WHILE TRAVELING 55-60 MPH ENGINE WOULD STALL, ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
1998 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Civic years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Honda Civic are substantially higher than 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
113 reports with mileage · 322 unknown
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 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
53 reportsI HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON ANY OF MY VEHICLES. TODAY MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MINE WAS THE SECOND ONE IN LESS THAN A MONTH THAT HE HAS REPLACED ON A HONDA. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG HERE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STALLED, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 06/02, AND VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY OIL SIGNIFYING A MAJOR OIL LEAK.*AK
WHILE DRIVNG VEHCILE STALLED OUT/ LOST ALL POWER, WAS UNABLE TO STEER, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
A CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKED FUMES INTO VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
IN REGARDS TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK--- I NOTICED AN EXHAUST SMELL COMING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS SLIGHTLY LOUDER THAN USUAL. I GOT USED TO THE SMELL BUT NOW I JUST GET HEADACHES. I FIGURED IT NEEDED A NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET BUT UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BEFORE BUYING A GASKE…
Read full complaint
IN REGARDS TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK--- I NOTICED AN EXHAUST SMELL COMING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS SLIGHTLY LOUDER THAN USUAL. I GOT USED TO THE SMELL BUT NOW I JUST GET HEADACHES. I FIGURED IT NEEDED A NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET BUT UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BEFORE BUYING A GASKET, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHERE THE PIPES COME TOGETHER UNDER THE HEAT SHIELD. THE CRACK LOOKS LIKE IT STEMS OUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS FROM THE OXYGEN SENSOR; IT IS PROBABLY DUE TO POOR DESIGN. I FIGURE THAT IT PROBABLY IMPAIRS THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR THUS ALTERING EMMISSIONS. I CONTACTED HONDA AND FOUND OUT THAT A NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLD COSTS OVER $700 DOLLARS JUST IN PARTS, WHICH I CANT AFFORD. I FOUND THAT HONDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTIES ON THE 1997 MODELS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE 2002 HONDA CIVICS' ARE EQUIPPED WITH STAINLESS STEEL MANIFOLDS RATHER THAN THE CAST IRON FOUND ON MY CAR, THEREFORE I KNOW HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEMS BEFORE THE CRACK STEMS ALL AROUND AND MY EXHAUST SYSTEM FALLS OFF CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE OR CAUSES ME TO FAIL A SMOG CHECK. IN REGARDS TO THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS, THE BUTTONS DON'T WORK THUS NOT ALLOWING REAR WINDOWS TO BE ROLLED UP OR DOWN.*AK
VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES START UP AND SOMETIMES NOT. WHEN VEHICLE DOES START IT SOUNDS ROUGH. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE OR EVEN LOOK AT VEHICLE AFTER STARTING UP. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE
A CARBON BUILDUP CAUSES VALVES TO STICK AND MAKES VEHICLE INOPERABLE. VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED FIRST TIME IN MAY 2000. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THERE WERE NO UPDATES OR RECALLS. THEY DO EXPECT RECALL BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT YEAR.*AK
THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER PULLED OFF EXHAUST MANIFOLD COVER AND NOTICED TWO CRACKS. *SLC
Official recalls
420V026000 · 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.
07V512000 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly
Nov 1, 2007
ON CERTAIN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES, IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE INTERIOR FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE REAR SEAT, THE CNG TANK MAY BE HEATED UNEVENLY, PREVENTING THE PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE FROM VENTING THE CONTENTS OF THE TANK AS DESIGNED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A TANK RUPTURE, EXPLOSION, AND EJECTION OF THE TANK FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEAT INSULATOR MATERIAL TO THE REAR SEAT BACK. AN INTERIM OWNER LETTER WAS MAILED TO OWNERS BEGINNING NOVEMBER 26, 2007. WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, OWNERS WILL BE RENOTIFIED ASKING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
May 16, 2002
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
97V193000 · Air Bags:frontal
Nov 1, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULES HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED. THE CLOTH FLAPS COVERING THE FOLDED AIR BAG MAY HAVE BEEN TUCKED IN TOO FAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. IN A CRASH, AN IMPROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG MODULE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING.
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
1SQ98012 · 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.
Illustration