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1991 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Honda Civic do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 12 of 110 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 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports4 fire reports13 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
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129,058 miles · Mar 22, 2003
Latches/locks/linkagesSeat Belts

THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON MY 1991 HONDA CIVIC FAILS TO CLOSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT IS STUCK IN THE "OPEN" POSITION INTERFERING WITH DRIVING AND NOT PROVIDING ANY SHOULDER RESTRAINT. THE COMPONENT THAT RIDES ALONG THE FRONT DOOR TRACK WHERE THE SEAT BELT OPENS AND CLOSES WILL NOT MANUALLY MOVE ALONG THE TRACK. IT APPEARS, T…

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THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON MY 1991 HONDA CIVIC FAILS TO CLOSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT IS STUCK IN THE "OPEN" POSITION INTERFERING WITH DRIVING AND NOT PROVIDING ANY SHOULDER RESTRAINT. THE COMPONENT THAT RIDES ALONG THE FRONT DOOR TRACK WHERE THE SEAT BELT OPENS AND CLOSES WILL NOT MANUALLY MOVE ALONG THE TRACK. IT APPEARS, THIS IS THE WAY THE SEAT BELT IS CONSTRUCTED, IT CAUSES TENSION OR PULLS ON THE COMPONENT THAT SLIDES ALONG THE DOOR. THAT MAY CAUSE AN OBSTACLE TO MY SEAT BELT CLOSING. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A FAULTY DOOR LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHICH I HAD REPLACED WITH A NEW DOOR LATCH, AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THE DOOR LATCH FAILURE WAS MAKING THE SEAT BELT OPEN AND CLOSE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE SEAT BELT ALSO DAMAGED THE SUN VISOR. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH SUCH A FLAKY SEAT BELT AND WOULD LIKE HONDA TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10010889

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Latches/locks/linkages

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY OPEN ON THE FREEWAY AND SLAM INTO THE WINDSHIELD. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE WINDSHILED WAS BROKEN. ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT IT COMPLETLEY SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND KNOCKING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OFF THE BODY OF THE VEHICHLE. ON BOTH OCCAS…

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ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY OPEN ON THE FREEWAY AND SLAM INTO THE WINDSHIELD. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE WINDSHILED WAS BROKEN. ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT IT COMPLETLEY SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND KNOCKING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OFF THE BODY OF THE VEHICHLE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I HAD TWO PASSENGERS WITH ME. I HAVE SINCE THEN SEEN ABOUT 20 OR MORE 1991 HONDA CIVICS WITH REPLACED HOODS AND LITTLE OR NO DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICHLE, THUS LEADING ME TO BELEIVE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER 1991 HONDA CIVIC OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI #756843

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2001
Latches/locks/linkages

WHILE TRAVELING AT 60-62 MPH HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SHATTERED FRONT WINDSHIELD, KNOCKING REAR VIEW OFF. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896551

Official recalls

1

95V103001 · 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.

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

3

EA94035 · 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

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