IllustrationSEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER TURNED OFF. TO TURN IT OFF TECHNICIAN HAD TO DISCONNECT A PIECE UNDER SEAT, THEN LIGHT WENT OFF. *AK
1990 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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
Limited mileage data: 7 of 91 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports3 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
91 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE FIRST TIME THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED THE CAR SLOWLY LOST POWER TIL IT JUST STOPPED, THIS ALSO HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME, THEN THE 3RD TIME THE CAR STARTED AND STALLED AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN, THE 4TH TIME THE CAR WAS RUN FOR A SHORT TRIP(5 MILES) AND AFTER TURNED OFF A LEFT FOR A COUPLE HOURS WOULD NOT START AT ALL , HAZAR…
Read full complaint
THE FIRST TIME THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED THE CAR SLOWLY LOST POWER TIL IT JUST STOPPED, THIS ALSO HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME, THEN THE 3RD TIME THE CAR STARTED AND STALLED AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN, THE 4TH TIME THE CAR WAS RUN FOR A SHORT TRIP(5 MILES) AND AFTER TURNED OFF A LEFT FOR A COUPLE HOURS WOULD NOT START AT ALL , HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT LIGHT, EITHER. THE 5TH TIME WAS A FAULTY ALTERNATOR...
DISTIBUTOR ROTOR CAME OFF ON 3 OCCASIONS IN PAST 10 MONTHS, CAUSING INSTANT ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN FAST LANE.. *AK
THE CAR MAY START ON THE FIRST TRY, OR ON THE FIFTIETH. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOST FREQUENTLY ON HOT DAYS. IT CRANKS, BUT DOES NOT CATCH. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS COVERED EITHER IN TSB93028, JULY '93, OR ATRATB132, SEPT. '92, OR BOTH. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE IS NOT LISTED IN THE NHTSA SITE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED, FROM AN ACQUA…
Read full complaint
THE CAR MAY START ON THE FIRST TRY, OR ON THE FIFTIETH. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOST FREQUENTLY ON HOT DAYS. IT CRANKS, BUT DOES NOT CATCH. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS COVERED EITHER IN TSB93028, JULY '93, OR ATRATB132, SEPT. '92, OR BOTH. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE IS NOT LISTED IN THE NHTSA SITE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED, FROM AN ACQUAINTANCE, NOT FROM A DEALER. CAN I GET IT FIXED FREE OF CHARGE? THANKS, C. CANNON. *AK
LOST CONTROL ON WET SURFACES, CAR SWIRLED, TURNED 180 DEGREE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 165/70R/13 )
THE TREADS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: 82T M&S TIRE SIZE: P185/60R14 )
WINDSHIELD SEAL FAILED CAUSING WATER TO DRIP INTO THE CAR DURING A HARD RAIN. NLM
THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY OF THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE CHEST RESTRAINT TO BE INOPERABLE. YH
Official recalls
395V103001 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 24, 1995
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
90V163000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Sep 4, 1990
DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED INTERNAL SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION, THE PAWL MECHANISIM MAY NOT FULLY ENGAGE WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLE COULD ROLL WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARKPOSITION AND A CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: INSTALL AN IMPROVED PARKING PAWL SHAFT.
90V126000 · Visibility:windshield
Jul 10, 1990
POOR ADHESION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN PAINT LAYERS IN THE WINDSHIELD MOUNTING AREA DUE TO DEFECTIVE PAINT BATCHES OR OVERSPRAYING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PAINT SEPARATION IN THE WINDSHIELD AREAS WOULD LEADTO NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 212 RETENTION REQUIREMENTS. LOSS OF WINDSHIELDRETENTION ABILITY COULD CAUSE WINSHIELD TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNINGAND HARM VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS IN THE VICINITY.
Remedy: REINSTALL WINDSHIELD TO INSURE PROPER RETENTION.
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
3EA94035 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Oct 27, 1994 · Closed Jul 31, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE94052 · Seat Belt Buckle Fails
Opened Jul 11, 1994 · Closed Oct 27, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE93082 · Stalling
Opened Sep 23, 1993 · Closed Jan 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available