IllustrationTHE RACK AND PINON STEERING GOES OUT FREQUENTLY AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO STEERING.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
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.
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 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
What owners actually said
69 reportsWHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD; HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE/SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ON, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, GAS LEAKS DOWN FROM SEAM OF TANK ONTO VEHICLE FLOOR; SLOWING STOPS WHEN VEHICLE NOT IN MOTION; CAN HEAR AND SEE GAS DROPPING DOWN. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *DSH
SEAT BELT INADVERTENTLY WRAPPED AROUND SEAT POSITION LEVER/DISLODGED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSS CONTROL AND HAD AN ACCIDENT. *SD
THE DRIVER SIDE MANUAL LOCK BROKE IN THE INSIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
GAS PIPE IS ROTTED OUT, LEAKS OIL ALL OVER, AFRAID IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
SEAT BELT TWISTED PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD
THE CAR WILL NOT START IF THE WEATHER IS BAD ( RAIN, FOG, MISTY) THE CAR HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER THEY REPLACED DEMODULER AND THE CAR STILL WON'T START.
Official recalls
195V103001 · 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
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
PE93082 · Stalling
Opened Sep 23, 1993 · Closed Jan 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available