1991 Honda Civic Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1991 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the front passenger's side and driver's side shoulder belts pretensioners failed to operate as designed and the shoulder belts failed to tighten during aggressive braking. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to an auto body shop. The vehicle was taken to the auto body shop, where the front passenger's side and driver's side shoulder belts and pretensioners were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11530144

Incident

Jun 12, 2023

Mileage

130,000 mi

TREAD BELT SEPARATION

NHTSA ID

10983599

Incident

Apr 11, 2017

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 425,000.

NHTSA ID

10690298

Incident

Feb 10, 2015

Mileage

425,000 mi

NOT QUITE SURE BUT I REMEMBER GOING HARD IN A STRAIGHT LINE PASSING RIDES JUST ENJOYING THE RIDE ME AND MY EX GIRLFRIEND I WAS IN THE LEFT DRIVER SEAT AND SHE WAS IN THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE AND I JUST HEARD WHEN I GOT HIT IN THE BACK RIGHT SIDE I JUST CONTINUED HOME WHEN REACHING HOME IT WAS JUST A SCRATCH REMOVING THE TOP COAT OF MY RED PAINT I JUST CALLED IT MY LESSON FOR GOING FAST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554040

Incident

May 1, 2013

1991 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEAT BELT PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT FLASHED AND AN ALARM SOUNDED. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PULL TIGHT, IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

10551301

Incident

Nov 4, 2013

1991 HONDA CIVIC AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEM FAILURE. CAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK. THERE IS SUPPOSE TO BE A LIFE TIME WARRANTY ON THE SYSTEM BUT THE HONDA CORPORATION IS NOT HONORING THE WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392975

Incident

Mar 26, 2011

Mileage

78,000 mi

I OWN A 1991 HONDA CIVIC 4-DOOR SEDAN. I WAS HAVING MY CAR WORKED ON FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNRELATED WHEN, ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT (SHOULDER HARNESS) ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IT WILL NO LONGER RUN ALONG THE TRACK WHEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS OPENED. I AM UNSURE ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS FAILURE ON ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I KNEW OF HONDA'S "LIFETIME WARRANTY" ON THEIR SEATBELTS AND TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT ACTUALLY COVER THE NEEDED FIX DUE TO ITS LIKELIHOOD OF BEING AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. AFTER THOROUGHLY READING THROUGH THE WARRANTY, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT CLEARLY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN ELECTRICAL AND NON-ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS - THUS MY COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296287

Incident

Dec 9, 2009

Mileage

170,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 1991 HONDA CIVIC USED FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. SEVERAL YEARS LATER NOW, THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS SEATBELT HAS STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE READ SEVERAL PLACES THAT HONDA OF AMERICA IS TRYING TO CHARGE OWNERS FOR REPLACEMENT OF A SYSTEM THAT IN MY OPINION FOR THE SAFETY OF CAR OWNERS, SHOULD NOT FAIL IN THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. AND IF IT DOES FAIL I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING OR REPAIRING THE AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM ON ITS VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288770

Incident

Oct 10, 2009

Mileage

207,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH SHE HIT AN ANIMAL, THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE SUSTAINED INJURY TO HER HIPS, ANKLE FACE, AND SOME BONES WERE BROKEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104,000.

NHTSA ID

10284385

Incident

Dec 30, 2008

Mileage

104,000 mi

THE CLUTCH PEDAL PLATE ASSEMBLY HAS CRACKED ON MY CAR, RENDERING THE CAR IMMOBILE BECAUSE THE CLUTCH PEDAL CAN NO LONGER ACTIVATE A SWITCH TO DETERMINE THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. BECAUSE THE SWITCH CAN NOT BE PRESSED BY THE DEPRESSED CLUTCH PEDAL ANY LONGER, THE CAR CAN NOT BE TURNED ON. I HAVE NOT YET FIXED THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WILL COST $400 TO DO SO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267147

Incident

Apr 27, 2009

Mileage

153,590 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER SEATBELT FAILS TO MOVE TO THE SECURE POSITION WHEN SITTING IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246977

Incident

Oct 23, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

91 HONDA CIVIC LX, THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, MAKES CONSTANT BEEPING NOISE AND LIGHT IS BLINKING . *TR

NHTSA ID

10243817

Incident

Sep 15, 2004

1991 CIVIC THAT IS HAVING THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM THAT HONDA ISSUED RECALLS FOR IN MID TO LATE 90'S VEHICLES. (INTERMITTENT CURRENT IN RUN POSITION) FROM A BRIEF WEB SEARCH, I FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON HONDA PROBLEM. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS. CAR WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AT IT'S OWN DISCRETION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10163540

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

Mileage

175,000 mi

VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HONDA. SPEED OF HONDA AT TIME WAS 40 MPH. ON IMPACT DRIVERS SEAT BELT WORKED BUT THEN FAILED, SPOOLING OUT, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT WINDSHIELD AND STEERING WHEEL. INJURIES INCLUDED BROKEN JAW, COLLARBONE,NECK, BOTH FEMURS,LOWER LEG AND LEFT FOOT, HAND, FINGERS AND NINE RIBS ONE OF WHICH SEVERED LOWER LEFT AORTA, EVERY ORGAN SEVERELY DAMAGED RESULTING IN DEATH. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163373

Incident

May 31, 2001

I TOOK MY HONDA IN TO HAVE RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CHECKED OUT BY HOLMES HONDA, CLIVE, IOWA. PROBLEM IS THE SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT FLASHING AND BUZZER GOING OFF, AND TENSIONERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY DRIVERS SEAT BELT FEELS LOOSE, DOESN?T TIGHTEN WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. I HAD MENTIONED TO SERVICE MANAGER THAT ON THE ALLDATA WEBSITE FOR THAT YEAR OF VEHICLE FRONT SEAT BELTS WAS A RECALL ISSUE, AND THAT ALSO IN MY RESEARCH I HAD FOUND THAT HONDA CORP DOES WARRANTY THEIR "SEAT BELT SYSTEM" FOR LIFE OF VEHICLE. WHEN I PICKED CAR UP, SERVICE MANAGER STATED THEY WOULD NEED LOTS OF SERVICE DIAGNOSTICS TO PINPOINT PROBLEM AND THAT IF I WANTED IT FIXED RIGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX. I DON?T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC, AND PARTS WHEN IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY HONDA. SERVICE MANAGER DID STATE THE SEAT BELTS ARE WARRANTIED THROUGH HONDA BUT THAT ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT IS PART OF SYSTEM IS NOT WARRANTIED. I STATED HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF VEHICLES THAT ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF THE SEAT BELTS, IS PART OF THE SEAT BELT "SYSTEM". WHAT I NEED IS ADVICE ON HOW TO GET SEAT BELT SYSTEM FIXED AND WHETHER HONDA CORP SHOULD COVER ALL CHARGES. AS IT IS NOW WE DON'T FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE AND I?M UPSET A DEALERSHIP WOULD COMPROMISE SAFETY OVER TAKING CARE OF A CUSTOMER RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10070649

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

150,000 mi

IGNITION FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10045445

Incident

Nov 4, 2003

Mileage

220,100 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT SEAT BELTS ARE NOT ON TRACK WHEN SHE STOPS SEAT BELT GOES FORWARD. ALSO, WHILE SHE IS DRIVING SEAT BELTS GO BACK AND FORTH AT WILL. THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT SECURE, AND DO NOT HOLD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10034564

Incident

Aug 25, 2003

THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON MY 1991 HONDA CIVIC FAILS TO CLOSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT IS STUCK IN THE "OPEN" POSITION INTERFERING WITH DRIVING AND NOT PROVIDING ANY SHOULDER RESTRAINT. THE COMPONENT THAT RIDES ALONG THE FRONT DOOR TRACK WHERE THE SEAT BELT OPENS AND CLOSES WILL NOT MANUALLY MOVE ALONG THE TRACK. IT APPEARS, THIS IS THE WAY THE SEAT BELT IS CONSTRUCTED, IT CAUSES TENSION OR PULLS ON THE COMPONENT THAT SLIDES ALONG THE DOOR. THAT MAY CAUSE AN OBSTACLE TO MY SEAT BELT CLOSING. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A FAULTY DOOR LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHICH I HAD REPLACED WITH A NEW DOOR LATCH, AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THE DOOR LATCH FAILURE WAS MAKING THE SEAT BELT OPEN AND CLOSE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE SEAT BELT ALSO DAMAGED THE SUN VISOR. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH SUCH A FLAKY SEAT BELT AND WOULD LIKE HONDA TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010889

Incident

Mar 20, 2003

Mileage

129,058 mi

THE HOOD OPENED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.*JB

NHTSA ID

10007117

Incident

Feb 9, 2003

INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING OR NOT STARTING AT ALL. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO REPLACED FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, STALLING STILL OCCURRING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017895

Incident

Sep 2, 2002

DRIVERS SEATBELT WILL NOT RELEASE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO BE WITHOUT A SEATBELT WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE HEATER CORE AND MOTOR BLOWER FAILED. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID

8012893

Incident

Jun 14, 2002

I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A LIGHT BEHIND ANOTHER CAR WHEN MY CAR WAS REARENDED. THOUGH I WAS WEARING BOTH SEATBELTS (SHOULDER AND LAP), THE SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP WITH THE IMPACT AND I WAS THROWN AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL, FRACTURING MY STERNUM. OF THE THREE CARS REARENDED, I SUFFERED THE ONLY INJURY. THE SEATBELTS ARE WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR, YET HONDA REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THERE WAS ANY FAILURE, HAS NOT CONDUCTED ANY MEANINGFUL TEST OF THE SEATBELT FAILURE AND REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY AND REPLACE THE SEATBELTS. HONDA WOULD NOT COME TO AN ARBITRATED SETTLEMENT WITH THE CA DEPT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS OTHER THAN OFFERING ME A $100.00 DISCOUNT ON THE FULL PRICE OF BELTS AND INSTALLATION. I WANT HONDA TO HONOR ITS WARRANTY AND PAY FOR THE FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE BELTS. THOUGH THE CAR HAS OVER 150,000 MILES, IT IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND IS OTHERWISE RELIABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

757144

Incident

Aug 30, 2001

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY OPEN ON THE FREEWAY AND SLAM INTO THE WINDSHIELD. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE WINDSHILED WAS BROKEN. ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT IT COMPLETLEY SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND KNOCKING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OFF THE BODY OF THE VEHICHLE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I HAD TWO PASSENGERS WITH ME. I HAVE SINCE THEN SEEN ABOUT 20 OR MORE 1991 HONDA CIVICS WITH REPLACED HOODS AND LITTLE OR NO DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICHLE, THUS LEADING ME TO BELEIVE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER 1991 HONDA CIVIC OWNERS.

NHTSA ID

756843

MY PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT BEGAN RETRACTING IF I WOULD BRAKE SUDDENLY, OR IF I WENT OVER A BUMP, AS THOUGH THE DOOR WAS OPEN. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO SAID IT WAS A DEFECT WITH THE DOOR LATCH AND HE HAD SEEN THIS SAME PROBLEM BEFORE. ON 7/3/01, I SPOKE WITH MICHELLE ALBERT AT AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO AT (800) 999-1009 AS THE SEATBELTS ARE WARRANTIED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. SHE AGREED TO HELP ME WITH THE REPAIR JOB, FOR BETWEEN $100 AND $200. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE AND SENT HONDA A COPY OF THE BILL. THEY SENT ME A LETTER BACK SAYING THEY HAD NO RECORD OF MY CONVERSATION WITH MICHELLE ALBERT, AND THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY PART OF THE REPAIR. I SENT THEM ANOTHER LETTER STATING HOW DISAPPOINTED I WAS AT THEIR LACK OF CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY. I FEEL THEY ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THEIR SEATBELT WARRANTY ON A TECHNICALITY (I.E., THAT SINCE IT IS THE DOOR LATCH THAT IS CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO MALFUNCTION, AND NOT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ITSELF, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO REPAIR IT). ALSO, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE CAR ITSELF, SINCE MY SMALL LOCAL MECHANIC HAS SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE, AND THAT HONDA SHOULD HONOR ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE A WORKING SEATBELT FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

754464

Incident

Jun 30, 2001

SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLOCK. BELT IS ATTACHED TO DOOR AND CAN CAUSE A PROB,EM IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. MANFACTURER HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

896839

Incident

Sep 23, 2001