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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

Power Train complaints

49 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train

BOUGHT USED JUNE 2011 WITH ABOUT 169,000ISH, WAS ASSURED THAT EVERYTHING WAS CHECKED OUT. DROVE BACK HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS, AND THEN THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. WITHIN TWO MONTHS THE BATTERY DIED, HAD TO REPLACE. IN JAN OF 2012 CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND I NOTICED A 2" CRACK ON THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR, REPLACED. NOW TRANSMISSION HESIT…

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BOUGHT USED JUNE 2011 WITH ABOUT 169,000ISH, WAS ASSURED THAT EVERYTHING WAS CHECKED OUT. DROVE BACK HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS, AND THEN THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. WITHIN TWO MONTHS THE BATTERY DIED, HAD TO REPLACE. IN JAN OF 2012 CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND I NOTICED A 2" CRACK ON THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR, REPLACED. NOW TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND RPMS GO WAY UP WHEN SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR. I DRAINED AND CHANGED THE FLUID WITH THE RECOMMENDED HONDA FLUID, AND NOW THE HIGH RPMS AND SLIPPING ARE OCCURRING IN ALL FORWARD GEARS. I FEEL LIKE A VOICE IN A FREAKING TORNADO WHEN IT COME TO ANY REASONABLE SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR BLOW TO HONDA'S REPUTATION FOR ME. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10453894

120,000 miles · Sep 17, 2008
Power Train

HONDA, CIVIC DX, 1998, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SMOOTHLY OPERATE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR OVER TO SECOND TO THIRD, AND TO FOURTH, THE RPMS'S REVS UP/SPEED UP BETWEEN GEARS AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. HAVE 120,000 MILES ON CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242533

114,400 miles · Dec 1, 2007
Power Train

1) TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A 1998 HONDA CIVIC LX FOR THE SECOND TIME AND WITH ONLY 115,000 MILES. 2) TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED PRIOR WHEN CAR HAD 59,000 MILES. 3) TRANSMISSION (THIRD ONE NOW) REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210456

59,000 miles · Nov 22, 2005
Power Train

I HAVE A HONDA CIVIC DX 1998, WITH 60000 MILES NOW PRESENTING WITH A FAILED TRANSMISSION. SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THAT VERY SAME COMPLAINT RESULTED IN NO PROBLEMS DETECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM BEGAN TWO DAYS AFTER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY EXPIRED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10143503

60,000 miles · Jul 29, 2005
Power Train

98 HONDA CIVIC DX TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE MY CAR HAS BEEN HAVING THIS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. IT RECENTLY STARTED DOING IT FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT SO I TRIED TO GO ONLINE AND FIND OUT IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF SOLUTION. I FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN HONDA A…

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98 HONDA CIVIC DX TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE MY CAR HAS BEEN HAVING THIS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. IT RECENTLY STARTED DOING IT FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT SO I TRIED TO GO ONLINE AND FIND OUT IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF SOLUTION. I FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN HONDA ACCORDS/CIVICS/ODYSSEY'S AND EVEN ACURAS. I CALLED HONDA CORP. AND THEIR ONLY RESPONSE WAS YOU'RE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST SO YOU'LL HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALER AND GET IT REPAIRED. I DID THAT AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO GET A REFURBISHED TRANS AT 5K A POP! THAT'S A RIP OFF. SO I RESEARCHED IT SOME MORE AND FOUND OUT ON ABOUT.COM THAT YOU CAN BASICALLY JUST DRAIN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACE IT WITH HONDA ATP FLUID AND REPLACE A PIECE CALLED THE SOLENOID ASSEMBLY AND A WASHER. IF THIS IS THE CASE WHY ISN'T HONDA DOING A GENERAL RECALL AND HAVE EVERYONE PAY A CERTAIN PRICE OR HAVE EVERYONE WITH CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS COME IN AND HAVE THEIR TRANS CHECKED OUT. THIS IS A RIP OFF THROUGH HONDA CORP. THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE MONEY AND SO ARE THE DEALERSHIPS! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10130596

101,000 miles · Jun 22, 2005
Power Train

GOING OFF THE HONDA BRAND NAME, WE PURCHASED A 1998 HONDA ACCORD IN NOVEMBER OF 2004. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD 101,000 MILES ON IT. LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT IT HESITATED AND THEN SHIFTED HARD INTO SECOND GEAR. SHE ASLO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SEVERE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AFT…

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GOING OFF THE HONDA BRAND NAME, WE PURCHASED A 1998 HONDA ACCORD IN NOVEMBER OF 2004. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD 101,000 MILES ON IT. LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT IT HESITATED AND THEN SHIFTED HARD INTO SECOND GEAR. SHE ASLO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SEVERE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER SLOWING DOWN FOR A TURN OR WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION OF A VEHICLE TRYING TO GET INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND BEING UNABLE TO ACCELERATE; SHE'S ALMOST BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES. WE'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH HONDA, AND BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WON'T PAY FOR ANYTHING. I DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE YET, BUT, AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO COST ANYWHERE FROM $2000-4000 TO FIX. IF HONDA CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO REPLACE WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT, I'VE RESOLVED TO DO TWO THINGS: CONTACT A LAWYER AND NEVER WASTE MY MONEY ON ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10126188

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2005
EquipmentPower Train

TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN 2003 AND AGAIN 2005. O2 SINSOR & CATALYST CONVERTOR, ALSO REPLACED. I THINK THERE IS A DEFAULT WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A 1998 HONDA ACCORD LX COUPE V6

NHTSA ODI #10116162

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2005
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10113976

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2005
Power Train

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND HIGH REVVING RPMS ON MY 1998 HONDA ACCORD COUPE V6 EX. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. NOW I WILL HAVE TO SPEND CLOSE TO $6000 …

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I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND HIGH REVVING RPMS ON MY 1998 HONDA ACCORD COUPE V6 EX. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. NOW I WILL HAVE TO SPEND CLOSE TO $6000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THE MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10107760

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2004
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REP…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10088053

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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