IllustrationIS A WARNING SOUND AVAILABLE FOR LEAVING LIGHTS ON? APPRX. HOW MUCH WOULD THIS COST TO ADD? I HAVE MECHANICS LOOK INTO SEALING THE TRUNK, HAVE BEEN TOLD IT HAS BEEN FIXED, YET RAIN WATER ACCUMULATES IN GREY BOX AND LEAKS UPON OPENING TRUNK. *AK
1991 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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: 12 of 110 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 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports4 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
110 reportsINTERMITTENTLY WATER LEAKS INTO THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE TAIL LIGHTS TO SHORT CIRCUIT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FILL WITH WATER DURING RAIN OR CAR WASH CAUSED BRAKE,TAIL AND SIGNAL BULBS TO BURN OUT. YH
THE TRUNK ON THE CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR APPROX 7 YEARS. IT LEAKS THROUGH THE SEALS ON THE LIGHTS.
ROOF SAGS IN MIDDLE. DEALER NEVER FIXED.
AFTER RAIN, WATER VISIBLE IN REAR LIGHT AREA-NOW COMPLETELY SHORTED OUT-BLINKERS DON'T WORK. REPLACED BULB. DRAINED BATTERY. REPLACED BATTERY, AND LEFT BLINKER BULBS OUT.
FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE. MJS
THE VINYL HEADLINER ABOVE THE CARGO AREA HAS A 6" LONG SCORCHED AREA THAT IS COMPLETELY BURNED THROUGH. THERE ARE NO WIRES ABOVE THE BURNED AREA, SO THE CAUSE IS NOT ELECTRICAL. THE SUSPECTED CAUSE IS SUNLIGHT REFLECTED OFF A CHROME MUSIC STAND THAT WAS IN THE CARGO AREA. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.
ENGINE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE INJECTION SYSTEM. MJS
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ON ITS OWN AS IT SHOULD. WHEN MOVED BACK MANUALLY AND THE DOOR IS OPENED, IT WILL GO BACK FORWARD AND STICK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
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