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1998 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Civic years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Honda Civic are substantially higher than the model-year median of 183.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

113 reports with mileage · 322 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

81 crash reports3 fire reports44 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

2 reports
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153,000 miles · Jan 19, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ON SATURDAY, 01/17/2015, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON BUSY STREET CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO MIDDLE MEDIAN LANE, AND THEN RECEIVED HELP TO PUSH CAR OUT OF BUSY STREET/TRAFFIC TO SAFETY ON SIDESTREET CURB. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, IT CRANKED AND TRIED TO TURN OVER BUT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO…

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ON SATURDAY, 01/17/2015, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON BUSY STREET CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO MIDDLE MEDIAN LANE, AND THEN RECEIVED HELP TO PUSH CAR OUT OF BUSY STREET/TRAFFIC TO SAFETY ON SIDESTREET CURB. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, IT CRANKED AND TRIED TO TURN OVER BUT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO BE PUSHED HOME BY NEIGHBOR. AFTER TAKING IT TO MECHANIC, I HAVE HAD THE COIL REPLACED, DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES REPLACED AS WELL AS A SENSOR. THE CAR STILL WILL NOT START. I HAVE LEARNED OF THE RECALL OF THE FAULTY IGNITION, AND WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER RECALL PROCESS. NOTHING IS WORKING SO FAR. PLEASE ASSIST, NEED CAR TO TAKE CHILD TO SCHOOL AND TO ABLE TO WORK, TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676462

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2011
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED MY 1998 HONDA CIVIC CX HATCHBACK ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, IT HAD 112,608 MILES, WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP IT STALLED. FIRST SIGN, I DID NOT NO IT HAD A RECALL THE CAR AND JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE . IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP.2ND SIGN, WHILE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY IT JUST QUIETLY STOPPED RUNNING .. T…

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JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED MY 1998 HONDA CIVIC CX HATCHBACK ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, IT HAD 112,608 MILES, WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP IT STALLED. FIRST SIGN, I DID NOT NO IT HAD A RECALL THE CAR AND JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE . IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP.2ND SIGN, WHILE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY IT JUST QUIETLY STOPPED RUNNING .. THIS WAS IN FEBRUARY...ON APRIL 26, 2011 TUESDAY , NEEDED TO CRANK THE CAR TWO TIMES TO GET IT TO STARTED IN THE MOURNING, IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER WORK AT 1:30 PM IT NEEDED TO BE STARTED TWO TIMES TO START. AT 5:00 PM CAR STARTED UP FINE, SIX HOUSES DOWN TO THE STOP SIGN AND THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN, PARKED THE CAR AND STARTED THE CAR RIGHT UP. APRIL 27 2011. WEDNESDAY. 4:30 AM CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. STOPPED AT SHEETZ GAS STATION BEFORE WORK, MOTOR STOPPED RUNNING BUT ALL THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WERE STILL ON, PARKED AND STARTED IT ONCE.WENT TO WORK. 1:30 PM STARTED CAR UP AND WAS HEADING HOME. ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING ABOUT 60 - 65 MILES AN HOUR CAR MOTOR STOPS. FIRST TIME IT EVER DIED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS..PUT HAZARDS ON AND PARKED ON THE SIDE.PARKED AND THEN STARTED IT ONCE. DROVE HOME. ..IT IS GETTING SCARY, I'VE PUT NEW SPARK PLUGS, IGNITION WIRES, TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF THE MOTOR STOPPING BEFORE I KNEW ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THIS YEAR CIVICS. WENT TO HONDA WEB SIGHT AND TYPED IN MY VIN NUMBER. THIS CAR HAD A RECALL. IT SAID IT WAS FIXED. THERE HAS BEEN THREE OWNERS OF THIS CAR. 1ST. THE PERSON WHO BOUGHT IT . 2ND. THE CLEVELAND HONDA DEALERSHIP. 3RD .ME. DOES A HONDA DEALERSHIP HAVE TO FIX THE RECALL IN ORDER FOR IT TO SAY FIXED ? CAUSE IT WASN'T IN THE CAR FAX THAT THEY GAVE ME..I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHO FIXED THE IGNITION PROBLEM BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THIS CAR IS HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AGAIN...ELECTRICAL PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398046

Official recalls

4

20V026000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 17, 2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.

07V512000 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly

Nov 1, 2007

ON CERTAIN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES, IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE INTERIOR FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE REAR SEAT, THE CNG TANK MAY BE HEATED UNEVENLY, PREVENTING THE PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE FROM VENTING THE CONTENTS OF THE TANK AS DESIGNED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A TANK RUPTURE, EXPLOSION, AND EJECTION OF THE TANK FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEAT INSULATOR MATERIAL TO THE REAR SEAT BACK. AN INTERIM OWNER LETTER WAS MAILED TO OWNERS BEGINNING NOVEMBER 26, 2007. WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, OWNERS WILL BE RENOTIFIED ASKING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

May 16, 2002

ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

97V193000 · Air Bags:frontal

Nov 1, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULES HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED. THE CLOTH FLAPS COVERING THE FOLDED AIR BAG MAY HAVE BEEN TUCKED IN TOO FAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. IN A CRASH, AN IMPROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG MODULE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING.

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

1

SQ98012 · Condenser Fan Motor Inoperative

Opened Jun 30, 1998 · Closed Nov 2, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner

SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.

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