINES LEAK GAS. THE GAS SMELL IS NOTICEABLE IN THE CAR. ALSO, THE FRAME OF THE CAR IS NEARLY RUSTED AWAY.

NHTSA ID

10043809

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

PIPE THAT IS LOCATED ON OUTSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK HAS CORRODED THROUGH AND FUEL LEAKS WHEN PUTTING FUEL INTO TANK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018520

Incident

Sep 2, 2002

ON MY 1988 HONDA CIVIC, I FOUND OUT THROUGH THE INTERNET ,THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THE EFI CONTROL UNIT, A RECALL FOR THE SEATBELTS, AND A RECALL FOR THE IGNITOR, AND FOR SOME REASON I NEVER RECEIVED THOSE RECALLS. I BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE BAD EFI, AND THE IDLE JUST JUMPS UP AND DOWN, AND NOW MY IGNITOR IS GONE BAD AND THE CAR WON'T START. I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM THE BACK BECAUSE THE IGNITOR FAILED WHILE I WAS ON THE RIGHT LANE IN THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR SHUTTERS AND STALLS...THE EFI UNIT JUST SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP THE CAR, SINCE THE IDLE JUMPS UP..I SPENT SO MUCH MONEY CHANGING THE GOOD PARTS. I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO REPLACE THE IGNITOR AND THE EFI UNIT FREE OF CHARGE, NOW THAT I KNOW THOSE 2 PARTS ARE THE PROBLEMS ALL THESE YEARS.. PLEASE CHK THIS SITE ALSO: HTTP://EARTHRENEWAL.ORG/ARE_HONDA_AUTOMOBILES_SAFE_AND_R.HTM ..PLEASE WRITE BACK ASAP..THANK YOU..

NHTSA ID

765682

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

NHTSA CAMPAIGN#:87V173000 ORIGINAL PART FAILURE-LOCAL DEALERSHIP WON'T HONOR RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

743196

WHILE TRAVELING FOR SEVERAL YEARS ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD STAY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENT. CONSUMER REPLACED COMPURTER BOARD, INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OFF, VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

882195

ENGINE IGNITOR COMPONANT CAUSUNG CAR TO JUST QUIT

NHTSA ID

729315

Incident

Jul 5, 2000

THE REAR LEFT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE BROKE OFF FROM THE SUB FRAME MOUNTING POINT WHILE I WAS BACKING UP THE VEHICLE ON MY DRIVEWAY. THE MOUNTING POINT ON THE REAR SUB FRAME WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS ATTACHED SEPARATED FROM THE SUB FRAME STRUCTURE. IT APPEARS THAT THE STRUCTURAL FAILURE IS CAUSED BY INTERNAL CORROSION THAT CAN NOT BE SEEN BY EXTERNAL INSPECTION. THE REAR SUB FRAME ON MY VEHICLE IS ORIGINAL AND WAS NEVER DAMAGED. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS FOR OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND OTHERS THAT TRAVEL IN OR NEAR IT. I CONSIDER MY SELF VERY LUCKY IN THAT THE WHEEL DID NOT BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ID

725562

Incident

Jul 8, 2000

THE VEHICLE COMPUTER BATTERY DIED IN TRAFFIC CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE MOTOR AND LIGHTS. NLM

NHTSA ID

550363

REAR BEAM WHICH SUPPORTS BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR "A" FRAMES IS RUSTED MORE THAN 3/4 THROUGH CAUSING BEAM TO BEND IN THE CENTER CAUSING REAR WHEELS TO COME OUT OF ALIGNMENT, ALSO WHEN THE PART TOTALLY FAILS BOTH OF MY REAR WHEELS WILL COLLAPSE. I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH A HONDA EXCEPT IT WAS THE FRONT BEAM THAT RUSTED THROUGH. I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE WE USE SALT IN THE WINTER. CAN I GET THE DEALER TO FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM?

NHTSA ID

712593

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

CAR FEELS UNSAFE IN PARKED OR TEMPORARY STALL POSITION. CONTACTED A HONDA DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THERE IS A STATUTE OF LIMITATION TO FIXING A RECALL ITEM. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE. 2ND, WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE OWNED THE VHICLE BEFORE US. HOWEVER, WE NEED TO KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM WAS EVER ADDRESSED IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

710877

THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LURCHES FORWARD AND THE RPMS INCREASE UNEXPECTEDLY TO AN UNCONTROLLABLE LEVEL. THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN EARLY 1996. HONDA SAYS THE RECALL OF A SIMILAR PART DOES NOT COVER MY CAR. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IS MINE THE ONLY SUCH REPORT AND WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE AS FAR AS NHTSA IS CONCERNED.

NHTSA ID

710036

Incident

Feb 1, 1996

WHILE CONSUMERS FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE IDLES HIGH AND LUNGES FORWARD.

NHTSA ID

547674

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

706755

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS IDLING VERY HIGH. HOWEVER, WHEN CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD AND THE IDLE IS INCREASED WITH HIGH SPEED. *AK

NHTSA ID

836538

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

AFTER HAVING VEHICLE CHECKED FOR ROUTINE SERVICE THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE FOUND TO BE WORN OUT. THE ARMS HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO BE LUBRICATED. *AK.ET.

NHTSA ID

836315

Incident

Mar 21, 1999

THE CAR IDLES AND THE SURGES WHILE IN GEAR BUT AT A STOP. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO FIGHT THE BRAKES. THIS IS SIMILAR TO A PROBLEM ALREADY IN ANOTHER RECALL BUT HONDA SAYS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

704945

HEADREST BROKE WITHOUT ANY KNOWN FORCE OR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

542373

Incident

May 1, 1998

FUEL INJECTION IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FAILED.

NHTSA ID

780685

VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY RACE TO A HIGH IDLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

825811

Incident

Jul 22, 1998

ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CONTROL UNIT FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

538714

Incident

May 1, 1998

THROTTLE BODY LEAKING AT THROTTLE SHAFTS, CAUSING FAST IDLE.

NHTSA ID

538490

THE DEFECTIVE "IGNITOR" MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED IGNITOR 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

825220

Incident

Sep 1, 1995

THE FUEL LINES HAVE CORRODED, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

824989