1989 Honda Civic Owner Complaints

I HAD AUTO ACCIDENT, I WAS GOING 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN I HIT SMALL TREE. THE STEERING WHEEL CRUSHED MY CHEST AND I SUFFERED A SPINAL CORD INJURY AT THE T~2 LEVEL AND NOW I'M NOW A QUADRIPLEGIC. MY SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN RECALLED MINE WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL. IN 1996 RECALL NO.- 95-028 I WAS STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE BELT LATCH NOT STAYING FASTENED CALLED THE HONDA COMPANY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THEY DIDN'T HELP ME AT ALL. A DEALER TOLD ME HONDA HAS A LIFETIME SEAT BELT WARRANTY ON ALL HONDA VEHICLES, IT COVERS ANY SEAT BELT COMPONENTS THAT FAILS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY SAID IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY. NOW I'M PAYING THE PRICE. BUYER BEWARE YOU MIGHT END UP, LIKE ME IN A WHEELCHAIR. THIS RECALL ONLY INFECTED 3,300,000 VEHICLES, ROLL THE DICE? TAKE A CHANGE. I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE VICTIMS OUT THERE, WHILE SOME I'M SURE YOU PLANTED THEM...*JB

NHTSA ID

10156742

Incident

Jul 2, 2004

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IDLED IN PARK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE GEARS WERE HARD TO SHIFT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE STALLING ISSUE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. DURING THE SECOND INSPECTION THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

10151024

Incident

Feb 22, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

ENGINE "REVS" AND SURGES FORWARD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN IN IDLE OR WHEN RESTARTING AFTER HAVING BEEN DRIVEN. SEVERAL TIMES THIS HIGH REVVING HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD, AND IN A COUPLE OF INSTANCES HAS ALMOST CAUSED CAR TO HIT AUTO IN FRONT OF IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASE THREE YEARS AGO AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY NOR BEEN ABLE TO FIX. THIS CONDITION CAUSES HIGH FUEL CONSUMPTION AS WELL AS BEING A SAFETY FACTOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10075237

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. A TECHNICIAN SERVICED THE VEHICLE ON 3-15-04, AND DETERMINED THAT IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063362

Incident

Mar 15, 2004

HONDA ISSUED A RECALL OF THE FRONT SEATBELTS IN THE 1989 HONDA. THE BELT CAN SPONTANEOUSLY COME UNLATCHED. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN MY FIANCE'S 1989 HONDA. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT OFTEN SPONTANEOUSLY UNLATCHES -- THAT IS WHERE I SIT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO PLANET HONDA IN GOLDEN, COLORADO ON THREE OCCASIONS. BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE BELT TO UNLATCH WHEN WE WERE AT THE DEALER, SO THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. HER CAR OBVIOUSLY HAS THE PROBLEM. BUT HONDA IS REFUSING TO FIX IT. WHAT DO WE DO? *PH

NHTSA ID

10031036

Incident

Aug 7, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi

TRAVELING ON I-15 SOUTH AT 75 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRES TREAD SEPARATED WHICH IMMEDIATELY SENT MY 89 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK INTO A SPIN ENDING WITH US HITTING HEAD FIRST INTO THE CENTER DIVIDE, WRECKING THE CAR AND LUCKILY ONLY GIVING US WHIPLASH AND NOTHING MORE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10021501

Incident

May 5, 2003

Mileage

192,000 mi

THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS BOUGHT FROM LARRY'S AUTO PARTS - NAPA, KAIMUKI ON O'AHU, HAWAII. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A LIFETIME-WARRANTY AND WAS MANUFACTURED BY UNITED BRAKE. THE FIRST NAPA MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER (NMBC) WAS PUT ON MY FRIEND'S 1989 HONDA CIVIC BY MYSELF ON AUGUST 29, 2001. THE FIRST (NMBC) WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING FROM AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. THE SECOND (NMBC) WAS INSTALLED ON DECEMBER 18, 2001 BY MYSELF, AND THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM AT EACH WHEEL WAS BLED OF AIR. RIGHT AFTER THE INSTALLMENT OF THE (NMBC) THE OWNER OF THE CIVIC NOTICED THAT AT TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL COULD BE PRESSED VERY LOW TO THE FLOORBOARD, WHILE AT OTHER TIMES IT WAS AT ITS NORMAL HEIGHT. THREE MONTHS LATER ON MARCH 12, 2002, THE CAR WAS TAKEN INTO MIDAS, WAIALAE AVE. BRANCH. THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE BLED. HE LATER INFORMED US THAT HE COULD NOT GET PRESSURE INTO THE LINE AND THE REASON FOR IT WAS THE SECOND (NMBC) WAS "FAULTY" AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MIDAS REINSTALLED THE THIRD (NMBC). WITHIN ONE WEEK THE THIRD (NMBC) WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING. ON OR ABOUT MARCH 20, 2002, THE MECHANIC RE-BLED THE BRAKE LINES AND CHECKED FOR ANY LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. RETURNING FROM A VACATION ON THURSDAY MARCH 28, 2002, I LOOKED AT THE (NMBC) ON THE HONDA CIVIC AND OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID HAD ENTIRELY DRAINED OUT OF THE (NMBC) RESERVOIR. ON FRIDAY MARCH 29, 2002, THE MIDAS MECHANIC REPLACED THE "FAULTY" THIRD (NMBC) FOR A FOURTH (NMBC). THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE SCREW ON THE THIRD (NMBC) BETWEEN THE TWO BRAKE LINES GOING INTO THE (NMBC) WAS LEAKING. ON THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2002, THE FOURTH (NMBC) WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING. IT WAS LEAKING FROM AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE (NMBC) BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. THE FOURTH (NMBC) WAS REPLACED ON APRIL 17, 2002 WITH A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MASTER CYLINDER SUPPLIED BY MIDAS. AS OF TODAY, MAY 3, 2002, THE NEW MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER SUPPLIED BY MIDAS HAS HAD NO PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

761514

FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS WHEN CAR WAS PARKED IN SUMMER SUN, CAR WOULD START (MYSTERIOUSLY) ONLY AFTER I LIFTED THE HOOD TO TINKER. RECENTLY A HONDA DEALER'S EMPLOYEE CASUALLY MENTIONED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE RELAY THAT WOULD COST $60 TO REPLACE. IT FAILED AT SUMMER TEMPERATURES. THAT EXPLAINED EVERYTHING, E.G., LIFTING THE HOOD COOLED THE RELAY, AND PRESTO! BUT HOW COME THE DEALER GUY KNEW THIS, WHILE NOTHING SHOWS UP ON NHTSA? SECRET WARRANTY? COULD BE A ROADSIDE SAFETY ISSUE. I.E., HELP...!*AK

NHTSA ID

757727

Incident

Jun 30, 1993

WHILE DRIVING, LEFT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEWOUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE A GUARDRAIL, THERE WAS DAMAMGE TO VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC

NHTSA ID

563753

PREVIOUSY VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH INTERMITTENTLY NOT STARTING AND STALLING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND DEALER NEVER MADE CONSUMER AWARE OF A RECALL. IGNITER WAS REPLACED WITH A UPDATE PIECE. *AK

NHTSA ID

897392

Incident

Apr 12, 2001

I SPOKE WITH REPAIR FACILITIES AND OTHER CIVIC OWNERS WHO SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE REPAIR CENTERS SAID THEY ALWAYS REPLACE THE CRACKED PLASTIC RADIATOR WITH A METAL RADIATOR. HONDA SHOULD INSTALL A METAL RADIATOR TO BEGIN WITH AND THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

752252

Incident

Sep 14, 2001

GAS TANK LEAKING, OWNER HAD GAS TANK REPLACED. *CJ

NHTSA ID

558711

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN A PARKING LOT CAUSING COLLISON, THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT THAT THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A BROKEN SHOULDER BLADE. NLM

NHTSA ID

554504

Incident

Oct 20, 1999

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLECROSSED FROM ANOTHER LANE IN FRONT SUDDENLY. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES & REAR ENDED VEHICLEIN FRONT. UPON IMPACT WITH VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP TO RESTRAIN DRIVER. SEAT BELT BUCKLE LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE. DRIVER WAS THROWN FORWARD, BUT NOT INJECTED. DRIVER SUFFERED WHIPLASH & RELEASED FROM EMERGENCY ROOM. *AK

NHTSA ID

869887

Incident

Jul 4, 2000

THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE GETS IN THE WAY OF THE BRAKES AND THE GAS PETALS. SOMETIMES IT KEEPS THE GAS PETAL DOWN. SOMETIMES, IT KEEPS THE BRAKE PETAL DOWN. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE FLOOR MATS. THESE MATS WERE PURCHASED NEW WITH THE VEHICLE. THE AIR CONDITIONER BROKE TWICE. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW COMPRESSOR, NEW EVAP COIL, NEW FAN -- I RELPACED EACH COMPONTENT TWICE.

NHTSA ID

728519

Incident

Aug 20, 2000

CAR STALLED AT SPEED ON HIGHWAY. SMOKE OBSERVED UNDER HOOD WHICH WAS JAMMED SHUT. FIRE STARTED WHICH ENGULFED THE CAR. TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ID

711169

Incident

Sep 3, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN CONSUMER PUT SHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE CAUSING BROKEN BONES AND SEVERAL OTHER INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. NLM

NHTSA ID

551407

Incident

Oct 20, 1999

CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. OWNER CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNER AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELTS AND THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

855646

Incident

Jan 27, 2000

THE 1989 HONDA CIVIC DX USES MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS. MY NIECE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THIS WEEKEND, HIT A FREEWAY RAILING THAT CAUSED THE BATTERY TO BECOME DISCONNECTED; UPON ITS DISCONNECT, THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS WERE RELEASED WHICH RESULTED IN MY NIECE BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS KILLED IN SUBJECT ACCIDENT. IS THERE ANY AUTOMOTIVE RECALL OR LITIGATION INFORMATION AVAILABLE ABOUT SIMILAR ACCIDENTS? HAVE THERE BEEN SIMILAR LITIGATIONS? *AK

NHTSA ID

716861

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

STRUCTURE OF THE SUN ROOF WOULD LEAK WHEN IT WAS RAINING OR VEHICLE WAS BEING WASHED. THE TRUNK WOULD LEAK ALSO. THIS CAUSED THE SEALS & THE CARPET INSIDE VEHICLE TO BE SOAKED & SOMETIMES MILDEW APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC DID WATER TEST. THE LEAKS WERE FOUND, BUT DAMAGE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

854319

Incident

Oct 3, 1999

THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

845138

WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR AFTER PURCHASE THE VEHICLE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART (TEMPORARILY)WHILE MOVING. ONE ONE OCCASION MERELY WAITING AT CURBSIDE ABOUT 25 MINUTES WAS SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW CAR TO RESTART. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS INDICATED ANY PROBLEM. THE SITUATION REPEATED ITSELF ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS. ON THE FINAL OCCASION (1990) IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY AN INTENSE ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. NO FUSES BLEW THAT I COULD TELL. THEREAFTER I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANOTHER STALLING EPISODE OF THIS TYPE. HOWEVER, SINCE THAT TIME THE COOLING FAN NEVER OPERATES. I MUST NOT BE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ON A HOT DAY OR THE ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT. I HAVE NO FUSES WHICH ARE BLOWN. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM HAVE NOT BEEN SUCESSFUL. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THE 'IDIOT LIGHT' INDICATORS/SENSORS HAVE EVER WORKED. I WAS PROMPTED TO WRITE THIS AFTER READING OF SO MANY MANY PROBLEMS INVOLVING ENGINES STALLING WHILE UNDERWAY. HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL TO SOMBODY.

NHTSA ID

706821

DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEATBACK TO FALL BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ID

836435

Incident

Mar 1, 1999

MY CIVIC COLLIDED WITH THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. THE LAP COMPONENT OF MY SEATBELT ENGAGED ALLOWING ONLY MINOR BRUISING/CUTS TO MY KNEES WHICH HIT THE DASH. THE SHOULDER BELT, HOWEVER, DID NOT ENGAGE CAUSING MY CHEST TO SLAM INTO THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING A DEEP CHEST CONTUSION. MY INSURANCE CO'S APPRAISER "TESTED" THE BELT BUT CLAIMS IT CATCHES WHEN TUGGED ON. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP CLAIMS SEATBELTS ARE TO KEEP YOU IN THE CAR, NOT TO PREVENT YOU FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL/DASH/WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ID

704555

Incident

Mar 12, 1999

SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ID

522201