IllustrationBEARING IN THE DISTRIBUTOR HOUSING GENERATES EXCESSIVE HEAT THROUGH THE STEEL DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT AND FAILS WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OFENGINE POWER AND DIMINSHING BRAKING AND STEERING.
1992 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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: 11 of 98 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports3 fire reports17 injury reports
What owners actually said
98 reportsINTERMITTENT STALLING/HESITATION.
BROKEN ROTOR.
EACH TIME HE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND, SHUTTER AND SQUEAL.
WIRING FAILS DURING WET WEATHER.
DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT BEARINGS WERE WEARING OUT AND WERE MAKING NOISE ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHERE THE WATER PUMP AND DISTRIBUTOR WERE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER'S MECHANIC. *AK
DISTRIBUTOR, IGNITION COIL AND TIMING BELT FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING.
DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.
DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT BEARINGS WERE DISINTEGRATING DUE TO ENTIRE DISTRIBUTOR AND INSIDE OF CAP BEING COVERED IN RUST DUST.
Official recalls
194V063000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Apr 10, 1994
A RETAINING CLIP THAT CONNECTS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE TO THE SHIFT LEVER ACTUATING ROD CAN HAVE INSUFFICIENT RETENTION PRESSURE AND MAY EVENTUALLY COME OFF AFTER REPEATED SHIFT LEVER OPERATION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POSITION OF THE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNANTICIPATED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED RETAINING CLIP.
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
1DP00007 · Ignition Distributor
Opened Nov 13, 2000 · Closed Oct 25, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR FAILURE COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE OR A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT