IllustrationWHEN VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG. OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH. DRIVER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK *ML
1996 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 40 of 305 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
67 crash reports4 fire reports33 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
70 reportsWHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP AT 5MPH AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
DAUGHTER COMING HOME FROM WORK WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. WOKE UP, AND HIT THE GUARDRAIL. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND SPUN, WINDING UP NOSE DOWN IN A DITCH. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG IS DISFUNCTIONING AND RECENTLY THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING TOO. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON A WET ROAD APPLIED THE BRAKES, VEHICLE COULDN'T STOP ON TIME, AND REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF AIR BAG DEPLOYED.*AK
MY ABS- AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD AROUND 55,000 MILES. MY HONDA HAS NOT HAD ANY PROBEMS WHAT SO EVER. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A WRECK OR SLIGHT FENDER BENDER. YET SOMEHOW MY AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. I TOOK MY VEH. TO THE DLRSHIP AND THEY ADVISE ME MY AIRBAG MOTOR DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE AND I WOULD NEED A NE…
Read full complaint
MY ABS- AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD AROUND 55,000 MILES. MY HONDA HAS NOT HAD ANY PROBEMS WHAT SO EVER. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A WRECK OR SLIGHT FENDER BENDER. YET SOMEHOW MY AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. I TOOK MY VEH. TO THE DLRSHIP AND THEY ADVISE ME MY AIRBAG MOTOR DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE AND I WOULD NEED A NEW AIRBAG MOTOR. MY MOTHER HAS THE SAME YR/MAKE AS MY VEHICLE AS SHE ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM W/ HER ABS LIGHT BEING ON. THE REASON I AM REPORTING THIS IS IT SEEMS ODD SINCE THE ONLY TIME THE HOOD IS EVER OPENED IS FOR AN OIL CHANGE OR GENERAL WORK TO BE COMPLETED AND NOW SOMEHOW MY AIRBAG MOTOR DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH, AND WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE COLLISION WITH A 93- FORD TRUCK, EXPLORER. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER HIT DASH, PASSENGER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
CONSUMER HAD A FRONT END ACCIDENT AT 50 MPH. ENTIRE FRONT END WAS TOTALED.UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
DURING LOW IMPACT ACCIDENT VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG CAUSED INJURY TO CONSUMER. *YC
CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS HIT HEAD-ON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DAUGHTER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED. *AK
Official recalls
220V026000 · 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.
96V106000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jun 18, 1996
A SOAPY LUBRICANT WAS USED TO INSERT THE CHECK VALVE INTO THE VACUUM HOSE WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE TO STICK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF THE BRAKE'S POWER ASSIST RESULTING IN A REDUCTION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE CHECK VALVE BY WASHING THE VACUUM HOSE WITH HOT WATER.
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
2SQ98017 · Throttle Cable Sticking
Opened Sep 11, 1998 · Closed Jun 3, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
DUE TO THE AGENCY'S INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER, HONDA AGREED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE 1996-1998 HONDA CIVICS AND INSTALL A POSITIVE FLOOR MAT RETENTION SYSTEM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (GENUINE HONDA) FLOOR MAT.FURTHERMORE, HONDA WILL CONDUCT A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN TO INSPECT AND REPLACE CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996 CIVIC THROTTLE CABLES EQUIPPED WITH CABLES NOT HAVING THE LATEST REVISIONS. SINCE EACH THROTTLE CABLE IS DATE CODED THE SUBJECT CABLES ARE EASILY IDENTIFIABLE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED; FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR WARRANTED.THE AGENCY MAY TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THIS MATTER IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE FULL CLOSING RESUME FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
DUE TO THE AGENCY'S INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER, HONDA AGREED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE 1996-1998 HONDA CIVICS AND INSTALL A POSITIVE FLOOR MAT RETENTION SYSTEM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (GENUINE HONDA) FLOOR MAT.FURTHERMORE, HONDA WILL CONDUCT A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN TO INSPECT AND REPLACE CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996 CIVIC THROTTLE CABLES EQUIPPED WITH CABLES NOT HAVING THE LATEST REVISIONS. SINCE EACH THROTTLE CABLE IS DATE CODED THE SUBJECT CABLES ARE EASILY IDENTIFIABLE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED; FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR WARRANTED.THE AGENCY MAY TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THIS MATTER IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE FULL CLOSING RESUME FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
DUE TO THE AGENCY'S INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER, HONDA AGREED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE 1996-1998 HONDA CIVICS AND INSTALL A POSITIVE FLOOR MAT RETENTION SYSTEM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (GENUINE HONDA) FLOOR MAT.FURTHERMORE, HONDA WILL CONDUCT A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN TO INSPECT AND REPLACE CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996 CIVIC THROTTLE CABLES EQUIPPED WITH CABLES NOT HAVING THE LATEST REVISIONS. SINCE EACH THROTTLE CABLE IS DATE CODED THE SUBJECT CABLES ARE EASILY IDENTIFIABLE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED; FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR WARRANTED.THE AGENCY MAY TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THIS MATTER IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE FULL CLOSING RESUME FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
SQ98012 · Condenser Fan Motor Inoperative
Opened Jun 30, 1998 · Closed Nov 2, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.