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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.

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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.

81 crash reports3 fire reports44 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

29 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE CONSUMER SHIFTED GEAR INTO REVERSE AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A BAKERY STORE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #866111

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2000
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlVisibility

TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPS,IN MOTION AND IDLE POSITION--IDLE SPEED IS ERRATIC--IN REVERSE,CAR MAKES A WHINING NOISE-WINDOWS DON'T ALWAYS WORK

NHTSA ODI #720247

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING AND BRAKES NOT WORKING. ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHEN PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT. I WAS PUSHING ON BRAKES WITH NO RESPONSE. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO "REV" TRYING TO ACCELERATE. TURNED CAR OFF. RESTARTED CAR, AND AGAIN THE CAR ENGINE WAS TRYING TO…

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TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING AND BRAKES NOT WORKING. ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHEN PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT. I WAS PUSHING ON BRAKES WITH NO RESPONSE. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO "REV" TRYING TO ACCELERATE. TURNED CAR OFF. RESTARTED CAR, AND AGAIN THE CAR ENGINE WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH BRAKES WERE PUSHED. WAS NOT USING FLOORMAT. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE. IN OCTOBER 99, TURNED INTO PARKING LOT AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND CAR INCREASED SPEED. AGAIN BRAKES DID NOT WORK. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET CAR TO STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719059

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1999
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60MPH IN MARCH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CHECKED CRUISE CONTROL WHICH WAS NOT ON. CHECKED GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF STUCK. HAD GUIDED VEHICLE TO OFF RAMP & MANGED TO TURN IT OFF. SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL & NOTHING WORKED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE…

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60MPH IN MARCH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CHECKED CRUISE CONTROL WHICH WAS NOT ON. CHECKED GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF STUCK. HAD GUIDED VEHICLE TO OFF RAMP & MANGED TO TURN IT OFF. SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL & NOTHING WORKED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS NOW JERKING ALSO, 6 MONTHS LATER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851250

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. OCCUPANT APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH WERE INOPERATIVE. IT RESULTED IN A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842996

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL THE ACCELERATOR UP BY HAND. *AK

NHTSA ODI #840536

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 55 MPH. CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, AND THEY DID NOT DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT STOP. ALSO, BRAKES WERE TOTALLY INOPERATIVE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838943

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING, CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. *AK CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, CONSUMER FINALLY CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF A ROAD, DEALER STATES THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #838941

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE PARKING, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP OVER TWO CURBS AND A GRASS HILL (ONE CURB ON EACH SIDE OF THE HILL), SIDESWIPING ANOTHER CAR UNTIL THE ENGINE FINALLY CUT OFF. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND DENIES THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS ACCELERATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707181

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF A SPACE, SHIFTED GEAR INTO DRIVE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A LIGHT POLE. REASON UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831837

Official recalls

4

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.

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

1

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.

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