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1990 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Honda Civic do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 7 of 91 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 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports3 fire reports10 injury reports

Steering complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower TrainCrash

A LOT OF THE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I AM STILL HAVING A PROBLEM WITH SOME THING THAT ISNT LISTED,IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR,I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL 5 TIMES AND THEY ARE NOT CHEEP AT 200 A POP. THE STEERING IS A PAIN BUT AN EASY FIX FOR A BUSHING ON THE RIGHT SIDE, MINUS THE STIFF LOCK UP STEER THAT…

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A LOT OF THE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I AM STILL HAVING A PROBLEM WITH SOME THING THAT ISNT LISTED,IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR,I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL 5 TIMES AND THEY ARE NOT CHEEP AT 200 A POP. THE STEERING IS A PAIN BUT AN EASY FIX FOR A BUSHING ON THE RIGHT SIDE, MINUS THE STIFF LOCK UP STEER THAT I THINK COMES WITH THE HONDA CIVIC SI ENGINE FIRST WENT AT 60.000 KM AND NOW IT HAS 170 ON THE ODOMETER AND WENT TODAY, NOT SURE WHAT IM GONNA DO,TRY AND DO WARRANTY ON IT OR FIX IT MY SELF AND HAVE IT DONE RIGHT.... THE BRAKES ARE THE PITS ON THESE CARS? FRONT. YOU GET BRAKE FAD GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND KISS YOUR ASS GOOD BYE, TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WENT TO CROSS DRILL ROTORS AND A COURSE BRAKE PAD FOR THE FRONT, THE REAR BRAKES NEVER ADJUST THEMSELVES, AND WEAR OUT FAST. THE TRANSMISSION 5 GEAR SUCKS TO LOW AND MAKES THE REVS GO WAY TOO HIGH, THE SECOND GEAR SYNCRO IS BAD, PAINT IS BAD. FLAKES OFF ALMOST LIKE WHAT THE OLD CHEVYS DO. POWER SUN ROOF IS FAILING SOME TIMES YOU HAVE TO CRANK IT BACK BY HAND TO CLOSE. OTHER TIMES THE MOTOR WORKS...HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER ONCE GOT IT FROM AN AUTO WRECKER..

NHTSA ODI #10071311

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 1999
Steering

WHILE TRAVELING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABEL TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848722

Official recalls

3

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.

90V163000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Sep 4, 1990

DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED INTERNAL SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION, THE PAWL MECHANISIM MAY NOT FULLY ENGAGE WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLE COULD ROLL WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARKPOSITION AND A CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: INSTALL AN IMPROVED PARKING PAWL SHAFT.

90V126000 · Visibility:windshield

Jul 10, 1990

POOR ADHESION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN PAINT LAYERS IN THE WINDSHIELD MOUNTING AREA DUE TO DEFECTIVE PAINT BATCHES OR OVERSPRAYING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PAINT SEPARATION IN THE WINDSHIELD AREAS WOULD LEADTO NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 212 RETENTION REQUIREMENTS. LOSS OF WINDSHIELDRETENTION ABILITY COULD CAUSE WINSHIELD TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNINGAND HARM VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS IN THE VICINITY.

Remedy: REINSTALL WINDSHIELD TO INSURE PROPER RETENTION.

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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