RoadVitals

1989 Honda Civic Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Feb 23, 2006
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 69 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 23, 2006

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
Electrical
Filed Mar 17, 2004

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
Electrical
Filed Feb 4, 2002

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
Electrical
Filed Oct 5, 2001

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
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 7, 2000
Fire reported

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
ElectricalEngineSteering+2 more
Filed Oct 14, 1997

TIMING BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605401
Electrical
Filed Jun 13, 1996

WHEN DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ON, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
985607
Incident
Jun 7, 1996
Electrical
Filed Feb 20, 1996

THE CAR WILL NOT START IF THE WEATHER IS BAD ( RAIN, FOG, MISTY) THE CAR HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER THEY REPLACED DEMODULER AND THE CAR STILL WON'T START.

NHTSA ID
979385
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jan 13, 1996

DIFFICULTY STARTING VEHICLE, THINKS THA TIT IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY STARTER; ALSO, FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
510688
Incident
Jan 13, 1996
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 30, 1995

FUEL THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY SPRAYED GAS ON COMPUTER SHORTING IT OUT. TT THE TROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS POSSIBLE TO CAUSE FIRE IN THE ENGINE. *YH

NHTSA ID
975825
Incident
Nov 29, 1995
Electrical
Filed Jul 3, 1995

HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITOR TWICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
968142
Incident
Aug 9, 1989

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Seat belts18Driver assistance9Engine8Interior & seats8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .