IllustrationHERCULES TIRES ARE ON THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH. TIRE WAS PURCHASED TWO WEEKS PRIOR. KING TIRE STORE CONTACTED, CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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.
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: 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
What owners actually said
91 reportsIGNITION COIL FAILED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. DOES RECALL EXIST?
INTERMITTENT STALLING DUE TO DISTRIBUTOR/IGNITOR MALFUNCTIONING.
BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
FRONT PASSENGER'S MOTORIZED SEAT BELT AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR SYSTEM FAILED, DOES NOT RETRACT; ACCORDING TO DEALER, POWER CABLE TO SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDS REPLACING. *AK
WATER PUMP FAILED. MJS
PICKED CAR UP FROM REPAIR SHOP, DROVE ABOUT ONE BLOCK AND THE CAR CUT OFF. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AN FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. GOT OUT AND RAISED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FIREMEN MANAGED TO PUT FIRE OUT, CALLED REPAIR SHOP AND HAD IT TOWED BACK TO SHOP.REPAIR SHOP GAVE SEVERAL R…
Read full complaint
PICKED CAR UP FROM REPAIR SHOP, DROVE ABOUT ONE BLOCK AND THE CAR CUT OFF. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AN FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. GOT OUT AND RAISED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FIREMEN MANAGED TO PUT FIRE OUT, CALLED REPAIR SHOP AND HAD IT TOWED BACK TO SHOP.REPAIR SHOP GAVE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THE FIRE, BUT THE DEALER SAID THAT THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK
INTERMITTENT STALLING AFTER TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT.
REAR CYLINDERS FAILURE ALLOWS HATCH TO FALL CAUSING HEAD INJURY.
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.
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
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