Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Seat belts 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.
38
Latest Jul 3, 2023
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.
35%
of 110 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.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
9
What this page shows
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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 seat belt
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
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
Seat belts
Filed Feb 24, 2015
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
Seat belts
Filed Nov 6, 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
Seat belts
Filed Mar 26, 2011
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
Seat belts
Filed Dec 17, 2009
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
Seat belts
Filed Oct 17, 2009
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
Seat belts
Filed Oct 28, 2008
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
Seat belts
Filed Sep 28, 2008
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
Seat belts
Filed Jul 25, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported
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
Seat belts
Filed Jan 15, 2004
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
Seat belts
Filed Aug 25, 2003
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
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Mar 22, 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
Driver assistanceSeat beltsVisibility
Filed Jun 28, 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
Seat belts
Filed Jan 21, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
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
Seat belts
Filed Nov 13, 2001
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 belts
Filed Sep 25, 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
Seat belts
Filed Aug 31, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE WAS REARENDED WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A SIGNAL. SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP AND DRIVER WAS THROWN AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND INJURED. THE NHTSA RECORD SHOWS NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLIANTS.*AK
NHTSA ID
751487
Incident
Aug 30, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Jul 11, 2001
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WHEN IT RAINS BELT GETS WET WHEN COLD SEAT BELT HARD TO PULL OUT WHEN SEAT BELT IS UNBELTED BELT DOSE NOT RETRACT FULLY. *AK
NHTSA ID
748311
Seat belts
Filed Mar 30, 2001
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER LOCK WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES. *AK
NHTSA ID
884664
Incident
Mar 20, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Jan 10, 2001
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. NLM
NHTSA ID
785238
Incident
Jan 10, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Sep 7, 1999
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ON ITS OWN AS IT SHOULD. WHEN MOVED BACK MANUALLY AND THE DOOR IS OPENED, IT WILL GO BACK FORWARD AND STICK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
846953
Seat belts
Filed Feb 18, 1999
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED AFTER REPLACEMENT FAILED AGAIN.
NHTSA ID
543852
Seat belts
Filed Feb 16, 1999
I GOT MY SEAT BELTS FIXED TODAY AND WAS CHARGED FOR IT. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED MY MANUAL AND IN IT SPECIFIED, " THIS WARRANTY CONTINUES FOR THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE CAR. HONDA WILL REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY HONDA SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT FAILS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING NORMAL USE. THIS INCLUDES ALL LABOR AND PARTS." I FEEL LIKE I SHOULDN'T OF BEEN CHARGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WARRANTY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I AM ENTITLED TO A REIMBURSMENT AS I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE SAFTEY SEAT BELTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
703381
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Dec 9, 1998
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
832071
Incident
Dec 5, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Oct 20, 1997
FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK UP WHEN TESTED
NHTSA ID
523655
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