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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 →
305Owner complaints

Model-year median: 183.5

2Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
146
1993135
1994199
1995305
1996373
1997435
1998338
1999
Compare all Civic years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
70Service Brakes, Hydraulic
52Visibility
34Vehicle Speed Control
31Engine And Engine Cooling
27
All reported categories
Power Train
25Structure
19Unknown Or Other
18Electrical System
17Exterior Lighting
13Tires
11Equipment
10Parking Brake
9Seat Belts
7Steering
6Suspension
6Seats
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Engine
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Child Seat
1Service Brakes, Air
1

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

Steering complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
74,300 miles · Dec 18, 2002
Steering

IF A HARD TAKE OFF IS MADE THE STEERING WHEEL ALONG WITH THE CAR ABRUPTLY PULLS RIGHT. I'VE TOOK MY VEHICLE WHICH IS A 1996 HONDA CIVIC EX TO A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME MY ALIGNMENT WAS IN SPECIFICATIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND IN MY OPINION THIS COULD EVENTUAL…

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IF A HARD TAKE OFF IS MADE THE STEERING WHEEL ALONG WITH THE CAR ABRUPTLY PULLS RIGHT. I'VE TOOK MY VEHICLE WHICH IS A 1996 HONDA CIVIC EX TO A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME MY ALIGNMENT WAS IN SPECIFICATIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND IN MY OPINION THIS COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND EITHER CAUSE OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10000209

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2001
Steering

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL BECAUSE THE PINION GEAR IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE.THE DEFECT WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. *YH

NHTSA ODI #561450

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1998
Steering

CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE LEFT CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THE SIDE OF A BRIDGE.

NHTSA ODI #541089

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1997
Steering

CAR ALARM WENT OFF, HOWEVER VANDALS HAD NO TROUBLE QUICKLY DISABLING THE ALARM. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM IS INSUFFICIENT.

NHTSA ODI #603835

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 1997
Steering

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A LOUD NOISE. MANUFACTURER TOLD OWNER THAT IT WAS A LUBRICATING PROBLEM AND THEY HAD NO WAY OF REPAIRING IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814144

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1996
SteeringCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH WHEN STEERING FAILED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #803525

Official recalls

2

20V026000 · 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

2

SQ98017 · 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.

Go deeper into Honda Civic problems

Honda Civic transmission problems →Honda Civic electrical problems →