IllustrationHEAD ON COLLISION AT 35 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
1999 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
80–25K
1025–50K
1850–75K
2175–100K
44100–150K
44150K+
145 reports with mileage · 193 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 118 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
61 crash reports5 fire reports44 injury reports
What owners actually said
338 reportsAIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CLUTCH BURNED OUT. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS AND 38,000 MILES AFTER THE DEFECT WAS OBVIOUS, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SHUDDERING, SLIPPING, AND GRINDING. WHEN STARTING OR BREAKING ON A WET SURFACE AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, THE CAR LOSES CONTROL.*AK
TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE AT DEALER, BUT DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A FLUTTER/SHUDDER SOUND WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND ENGINE KNOCKS ON ACCELERATION. DEALER FLUSHED TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES. REPLACED TRANSMISSION. BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST…
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TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE AT DEALER, BUT DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A FLUTTER/SHUDDER SOUND WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND ENGINE KNOCKS ON ACCELERATION. DEALER FLUSHED TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES. REPLACED TRANSMISSION. BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. MANUFACTURER EXTENDED WARRANTY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TT
THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY CAME ON WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SPEED DROPPED TO IDLING AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THERE WAS AN ODD ODOR. THE VEHICLE BECAME NORMAL RIGHT AFTER THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED IT. *YH
WAS TRAVELING 50MPH AND HAD REARENDED A COUGAR. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED SOME INJURIES, AND RECEIVED EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT.*AK
I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 1999 HONDA CIVIC. UNDER HEAVEY BRAKING THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP WHILE THE FRONT DOES NOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. WHEN IT HAPPENS THE REAR END OF THE CAR FISHTAILS WILDLY AND DOES CAUSE THE CAR TO INTO AN UNCONTROLABLE SPIN. I HAD MENTIONED THIS…
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I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 1999 HONDA CIVIC. UNDER HEAVEY BRAKING THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP WHILE THE FRONT DOES NOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. WHEN IT HAPPENS THE REAR END OF THE CAR FISHTAILS WILDLY AND DOES CAUSE THE CAR TO INTO AN UNCONTROLABLE SPIN. I HAD MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER WHO HAD SAID IT IS NORMAL BECAUSE OF WEIGHT TRANSFER TO THE FRONT UNDER HEAVY BRAKING. ( THE PREPORTIONING VALVE IS THERE TO BALANCE THE BRAKE LINE PRESSURE BETWEEN THE BAKES SO THEY ARE EQUALIZE PRESSURE AS NEEDED?) THIS ALSO HAPPENS ON ICE COVER ROADS OR SLIPERY ROAD UNDER NORMAL BRAKING, THE BACK WHEELS LOCK UP BEFORE THE FRONT CAUSING THE BACKEN TO FISHTAIL. I HAVE NOT HAD A REPORTABLE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT, BUT IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THIS CONTINUES.*AK
THE STEERING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WANDER LEFT TO RIGHT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NLM
WHILE ROLLING DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW UP WITH AUTOMATIC BUTTON, WINDOW STOPPED APPROX 1/3 OF THE WAY FROM THE TOP AND WOULDN'T GO FARTHER; APPEARED JAMMED INTO THE RUBBER AROUND THE WINDOW. UPON EXAMINATION, FOUND TO BE THE WINDOW REGULATOR.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
320V026000 · 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.