RoadVitals

1994 Honda Civic Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
135
Latest Apr 25, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
15
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
60

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

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.

56
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10680163 · filed Jan 31, 2015

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

NHTSA ID 10608469 · filed Jul 6, 2014
All 56 reports naming airbags

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

18
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 11203815 · filed Apr 25, 2019

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

NHTSA ID 10120433 · filed May 6, 2005
All 18 reports naming brakes

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEATBELT DID NOT CATCH. *TR

NHTSA ID 10287108 · filed Oct 12, 2009

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.

NHTSA ID 10000343 · filed Dec 23, 2002
All 10 reports naming seat belts

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

9
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10059671 · filed Feb 19, 2004

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WAS HESITATING IN SPEED, AND THER WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID 8005051 · filed Mar 5, 2002
All 9 reports naming engine

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

9
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10091288 · filed Sep 19, 2004

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

NHTSA ID 761993 · filed May 17, 2002
All 9 reports naming tires & wheels

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

9
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 754585 · filed Nov 15, 2001

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

NHTSA ID 711283 · filed Apr 7, 2000
All 9 reports naming driver assistance

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

7
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10190047 · filed Apr 30, 2007

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 55MPH DRIVERS SEAT SNAPPED AT WELDING SPOT, AND SEAT FELL BACK.HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID 892469 · filed Jul 11, 2001

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.

7
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10200907 · filed Aug 27, 2007

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 739569 · filed Jan 18, 2001

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.

6
reports

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

NHTSA ID 722840 · filed May 18, 2000

THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS SMOKING. YH

NHTSA ID 781998 · filed Mar 4, 1999

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.

5
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10072574 · filed May 13, 2004

DOOR PANEL COMING APART FORM GLUE AT ARM REST, ALSO LEAKING TARGA TOP SEALS. *K

NHTSA ID 701021 · filed Jan 25, 1999

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.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE IN MOTION, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR BURST INTO PIECES. *JG

NHTSA ID 10004656 · filed Feb 5, 2003

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

NHTSA ID 8014060 · filed Jul 16, 2002

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.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING/BRAKES, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ID 805872 · filed Dec 4, 1996

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, RESULTING IN THE POWER STEERING LOCKING UP.*AK

NHTSA ID 801465 · filed Aug 28, 1996

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.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AM/FM STEREO AND CASSETTE PLAYER FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID 605579 · filed Nov 29, 1999

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

NHTSA ID 969270 · filed Jul 24, 1995

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.

2
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10000320 · filed Dec 20, 2002

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

NHTSA ID 978554 · filed Jan 31, 1996

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DOOR PANEL COMING APART FORM GLUE AT ARM REST, ALSO LEAKING TARGA TOP SEALS. *K

NHTSA ID 701021 · filed Jan 25, 1999

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

Data on this page last refreshed .