IllustrationTHE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ALTERNATOR. WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *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 reportsBROUGHT IN CAR FOR A FLUCTUATING TACHOMETER AT ZERO/MPH (+/- 1000 RPM WHEN ENGINE WAS COLD/NO NOTICABLE INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM). I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER (HOWDY HONDA) THAT THE BEARINGS ON THE DISTRIBUTOR ARE FAILING CAUSING THE SHAFT TO ROTATE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. CALLED AROUND AND OTHER MECHANICS SAID THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WI…
Read full complaint
BROUGHT IN CAR FOR A FLUCTUATING TACHOMETER AT ZERO/MPH (+/- 1000 RPM WHEN ENGINE WAS COLD/NO NOTICABLE INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM). I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER (HOWDY HONDA) THAT THE BEARINGS ON THE DISTRIBUTOR ARE FAILING CAUSING THE SHAFT TO ROTATE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. CALLED AROUND AND OTHER MECHANICS SAID THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HONDA CIVIC'S.
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH. COLLISION CAUSED SEVERE INJURY TO CONSUMER'S RIGHT FOOT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASH. DRIVER TURNED VEHICLE OFF. MANUFACTURER BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
FUEL TANK FAILURE CAUSING LEAKAGE.
INGNITION FAILURE.
THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS NEVER COOLED THE VEHICLE.
ELECTICAL DISTRIBUTOR FAILURE.
STEERING FAILED, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE.
CONSUMER NOTICED TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT. WENT TO CHANGE LIGHT BULB, NOTICED IT WAS CORRORED AND SOCKET WAS BLACKENED AND BURNED. FLASHER WAS FLASHING RAPIDLY, CALLED MECHANICAND HE WENT TO REPLACE IT AND FOUND HIGH LEVEL OF WATER IN UNIT BECAUSE OF FLAT FRONT, WATER DRIPPED IN TRUNK WHICH WAS DRAINING INTO UNIT. *AK *SLC
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