1998 Honda Civic
This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1983 | 9 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1985 | 15 |
| 1986 | 35 |
| 1987 | 39 |
| 1988 | 46 |
| 1989 | 69 |
| 1990 | 91 |
| 1991 | 110 |
| 1992 | 98 |
| 1993 | 146 |
| 1994 | 135 |
| 1995 | 199 |
| 1996 | 305 |
| 1997 | 373 |
| 1998 | 435 |
| 1999 | 338 |
| 2000 | 287 |
| 2001 | 1079 |
| 2002 | 702 |
| 2003 | 499 |
| 2004 | 350 |
| 2005 | 314 |
| 2006 | 1402 |
| 2007 | 1203 |
| 2008 | 914 |
| 2009 | 395 |
| 2010 | 396 |
| 2011 | 168 |
| 2012 | 454 |
| 2013 | 314 |
| 2014 | 290 |
| 2015 | 377 |
| 2016 | 1059 |
| 2017 | 574 |
| 2018 | 708 |
| 2019 | 406 |
| 2020 | 216 |
| 2021 | 133 |
| 2022 | 877 |
| 2023 | 249 |
| 2024 | 116 |
| 2025 | 62 |
| 2026 | 23 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
14% of complaints: air bags — 60 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURY DEATHShow complaint excerpts
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A T-BONE COLLISION OF 40-45 MPH IMPACT AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TOP PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI report, 20020917
CONSUME RINVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 50 MPH, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
NHTSA ODI report, 20020823
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT ABOUT 70 MPH . UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER, WHO WAS RESTRAINED WAS KNOCKED UNTO THE REAR BEHIND THE DRIVER. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.
NHTSA ODI report, 19980731
9% of complaints: electrical system — 38 distinct reports on file.
9% of complaints: power train — 37 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURY7% of complaints: air bags — 32 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURYShow complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 HONDA CIVIC COUPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED COLLARBONE, LEFT KNEE AND RIGHT SHOULDER WAS BRUISED.
NHTSA ODI report, 20201218
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.
NHTSA ODI report, 20140813
DRIVING AT 55 MPH A FORD FOCUS PULLED STRAIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND CAME TO A STOP.
NHTSA ODI report, 20120511
5% of complaints: electrical system — 21 distinct reports on file.
SAFETY TIMELINE
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG MODULE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING.
Campaign 97V193000 — check if this car was fixed
CONDENSER FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: ACCESSORY DRIVER-SIDE FLOOR MATS USED IN 1996-1998 HONDA CIVIC VEHICLES. DUE TO THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR ON THESE VEHICLES, A MISPOSITIONED FLOOR MAT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE AC
Remedy: IF A CUSTOMER HAS A GENUINE HONDA DRIVER-SIDE FLOOR MAT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A POSITIVE FLOOR MAT RETENTION SYSTEM CONSISTING OF A GROMMET IN THE FLOOR MAT AND A PIN BRACKET IN THE CAR.
Campaign 99E015000 — check if this car was fixed
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 VEHIC
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
Campaign 02V120000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN EAGLE EYES AND SONAR HEADLIGHTS AND CORNER LIGHTS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON 1988-2005 HONDA CIVIC, 1990-2005 HONDA ACCORD, AND 1990-2001 ACURA INTEGRA PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. H
Remedy: TOM MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF NONCOMPLIANT LIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 17, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOM MOTORSPORT AT 626-968-4007.
Campaign 06E032000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN POLI-AUTO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&C), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, AND
Remedy: POLI-AUTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS AT ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLI-AUTO AT 305-477-1356.
Campaign 06E025000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM
Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
Campaign 06E023000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN E SPEED RACING COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL
Remedy: E SPEED RACING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT E SPEED RACING 909-923-3636.
Campaign 06E040000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFOR
Remedy: ALFAOTTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALFAOTTO AT 626-656-2992 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ALFAOTTO.COM.
Campaign 06E038000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE N
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS
Remedy: J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES AT 310-327-4981.
Campaign 06E044000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE RE
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
Campaign 06E060000 — check if this car was fixed
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 V
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 A
Campaign 07V512000 — check if this car was fixed
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
Campaign 08E050000 — check if this car was fixed
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed
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...
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.
Campaign 20V026000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.
Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
Campaign 06E064000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1998 Honda Civic — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for air bags issues (60 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for electrical system issues (38 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for power train issues (37 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 06E064000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 97V193000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 99E015000 (unknown or other) has been completed.
- Verify recall 02V120000 (electrical system) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E032000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E023000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E040000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E038000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E044000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E060000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 07V512000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.
- Verify recall 08E050000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 20V026000 (air bags) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 1998 Honda Civic reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Honda Civic is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Honda Civic?
The most-reported component is air bags:frontal, accounting for 14% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1998 Honda Civic have?
18 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.