IllustrationVEHICLE STALLED INADVERTENTLY. AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR 5 MINUTES OR SO IT WILL AGAIN START UP. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO INSISTED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *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
110–25K
925–50K
2150–75K
1775–100K
22100–150K
33150K+
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
What owners actually said
435 reportsWHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
AFTER BEING REAR ENDED AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH , THE CONSUMER STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SEAT BACK BROKE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REP…
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WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES. *AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A HORSE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK *JB
POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. HAS CRACK IN MANIFOLD FOR UNKNOW REASON!. *AK
THE PAINT ON MY 98 CIVIC IS FADING....THERE ARE "WHITE CHALKY PATCHES" ALL OVER THE HOOD. IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE; THE DELAMINATION DEFECT IS QUITE OBVIOUS. SUNLIGHT FADES THE PAINT! *JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT GRANDDAUGHTER BOUGHT A CERTIFIED HONDA CIVIC AND HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ONE MONTH AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS DONE BY THE DEALER THAT SOLD HER THE VEHICLE. THEN, POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED, AND IT WAS REPA…
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CONSUMER STATED THAT GRANDDAUGHTER BOUGHT A CERTIFIED HONDA CIVIC AND HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ONE MONTH AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS DONE BY THE DEALER THAT SOLD HER THE VEHICLE. THEN, POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED, AND IT WAS REPAIRED 2 MONTHS LATER. IN MAY OF THIS YEAR THE SAME THING HAPPENED POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED AGAIN. *AK THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 89440 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO SHIFTING PROBLEMS AT 90552 MILES. *NM
DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS STAYING ON WHEN CAR WAS IN AND OUT OF WARRANTY. WHILE CAR WAS IN WARRANTY THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS RESET. I COUPLE MONTHS LATER WHEN THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON, RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE AIR BAG UNIT, AT MY EXPENSE. *LA
I OWN A 1998 HONDA CIVIC LX, AND THE SRS LIGHT ON. IT COST ME 64.00 TO TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP SAID IF GOES ON AGAIN THEY WILL REPLACE THE COMPUTER CHIP AND WILL COST $500.00 TO $700.00 TO DO THAT. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING IT. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH HONDA'S …
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I OWN A 1998 HONDA CIVIC LX, AND THE SRS LIGHT ON. IT COST ME 64.00 TO TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP SAID IF GOES ON AGAIN THEY WILL REPLACE THE COMPUTER CHIP AND WILL COST $500.00 TO $700.00 TO DO THAT. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING IT. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH HONDA'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS HONDA IS NOT TAKING THE BLAME FOR IT. HOW SAFE IS IT FOR ME TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH KNOWING THE AIRBAGS WON'T GO OFF? I FEEL THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION DRIVING MY CAR, KNOWING THE LIGHT CAN BE SET OFF AT ANY TIME, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S CAUSING THIS? I'M A LITTLE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS, MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *LA
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.