NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Honda Civic. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
DEFECTIVE REACTION OF VEHICLE TO SUNLIGHT. WHITE CHALKY SPOTS APPEAR ON HOOD/FRONT PANELS.
WHITE CHALKY SPOTS APPEAR ON HOOD/FRONT PANELS AND FRONT ROOF PANELS WHEN EXPOSED TO SUN LIGHT.
DEFECTIVE REACTION TO SUNLIGHT. WHITE "CHALKY SPOTS" APPEAR ON HOOD/FRONT PANELS AND FRONT ROOF PANELS WHEN EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT.
MIRROR FAILED. YH
POWER MIRRORS ADJUSTMENT FAILED. YH
SHEET METAL FATIGUE ON BOTH FRONT FENDERS.
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *YC
WINDSHELD IS ANGLED SO MANY STONES HIT WINDSHIELD. 3 CURRENT STONE BREAKS
WHILE OPENING TRUCK LID FALLS IMMEDIATELY ON OCCUPANT WHICH MAY CAUSE INJURIES. HONDA SAID IT'S A POOR DESIGN OF TRUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED DURING AN EMERGENCY STOP, THE WHEELS LOCKED AND VEHICLE TILTED TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
VEHICLE VIBRATES DUE TO MAIN BEARING FAILURE.
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS, SEVERAL CABLES MOUNTED TOO TIGHT AND NEEDED ADJUSTMENT.
SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE GETS TIGHTER AND TIGHTER ON THE OCCUPANT FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *AK
RESPONSE LETTER TO CONSUMERS COMPLAINT LETTER ADDRESS TO CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION**NAR**CC CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WHILE IN TRANSIT. *JB
1998 HONDA CIVIC WITH SAFETY CONCERN. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE NOTICED THIS SAFETY CONCERN. HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS CONSIDERED A SAFE VEHICLE. *KB
WHITE "CHALKY SPOTS" APPEAR ON HOOD, FRONT PANELS, AND FRONT ROOF PANELS WHEN EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT.
DOME LIGHTS FAILIF A NON-HONDA RADIO IS INSTALLED.
DEFECT IN THE HOOD SUPPORT ROD CAUSED THE HOOD TO COME CRASHING DOWN, ALMOST RESULTING IN INJURIES, SUPPORT ROD BROKE IN HALF IN THE MIDDLE OF ROD. *AK THE HOOD CAME DOWN WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BUCKLE IT. *SLC
DESIGN OF TRANSMISSION ALLOWS ENGINE TO DOWNSHIFT, WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES AND ENGAGING.
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH OR ABOVE THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR IS EXTREMELY LOOSE WHICH CAUSES IT TO SHAKE. DEALER REPLACED THE MIRROR WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VIOENT DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG PRIOR TO RECALL.
FLUIDS FROM THE RADIATOR ARE LEAKING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
SUSPENSION VERY POOR CAUSING DRIFTING AND POOR STABILITY.
ENGINE FAN BELT FAILED. YH
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS SLIGHTLY AT INTIAL ACCELERATION. YH
TIRE FIRESTONE (P185/65 R 14 855) FAILURE CAUSED ACCIDENT. YH
TIRE FAILED PREMATURELY. (FIRESTONE 185/65R1485S).YH
REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE GETS LOOSE EVEN AFTER REPAIR. YH
BUMPER FAILED. YH
ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC
TIRE FAILURE. YH
THREE TIRES FLAT. *YC
FABRIC ON LEFT AND RIGHT DOOR PANEL WORN EXCESSIVELY.
VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING TIRE DAMAGE. ( FIRESTONE P185/65R14-855-M+5 ). *YC
WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.
THIS VEHICLE WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED AT 55-60 MPH,AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING A HIGHWAY RAIL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN MAKING A TURN VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND PULLS TO THE SIDE. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER , BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS BROKEN. *AK
ENGINE WONT START ON HOT DAYS
CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 55 MPH. CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, AND THEY DID NOT DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT STOP. ALSO, BRAKES WERE TOTALLY INOPERATIVE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
RCALL 99E015000, FLOORMAT RECALL IS NOT "BROAD" ENOUGH FOR THE OWNER WHO ALREADY REPLACED THE ORGINIAL FLOOR MAT WITH AN AFTERMARKET FLOOR MAT BECAUSE OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE ORGINIAL FLOOR MAT. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT DO THE RECALL FOR AN AFTERMARKET FLOOR MAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
VEHICLE KEEPS PULLING TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT DEFECT. *AK *YC
CONSUMER GOT INTO ACCIDENT, CLAIMS THAT 2/3 OF THE DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE BUMPERS WERE MADE OUT OF A MORE CRUSH RESISTANT MATERIAL.
TRUNK LID WON'T STAY OPEN.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
AT SPEED OF 60 MPH OR MORE, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR SHAKES CAUSING SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVER. YH
AIR LEAKAGE INTO STRUCTURE DUE TO POSSIBLE ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS ALONG FRONT BUMPER/HOOD ENCLOSURE, CAUSING POLLUTANTS TO ENTER VEHICLE AND CONSUMER DISCOMFORT (HEADACHE). MJS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS DURING ACCIDENT, MINOR INJURIES TO CONSUMER HEAD,NECK. YH
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
RECALL # 99E015000 HONDA/ACCESSORY FLOOR MATS; THE RECALL REQUIRED HONDA TO FASTEN FLOOR MATS TO PREVENT INTRUSION ON THE GAS PEDAL, WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO STICK IN THE DOWN POSITION. CONSUMER WRITES THAT A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL DEALER, AND THE ISSUE IS NOW CLOSED. *AK *ML
TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPS,IN MOTION AND IDLE POSITION--IDLE SPEED IS ERRATIC--IN REVERSE,CAR MAKES A WHINING NOISE-WINDOWS DON'T ALWAYS WORK