IllustrationI HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON ANY OF MY VEHICLES. TODAY MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MINE WAS THE SECOND ONE IN LESS THAN A MONTH THAT HE HAS REPLACED ON A HONDA. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG HERE.*AK
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.
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
110–25K
925–50K
2150–75K
1775–100K
22100–150K
33150K+
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
What owners actually said
435 reportsCONSUME RINVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 50 MPH, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
VEHICLE WAS GOING 35MPH WHEN FRONTAL AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. HONDA WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
LEFT FRONT IS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE/HONDA INSPECTION RESULTS UNSAFE TO OPERATE VEHICLE. *AK
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION THAT PUSHED ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION ALONG WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WE WERE BOTH STOPPED TURNING LEFT. UPON INPACT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD SERVE BRUSING FROM THE SEATBELT. MY FRONT SELT (DRIVER SIDE) WAS BROKEN BECOUSE THE IMPACT …
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I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION THAT PUSHED ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION ALONG WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WE WERE BOTH STOPPED TURNING LEFT. UPON INPACT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD SERVE BRUSING FROM THE SEATBELT. MY FRONT SELT (DRIVER SIDE) WAS BROKEN BECOUSE THE IMPACT WAS SO HARSH.*AK
DEALER STATED THAT A/C SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED. STATED THAT CAR HAD "BLACK DEATH".. WHEN I CALLED OTHER HONDA DEALER , THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF A NUMBER OF THESE INSTANCES, AND THAT 1998 CIVIC NEEDED THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM REPLACED IN MANY CARS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN.. ALSO, MY ROOMMATE , WITH A 1999 CIVIC…
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DEALER STATED THAT A/C SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED. STATED THAT CAR HAD "BLACK DEATH".. WHEN I CALLED OTHER HONDA DEALER , THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF A NUMBER OF THESE INSTANCES, AND THAT 1998 CIVIC NEEDED THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM REPLACED IN MANY CARS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN.. ALSO, MY ROOMMATE , WITH A 1999 CIVIC , HAD TO REPLACE HER A/C UNIT LAST YEAR ALSO.. AND WITH CONSIDERABLY LESS MILES AT THE TIME.. WHEN I DESCRIBED MY SYMTOMS, SHE SAID IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO HER CAR ALSO.. CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS LINE.. WAS TOLD THAT "I NEEDED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR".. IF IT IS HAPPENING TO MY CAR, AND MY ROOMMATES CAR, ISNT IT HAPPENING TO OTHER CIVICS TOO? I ALSO AM A REPEAT HONDA OWNER, AND GOT 200,000 MILES OF WEAR OUT OF MY LAST CIVIC WITH VERY MINIMAL REPAIR....I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM.. AND THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING AFFECTING THOSE OF US WITH CIVICS IN THE SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.. MARC LIBBY. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION WHILE SITTING AT LIGHT. ALSO, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STALLED, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 06/02, AND VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY OIL SIGNIFYING A MAJOR OIL LEAK.*AK
IN A FRONTAL COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.*AK
WHILE DRIVNG VEHCILE STALLED OUT/ LOST ALL POWER, WAS UNABLE TO STEER, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Official recalls
420V026000 · 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
1SQ98012 · 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.