IllustrationTHE RIGHT SWINGARM ON THE REAR SUSPENSION BROKE DUE TO BEING ROTTED COMPLEATELY THROUGH, THE SWING ARM ON THE LEFR SIDE IS ALSO IN VERY BAD SHAPE AND ALSO WOULD LIKELY FAIL SOON.
1987 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1987 Honda Civic do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Civic years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 39 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seat Belts. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
39 reportsRIGHT AND LEFT FRONT WINDOWS ARE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY AND REQUIRE TWO HANDS TO ROLL UP.
RECALL # 95V103001, SEAT BELT BUCKLES; DEALER NOT ABLE TO CORRECT RECALL BECAUSE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. OWNER IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE BELT BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. DEALER NOT SURE WHEN PART WILL BECOME AVAILABLE. *AK
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#95V103001) IN THE MAIL. CALLED DEALER & SET UP APPOINTMENT. ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT, TOOK VEHICLE IN. AFTER WAITING FOR AWHILE, WAS INFORMED DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS FOR REPAIR & DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, LESS THAN 10 MPH, COULD CAUSE CRASH, DEALER REPLACED AIR SHOT VALVE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK ANCHOR BOLT CAME OUT, LEAVING DRIVER'S SEAT UNSTABLE.
THE CLOCK ON THE DASH IS MELTING , PURCHASED CAR USED . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
MOTORBELTS DO NOT LOCK WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. *DH
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, HIT AN IRON FENCE. *AK
Official recalls
395V103001 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 24, 1995
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
88V180000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Nov 18, 1988
UNDER HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTACT UNIT COULD LOOSEN AND BECOME DISLODGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE AND WOULDAFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy: INSTALL A CONTACT UNIT HOLDER THAT WOULD PREVENT LOOSENING.
87V171000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
Oct 29, 1987
OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, SECTIONS 6A AND 6B WAS OMITTED FROM THE MANUAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES MANUAL INFORMATION DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS210.
Remedy: UPGRADE EXISTING MANUALS BY INSERTING ADHESIVE BACKED CORRECTION PAGES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA94035 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Oct 27, 1994 · Closed Jul 31, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE94052 · Seat Belt Buckle Fails
Opened Jul 11, 1994 · Closed Oct 27, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
EA89005 · Fuel System Venting
Opened Nov 16, 1988 · Closed Nov 30, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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