1994 Honda Civic Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Honda Civic, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags5637.1%
- Brakes1811.9%
- Seat belts106.6%
- Engine96.0%
- Tires & wheels96.0%
- Driver assistance96.0%
- Interior & seats74.6%
- Transmission74.6%
- Suspension64.0%
- Body & structure53.3%
- Heating & air conditioning42.6%
- Steering42.6%
- Electrical42.6%
- Visibility21.3%
- Powertrain (other)10.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING HER VEHICLE ALONE AND HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH A DEER STRIKE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ACCIDENT WAS IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. SINCE THAT DATE (UNKNOWN TO ME) THE SRS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONTINUOUSLY AND HONDA REFUSES TO FIX THIS POTENTIAL DEADLY SYSTEM FLAW. *TR
MY LITTLE ONE AND I WERE IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *JS
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS LIGHT COMES ON. I HEAR A SOUND AS IF THERE'S SOMETHING LOOSE WHEN ABS LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS PULSATING WHILE IN MOTION. SHIFT LEVER ALSO GETS STUCK WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT OF PARKING LOT.
1994 HONDA CIVIC EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO TWO CARS.*MR THE OFFICER CALLED TO THE ACCIDENT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, BUT MANAGED TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A TICKET FOR $70.00. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, WHILE THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. *BF *NM
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEATBELT DID NOT CATCH. *TR
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILS TO REMAIN LATCHED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. FEELS AS IF IT LATCHES WHEN PUSHED FULLY IN, BUT THEN POPS OUT OR CAN BE PULLED OUT.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE'S MOTOR STARTED TO SOUND FUNNY, AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BOLT IN THE CRANK SHAFT HAD LOOSENED AND WALLOWED. *LA THE REFURBISHED CRANKSHAFT ONLY LASTED 3 WEEKS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WAS HESITATING IN SPEED, AND THER WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT. *AK
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALL FOUR OF MY SEARS (GOODYEAR) WEATHERHANDLER LS TIRES HAVE SIGNS OF BELT SEPARATION. TWO INDEPENDENT GARAGES (ONE A GOODYEAR FACTORY-OWNED STORE) STATE THAT THEY HAVE SIGNS OF BELT SEPARATION, THE GOODYEAR REPRESENTATIVE GOING SO FAR AS TO STATE THAT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE MAY RESULT. SEARS, WHO WARRANTS THE TIRES, ON THE OTHER HAND FLATLY DENIES THERE IS BELT SEPARATION, BUT HAS AGREED TO REPLACE PRO-RATA.*AK
THIS TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO APPARENT REASON AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED, CAUSING THE CAR TO SPIN 360 DEGREES IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC. IT WAS A CATSTRAUPHIC FAILURE WITH COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE TIRE WITH NOTHING REMAINING BUT THE TWO PARTIAL SIDEWALLS ALL THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND THE STEEL BELTS WERE COMPLETELY SEVERED WITH NO SHREADS LEFT JUST A CLEAN SEPARATION. I AM WORRIED THAT THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND WILL CAUSE OTHER FAILURES AND ACCIDENTS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT!!!!!! PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WETHER THESE TIRES ARE SAFE AND WHO THE MANUFASCTURER IS. I KNOW PEP BOYS MARKETS THEM BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO MANUFACTURES THEM. *AK
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CURRENT OWNER PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE. AS SHE TURNED INTO SPACE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DESPITE DRIVER PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, CAR SLAMMED INTO WALL, DEPLOYING BOTH AIRBAGS. IN JUNE, VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT WHERE OTHER DRIVER HAD BACKED INTO FRONT, RESULTING IN NEW HOOD, AND FRONT BODYWORK.
CAR STUCK ON FULL SPEED CAR COULD NOT BE STOPED,BRAKES WERE BURNED OUT IN ATTEMPT ,CAR WAS STOPPED BY TURNING OFF KEY. WHEN POLICE ARIVED AND CAR WAS RESTARTED IT WENT TO FULL SPEED AGAIN ! CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE . GAS PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK AND CRUSE CONTROL WAS NOT ON OR IN USE.THIS ALMOST KILLED SEVERAL PEOPLEMS. *AK
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
1994 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE HOOD OPENED AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND THE ROOF. *MC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE OPENED THE HOOD EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THE HOOD LATCH WAS FUNCTIONING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).*JB
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 55MPH DRIVERS SEAT SNAPPED AT WELDING SPOT, AND SEAT FELL BACK.HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE SHIFTER LOCKS UP AND DRIVER MUST USE KEY IN SHIFT LOCK TO RELEASE THE SHIFTER ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. *JB
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS BOTH INVOLVING THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. IN THE FIRST I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40/MPH MY CAR HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND SLID INTO A BUS "T-BONING" IT. THE SECOND ACCIDENT I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35/MPH WHEN SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME I PROCEEDED TO HIT THEM AND THEN A TELEPHONE POLE, AT WHICH TIME MY GIRLFRIEND HIT HER HEAD ON THE WINSHIELD. DURING BOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS MY AIRBAGS HAVE FAILED TO DEPLOY. I HAVE ALSO TRIED TO CONTACT MANCHESTER HOANDA WHERE MY FATHER BOUGHT THE CAR BUT THEY STILL HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS SMOKING. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1996 .ABOUT AFTER 1YEAR I NOTICED THE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR WAS TURNING INTO WHITE SPOTS ALL OVER ,LIKE SOME KIND OF OXADATION WENT WRONG WITH THE PAINT .I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY CIVIC'S WITH SAME ISSUE .MY COMPLAINT IS THIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF HONDA HAD A RECALL ON THESE PAINT JOBS.*AK
DOOR PANEL COMING APART FORM GLUE AT ARM REST, ALSO LEAKING TARGA TOP SEALS. *K
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE IN MOTION, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR BURST INTO PIECES. *JG
WHILE DRIVING THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR EXPLODED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, RESULTING IN COMPRESSOR PIECES FLYING AROUND THROUGH THE ENGINE. 1ST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN 1999, AND 2ND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 06/29/02. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED THAT COMPRESSOR DEBRIS COULD POTENTIALLY HARM DRIVER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER.*AK *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING/BRAKES, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A CRASH. *AK
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, RESULTING IN THE POWER STEERING LOCKING UP.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
AM/FM STEREO AND CASSETTE PLAYER FAILED. NLM
MAN-TRAN: TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK; WILL NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR UNTIL VEHICLE COOLS DOWN; SPEED 10 MPH; ALSO, ENGINE STALLS; RIGHT FRONT DOOR JAMMED. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING FROM SF HOME AND MY REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, TAKING A PIECE OF MY WINDSHIELD WITH IT. I DON'T HAVE A HOLE IN MY WINDSHIELD, MORE LIKE A CRATER ON THE INSIDE OF IT. MY CAR IS A 1994 HONDA CIVIC DX COUPE WITH ABOUT 116,000 MILES ON IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS OUT OF THE BASIC WARRANTY, BUT THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE THAT HAS TO DO WITH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. MY WINDSHIELD IS PERFECTLY FINE OTHERWISE AND NOTHING HIT MY CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED NOR DID I RUN OVER SOMETHING THAT MAY OF JOLTED MY CAR. I CALLED HONDA AND THEY DENIED MY CLAIM SAYING ONLY SEAT BELTS HAVE UNLIMITED WARRANTY. TS
CANNOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD BECAUSE HEATING SYSTEM IS TURNED DOWN TOO LOW-WAS TOLD CANNOT TURN IT UP BECAUSE OF A PLASTIC PIECE IN AUTO. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DOOR PANEL COMING APART FORM GLUE AT ARM REST, ALSO LEAKING TARGA TOP SEALS. *K
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .