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1992 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1992 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: 11 of 98 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports3 fire reports17 injury reports

What owners actually said

98 reports
205,105 miles · Jun 30, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,105.

NHTSA ODI #10410003

116,754 miles · Aug 11, 2010
Electrical SystemEquipment

1. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT EVENTS LEAD UP TO THIS FAILURE. 2. IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED APPROX. 90% OF THE TIME. (CAR IS IN PARK.) THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WHICH CAN CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY IF THE CAR IS STOLEN. 3. MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE…

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1. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT EVENTS LEAD UP TO THIS FAILURE. 2. IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED APPROX. 90% OF THE TIME. (CAR IS IN PARK.) THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WHICH CAN CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY IF THE CAR IS STOLEN. 3. MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10348694

144 miles · Sep 9, 2009
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 9/7/09. I WAS INJURED, AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO SHOCK TRAUMA. MY SEAT BELT WAS ON BUT DID NOT WORK, AND BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK I RECEIVED A SEVERE HEAD INJURY AS WELL AS NECK AND BACK PROBLEMS, AND CONSTANT HEADACHES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283407

3,000 miles · Feb 5, 2009
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HONDA CIVIC. THREE MONTHS AFTER NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES WOULD SPORADICALLY LOSE TIRE PRESSURE. THE RISK OF A CRASH WAS INCREASED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE TIRES REPLACED WITH THE SAME BRAND. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE TIRE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HONDA CIVIC. THREE MONTHS AFTER NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES WOULD SPORADICALLY LOSE TIRE PRESSURE. THE RISK OF A CRASH WAS INCREASED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE TIRES REPLACED WITH THE SAME BRAND. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE TIRE REPLACEMENT, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE VIN, TIRE INFORMATION, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI #10257587

150,000 miles · Feb 20, 2008
Steering

PLEASE DESCRIBE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES, AND WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE) DO NOT INCLUDE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION IN YOUR DESCRIPTION SUCH AS NAMES, EMAIL ADDRESS, OR PHONE NUMBER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218625

152,057 miles · Jun 4, 2007
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HONDA CIVIC LX. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES, SIZE P175/70R13. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FLAT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. HE TOOK THE TIRE IN FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE ANY PUNCTURES OR DENTS. NEVERTHELESS, THE TIRE WAS REPAIRED. LAST WE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HONDA CIVIC LX. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES, SIZE P175/70R13. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FLAT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. HE TOOK THE TIRE IN FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE ANY PUNCTURES OR DENTS. NEVERTHELESS, THE TIRE WAS REPAIRED. LAST WEEK, THE CONTACT TOOK THE TIRES TO GET INSPECTED AND ROTATED AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE TIRE BECAME FLAT AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEARS AUTO CENTER WHO ALSO COULD FIND NO FAILURES WITH THE TIRE. SEARS FILLED THE TIRE WITH AIR. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND PLANS ON HAVING THEM REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 153,657 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,057.

NHTSA ODI #10192369

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2005
Electrical System

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WOULD START AND THEN STALL IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. HE FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT MAKING CONTACT. HE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE IS WORKING CORRECTLY AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10142994

136,000 miles · Sep 12, 2005
Visibility

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY 1992 CIVIC EX 4 DR SEDAN ON INTERSTATE 95 NORTHBOUND ON 9/8/05. HE HAD THE A/C ON AND ALL WINDOWS AND MOONROOF CLOSED. HE HEARD A LOUD "POP" AND THEN HEARD WIND NOISE. A PASSING MOTORIST SIGNALED TO HIM TO LOOK UP, OPENED THE SUN SHADE, AND REALIZED THE ENTIRE GLASS MOONROOF WAS GONE!! THE CAR WAS P…

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MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY 1992 CIVIC EX 4 DR SEDAN ON INTERSTATE 95 NORTHBOUND ON 9/8/05. HE HAD THE A/C ON AND ALL WINDOWS AND MOONROOF CLOSED. HE HEARD A LOUD "POP" AND THEN HEARD WIND NOISE. A PASSING MOTORIST SIGNALED TO HIM TO LOOK UP, OPENED THE SUN SHADE, AND REALIZED THE ENTIRE GLASS MOONROOF WAS GONE!! THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BY ME BRAND NEW AND IS IN IMMACULATE MECHANICAL AND STRUCTURAL CONDITION. IT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED HONDA AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER WITH THE MOONROOF. NO LEAKS, NO UNUSUAL NOISE, IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT HESITATION. THE CAR RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I AM GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND MY HUSBAND OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. HONDA ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. WHEN I ASKED WHAT I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED FOR TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH MY MOONROOF, THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136251

43,000 miles · Aug 8, 2005
Power Train

DT:RECALL CAMPAIGN 94V063000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS LISTED THE RECALL. VEHICLE HAD A 90 DAY WARRANTY AT PURCHASE, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10131924

204,430 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING MY 1992 HONDA CIVIC ON INTERSTATE FREEWAY AND CITY STREETS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED IMMEDIATE ENGINE STALLING WITH NO WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10064366

Official recalls

1

94V063000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Apr 10, 1994

A RETAINING CLIP THAT CONNECTS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE TO THE SHIFT LEVER ACTUATING ROD CAN HAVE INSUFFICIENT RETENTION PRESSURE AND MAY EVENTUALLY COME OFF AFTER REPEATED SHIFT LEVER OPERATION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POSITION OF THE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNANTICIPATED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED RETAINING CLIP.

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

1

DP00007 · Ignition Distributor

Opened Nov 13, 2000 · Closed Oct 25, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR FAILURE COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE OR A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

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