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1989 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Honda Civic do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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 69 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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports2 fire reports13 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 3, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS BOUGHT FROM LARRY'S AUTO PARTS - NAPA, KAIMUKI ON O'AHU, HAWAII. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A LIFETIME-WARRANTY AND WAS MANUFACTURED BY UNITED BRAKE. THE FIRST NAPA MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER (NMBC) WAS PUT ON MY FRIEND'S 1989 HONDA CIVIC BY MYSELF ON AUGUST 29, 2001. THE FIRST (NMBC) WAS FOUND TO BE LEA…

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THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS BOUGHT FROM LARRY'S AUTO PARTS - NAPA, KAIMUKI ON O'AHU, HAWAII. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A LIFETIME-WARRANTY AND WAS MANUFACTURED BY UNITED BRAKE. THE FIRST NAPA MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER (NMBC) WAS PUT ON MY FRIEND'S 1989 HONDA CIVIC BY MYSELF ON AUGUST 29, 2001. THE FIRST (NMBC) WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING FROM AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. THE SECOND (NMBC) WAS INSTALLED ON DECEMBER 18, 2001 BY MYSELF, AND THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM AT EACH WHEEL WAS BLED OF AIR. RIGHT AFTER THE INSTALLMENT OF THE (NMBC) THE OWNER OF THE CIVIC NOTICED THAT AT TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL COULD BE PRESSED VERY LOW TO THE FLOORBOARD, WHILE AT OTHER TIMES IT WAS AT ITS NORMAL HEIGHT. THREE MONTHS LATER ON MARCH 12, 2002, THE CAR WAS TAKEN INTO MIDAS, WAIALAE AVE. BRANCH. THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE BLED. HE LATER INFORMED US THAT HE COULD NOT GET PRESSURE INTO THE LINE AND THE REASON FOR IT WAS THE SECOND (NMBC) WAS "FAULTY" AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MIDAS REINSTALLED THE THIRD (NMBC). WITHIN ONE WEEK THE THIRD (NMBC) WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING. ON OR ABOUT MARCH 20, 2002, THE MECHANIC RE-BLED THE BRAKE LINES AND CHECKED FOR ANY LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. RETURNING FROM A VACATION ON THURSDAY MARCH 28, 2002, I LOOKED AT THE (NMBC) ON THE HONDA CIVIC AND OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID HAD ENTIRELY DRAINED OUT OF THE (NMBC) RESERVOIR. ON FRIDAY MARCH 29, 2002, THE MIDAS MECHANIC REPLACED THE "FAULTY" THIRD (NMBC) FOR A FOURTH (NMBC). THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE SCREW ON THE THIRD (NMBC) BETWEEN THE TWO BRAKE LINES GOING INTO THE (NMBC) WAS LEAKING. ON THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2002, THE FOURTH (NMBC) WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING. IT WAS LEAKING FROM AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE (NMBC) BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. THE FOURTH (NMBC) WAS REPLACED ON APRIL 17, 2002 WITH A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MASTER CYLINDER SUPPLIED BY MIDAS. AS OF TODAY, MAY 3, 2002, THE NEW MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER SUPPLIED BY MIDAS HAS HAD NO PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #761514

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NOTICEABLE THUMPING AND KNOCKING NOISE IN BRAKE SYSTEM. RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TT

NHTSA ODI #977338

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE MASTER CYLINDER , THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE HEAD GAKSET BLEW . TT

NHTSA ODI #971270

Official recalls

1

95V103001 · 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.

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

3

EA94035 · 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

PE93082 · Stalling

Opened Sep 23, 1993 · Closed Jan 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

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