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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

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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: 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 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1999
Exterior Lighting

REAR TAILGATE ASSEMBLY ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK INSIDE RESULTING IN THE BULB SHORTING OUT. NLM

NHTSA ODI #547716

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH ALMOST MAY RESULT IN AN CRASH. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836998

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 1999
Power Train

I WAS INFORM BY A FRIEND THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING CV BOOT. PLEASE INFORM ME IF THIS CORRECT. I'M WONDERING THE SAME DEFECT THE 2ND TIME. IF NOT NOTICED THE AXLE WILL BREAK AND WILL CAUSE THE VECHICLE TO TURN TO LEFT WITHOUT NOTICE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #705050

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED AFTER REPLACEMENT FAILED AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #543852

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1999
Seat Belts

I GOT MY SEAT BELTS FIXED TODAY AND WAS CHARGED FOR IT. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED MY MANUAL AND IN IT SPECIFIED, " THIS WARRANTY CONTINUES FOR THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE CAR. HONDA WILL REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY HONDA SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT FAILS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING NORMAL USE. THIS INCLUDES ALL LABOR AND PARTS." I FEEL LIK…

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I GOT MY SEAT BELTS FIXED TODAY AND WAS CHARGED FOR IT. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED MY MANUAL AND IN IT SPECIFIED, " THIS WARRANTY CONTINUES FOR THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE CAR. HONDA WILL REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY HONDA SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT FAILS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING NORMAL USE. THIS INCLUDES ALL LABOR AND PARTS." I FEEL LIKE I SHOULDN'T OF BEEN CHARGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WARRANTY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I AM ENTITLED TO A REIMBURSMENT AS I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE SAFTEY SEAT BELTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #703381

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1999
Electrical SystemPower Train

MY CAR CAME TO A STOP GOING UP A RAMP AFTER IT BEGAN "JERKING". I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, IT WAS THE COIL IN THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THE DRIVESHAFT WAS BENT BOTH TIMES. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED, BUT WAS URGED TO CONTACT HO…

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MY CAR CAME TO A STOP GOING UP A RAMP AFTER IT BEGAN "JERKING". I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, IT WAS THE COIL IN THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THE DRIVESHAFT WAS BENT BOTH TIMES. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED, BUT WAS URGED TO CONTACT HONDA TO FIND IF THERE WAS AN "OPEN RECALL" I WAS TOLD BY SHOCKLEY HONDA THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, THIS WAS IN 1996. SINCE THEN, MY CAR HAS HAD THHE EXACT SAME REPAIR 5 MORE TIMES, AND IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN YESTERDAY. I CALLED HERSON'S HONDA AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS A RECALL APPROX 5 YEARS AGO. I CALLED SHOCKLEY TO MAKE AN APPT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, INSTEAD OF GETTING AN APPT I WAS TOLD "YOU'RE JUST NOW GETTING AROUND TO GETTING THIS FIXED?" AND "WHY DIDN'T YOU BRING IT IN WHEN YOU GOT THE RECALL IN THE MAIL?" IF I HAD GOTTEN THE RECALL, SURELY I WOULD NOT HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS IN TOWING, PARTS AND LABOR. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO CONTACT ME. IF I WAS STILL PAYING ON THAT VEHICLE, I AM POSITIVE THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN CONNTACTED. I FINANCED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES, EXACT SAME PROBLEM, AND HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT I WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. NOW I HAVE NO VEHICLE, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, AND WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL! NOW WHAT I AM SUPPOSE TO DO? *AK

NHTSA ODI #702740

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentInterior Lighting

THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED IN 1996. CAROLINA IMPORTS REPLACED IT ($900), AND MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED MANY AIR CONDITIONERS FROM 1991 HONDA CIVICS. THE REPLACEMENT AIR CONDITIONER HAS SPRUNG AN UNIDENTIFIED LEAK TWICE, SPILLING OUT ALL FREON (@$250). IT ALSO SPRANG ONE IDENTIFIED LEAK, WHICH WAS FIXED. THE BACK TRUNK…

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THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED IN 1996. CAROLINA IMPORTS REPLACED IT ($900), AND MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED MANY AIR CONDITIONERS FROM 1991 HONDA CIVICS. THE REPLACEMENT AIR CONDITIONER HAS SPRUNG AN UNIDENTIFIED LEAK TWICE, SPILLING OUT ALL FREON (@$250). IT ALSO SPRANG ONE IDENTIFIED LEAK, WHICH WAS FIXED. THE BACK TRUNK HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR YEARS. WHEN THE TRUNK IS RAISED, WATER POURS DOWN IN THE TRUNK FROM THE RAISED SECTION. WATER ALSO LEAKS IN THE TRUNK WHEN IT IS CLOSED. HONDA SPECIALISTS (RTP, NC) SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS SEVERAL TIMES IN 1990 AND 1991 CIVIC MODELS, AND THAT IT IS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT WHICH CANNOT BE FIXED. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTINIG FLICKERS AND GOES OFF ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. IT COMES BACK ON IF THE DASHBOARD IS BANGED ON. THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED DUE TO LARGE HOLES IN THE EARLY 1990'S. THANKFULLY I GOT A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE MUFFLER, BECAUSE I HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE. BOTH TIMES DUE TO HOLES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702682

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 1999
Electrical System

DISTRIBUTER HAD BAD BEARING. WAS REPLACED AT COST OF $463.48

NHTSA ODI #702002

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1998
Seat Belts

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832071

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED TO OPERATE ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN 5 YEARS APART. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PART IS NOT ON RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830846

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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