RoadVitals

1996 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.
18
Latest May 2, 2014
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.
6%
of 305 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.
2
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 1996 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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

Electrical
Filed May 2, 2014

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE. DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE GOING 20 MILES OR 60 MILES AN HOUR. I CAN CRANK IT AFTER A FEW MOMENTS AND IT STARTS BACKUP. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES. WHEN DRIVING, IT WILL SOMETIMES JERK SLIGHTLY LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL. RECENTLY, IT WOULD NOT START I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED RIGHT UP. THE HONDA DEALER THOUGHT IT COULD BE MY OLD ALARM SYSTEM SO THEY REMOVED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK. THEY AGAIN PLACED IT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND TOLD ME THERE WERE VARIOUS THINGS WRONG WITH MY OLDER MODEL CAR. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING IT TO STALL OUT. DEFINITELY IT WAS A FUEL DELIVERY ISSUE SO THEY SAID REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP COULD BE IT. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP (WITH GENUINE HONDA PARTS) AND STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS INTERMITTENTLY ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS. YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO START OR DIE WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE HAD A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED AND EVERYTHING I CAN THINK OF CHECKED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO INVEST ANY MORE MONEY IN MY OLDER MODEL CAR AND WITH THE ENGINE STALLING IT IS, OF COURSE, NOT REALLY SAFE TO DRIVE. HOWEVER, WHEN I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM, I LEARNED THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON HONDA CAR MODELS STARTING WITH 1997 MODELS (MINE IS A 1996) FOR IGNITION PROBLEMS THAT SOUND EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE I AM CURRENTLY HAVING THAT THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY. IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT I CAN DO. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES START RIGHT UP AND DRIVE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM AT ALL. IT IS VERY STRANGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586077
Incident
Mar 3, 2014
Mileage
280,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 13, 2010

MY 1996 HONDA CIVIC WOULD NOT START ONE MORNING, I HAD INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE CHILLY WEATHER. A WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65+ MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR STALLED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF!!!! AFTER MY CAR FINISHES COASTING ON THE FREEWAY (AND RESIDENTIAL ROAD), I WILL HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM TRYING TO RESTART MY CAR, BUT IT WILL EVENTUALLY RESTART! I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE FOR THE OBVIOUS REASONS (ONE SECOND YOU'RE GOING 65MPH AND THE NEXT, YOUR CAR DIES ON THE FREEWAY WITH CARS SPEEDING BEHIND YOU)!! I FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CERTAIN HONDAS & ACURAS (1997 TO 2000 MODELS OF ACCORD, CIVIC, PRELUDE, CR-V, AND ODYSSEY AND SOME 1999 ACURA TL SEDANS AND CERTAIN 1997 TO 1999 CL COUPES). THE PROBLEM IS, MY CAR IS A 1996 CIVIC AND IT IS NOW DECEMBER 2010, SO THEREFORE, IT IS NOT COVERED WITH MANUFACTURE!! I'LL BET MY LIFE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW OF THIS DEFECT WITH THEIR HONDAS BECAUSE #1, THEY PROBABLY WERE NOT THE 1ST OWNER OF THEIR HONDA SO THEY WOULD NOT OF BEEN AWARE OF THE RECALL, AND #2, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN YEARS SINCE THE RECALL, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS STILL A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND FOR ALL OTHER DRIVERS DUE TO THE MANUFACTURES FAULT!!! THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED AND RE-EVALUATED ASAP, AS LIVES ARE AT STAKE!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10370496
Incident
Dec 11, 2010
Mileage
170,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE COMPUTER CONTROL ISSUE IS UNRESOLVED. THE FACTORY DEFAULT SETTINGS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING WERE LOST AFTER A BATTERY EXCHANGE. EXPENSIVE CHARGES FOR HOURLY FISHING EXPEDITIONS HAVE NOT APPEALED TO ME. THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKS IT JUST DOESN'T APPLY TO THE APPROPRIATE BUTTONS ON THE CONTROL PANEL THEY SETTINGS ARE OFF LINE. HONDA WAS NO HELP TO ME. TODAY, MY IGNITION COIL WENT. HONDA SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED VIA FACTORY SERVICE BULLETIN ALTHOUGH THE ACCORD WAS.

NHTSA ID
10069730
Incident
Nov 15, 2002
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+3 more
Filed Mar 17, 2003
Crash reported

BELTS CAME OF PULLEYS, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL RESULTING IN ACOLLISION. ALSO, REPLACED THROTTLE CABLE/EMISSIONS/IGNITION/CV BOOTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10009619
Electrical
Filed Nov 27, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY COULD TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IN ANY GEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
8023408
Incident
Nov 15, 2002
Electrical
Filed May 17, 2001

REGULATOR ON THE ALTERNATOR IS CHARGING UP, THEN GOING DOWN THEN UP. LIGHTS ARE AFFECTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
745453
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 29, 2001
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING AND THE AUTO JUST STOPPED. THIS WAS FIXED AND LESS THEN 2 YEARS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPEN I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENJINE STOPPED. THE SAME THING HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. I FIND IT UNUSUAL THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO FIX THIS UNDER ANOTHER RECALL FOR EMISSION WARRANTY , WHEN I SUBMITTED TO BE REINBURSED IT WAS DENIED. THE FIRST TIME THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE COILS AND INGINITION LOOKED AS IF IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. I AM GETTING CONCERNED OVER THIS AND THE FUTURE OF THIS IGNITIONS.

NHTSA ID
743235
Incident
Nov 6, 1998
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 11, 2000

MY CAR HAS A NEW TIMING BELT, A NEW IGNITION CONTROL MODULE " IGNITOR" NEW PLUGS, AND FUEL IS GETTING TO THE ENGINE AND FIRE IS GOING TO PLUGS BUT MY CAR STILL WILL NOT START. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A SENSOR THAT WILL WILL CAUSE THE CAR NOT TO START.? I HAVE JUST BECOME AWARE OF THE THROTTLE PROBLEM AND IT WAS A RECALL BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE. IS THIS THE PROBLEM? AT THE BOTTTOM PULLEY OF THE TIMING BELT THERE IS A SENSOR, WILL THAT CAUSE MY CAR NOT TO START. I NEED HELP AND WHEN I WENT TO HONDA HERE IN COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA ON GREYSTONE BLVD THE PARTS DEPARTMENT HAD NO IDEA WHAT I NEEDED OR EVEN WHAT A IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS....I NEED ASSTSANCE WITHT HIS MATTER AND I EXPECT FOR SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME ASAP....THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
722544
Incident
May 4, 2000
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 16, 1999

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG IS DISFUNCTIONING AND RECENTLY THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING TOO. *AK

NHTSA ID
716133
Electrical
Filed Jul 15, 1999

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON IT SLIPS PAST THE CORRECT POSITION , CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
842404
Electrical
Filed Jun 23, 1999

HORN LOCATION MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO USE WHENEVER NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
840975
Incident
Jun 11, 1999
Electrical
Filed Nov 27, 1998

SPEAKER/TWEETER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604938
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+3 more
Filed Jul 9, 1998

ABS BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID
538130
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 1997

ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605110
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jul 22, 1997

THE HORN BUTTONS ARE TOO SMALL, AND CANNOT BE REACHED WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA ID
814694
Incident
Jul 22, 1997
Electrical
Filed Dec 24, 1996

WHEN PLAYING THE TAPE PLAYER IT TEARS UP THE TAPE, TOOK TO DEALER TO FIX IT AND DID NOT KNOW THE TAPE DOESN'T WORK . *AK

NHTSA ID
806692
Body & structureElectricalTransmission
Filed Nov 1, 1996

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION HAVING TROUBLE GOING INTO REVERSE.

NHTSA ID
510944
Electrical
Filed Jun 11, 1996

AT VARIOUS TIMES WHEN STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE, VEHICLE WILL DEACCELERATE W/CAUSE UNKNOWN BY HERSONS HONDA IN ROCKVILLE MD., *AK

NHTSA ID
985497

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .