MYRModel Year Report

1998 Honda Civic

◆ Worse than typical
1998 Honda Civic
BUILT 2026-10-10

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.

How is this computed?

Complaints
435
Recalls
18

Campaigns on file for 1998

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

22% of complaints

Complaints per year

1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 9 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1985: 15 complaints 1986: 35 complaints 1987: 39 complaints 1987 1988: 48 complaints 1989: 69 complaints 1990: 92 complaints 1991: 111 complaints 1992: 100 complaints 1993: 155 complaints 1994: 161 complaints 1995: 199 complaints 1996: 305 complaints 1997: 373 complaints 1998: 435 complaints 1998 435 1999: 338 complaints 2000: 287 complaints 2001: 1,079 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2003: 499 complaints 2004: 350 complaints 2005: 315 complaints 2005 2006: 1,402 complaints 2007: 1,204 complaints 2008: 916 complaints 2009: 395 complaints 2010: 397 complaints 2011: 169 complaints 2011 2012: 455 complaints 2013: 318 complaints 2014: 292 complaints 2015: 378 complaints 2016: 1,080 complaints 2017: 598 complaints 2017 2018: 744 complaints 2019: 434 complaints 2020: 225 complaints 2021: 144 complaints 2022: 883 complaints 2023: 255 complaints 2023 2024: 124 complaints 2025: 75 complaints 2026: 30 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 9 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1984 1985: 15 complaints 1986: 35 complaints 1987: 39 complaints 1987 1988: 48 complaints 1989: 69 complaints 1990: 92 complaints 1990 1991: 111 complaints 1992: 100 complaints 1993: 155 complaints 1993 1994: 161 complaints 1995: 199 complaints 1996: 305 complaints 1997: 373 complaints 1998: 435 complaints 1998 435 1999: 338 complaints 2000: 287 complaints 2001: 1,079 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2002 2003: 499 complaints 2004: 350 complaints 2005: 315 complaints 2005 2006: 1,402 complaints 2007: 1,204 complaints 2008: 916 complaints 2008 2009: 395 complaints 2010: 397 complaints 2011: 169 complaints 2011 2012: 455 complaints 2013: 318 complaints 2014: 292 complaints 2014 2015: 378 complaints 2016: 1,080 complaints 2017: 598 complaints 2017 2018: 744 complaints 2019: 434 complaints 2020: 225 complaints 2020 2021: 144 complaints 2022: 883 complaints 2023: 255 complaints 2023 2024: 124 complaints 2025: 75 complaints 2026: 30 complaints 2026
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 9 complaints 1983 1984: 5 complaints 1985: 15 complaints 1985 1986: 35 complaints 1987: 39 complaints 1987 1988: 48 complaints 1989: 69 complaints 1989 1990: 92 complaints 1991: 111 complaints 1991 1992: 100 complaints 1993: 155 complaints 1993 1994: 161 complaints 1995: 199 complaints 1995 1996: 305 complaints 1997: 373 complaints 1998: 435 complaints 1998 435 1999: 338 complaints 2000: 287 complaints 2001: 1,079 complaints 2001 2002: 702 complaints 2003: 499 complaints 2003 2004: 350 complaints 2005: 315 complaints 2005 2006: 1,402 complaints 2007: 1,204 complaints 2007 2008: 916 complaints 2009: 395 complaints 2009 2010: 397 complaints 2011: 169 complaints 2011 2012: 455 complaints 2013: 318 complaints 2013 2014: 292 complaints 2015: 378 complaints 2015 2016: 1,080 complaints 2017: 598 complaints 2017 2018: 744 complaints 2019: 434 complaints 2019 2020: 225 complaints 2021: 144 complaints 2021 2022: 883 complaints 2023: 255 complaints 2023 2024: 124 complaints 2025: 75 complaints 2025 2026: 30 complaints

1998: 435 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19811
19821
19839
19845
198515
198635
198739
198848
198969
199092
1991111
1992100
1993155
1994161
1995199
1996305
1997373
1998435
1999338
2000287
20011,079
2002702
2003499
2004350
2005315
20061,402
20071,204
2008916
2009395
2010397
2011169
2012455
2013318
2014292
2015378
20161,080
2017598
2018744
2019434
2020225
2021144
2022883
2023255
2024124
202575
202630

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

22% · 96 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHINJURYDEATH
Show 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, 2020-12-18

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, 2014-08-13

Driving at 55 MPH a Ford focus pulled straight out in front of me and came to a stop.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-05-11

Also filed under Structure

Electrical system

21% · 92 reports

Most commonly citing switch and ignition.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

12% · 53 reports

Most commonly citing manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe and exhaust system.

CRASH

Power train

11% · 50 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASHINJURY

Vehicle speed control

7% · 29 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal and cruise control.

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

18 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1997-10-25Air bags97V193000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    1998Complaint volume 435 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. I
    1998-06-30SQClosed 1998-11-02 Condenser fan motor inoperative
  4. R
    1999-05-21Unknown or other99E015000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2002-06-14Electrical system02V120000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2006-04-17Exterior lighting06E032000 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.…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2006-05-02Exterior lighting06E025000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2006-05-09Exterior lighting06E023000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2006-05-10Exterior lighting06E040000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2006-05-10Exterior lighting06E038000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2006-07-10Exterior lighting06E044000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2006-08-01Exterior lighting06E060000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    2007-11-15Fuel system, other07V512000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. R
    2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  17. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  18. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  19. R
    2020-10-01Air bags20V026000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  20. R
    Date not on fileExterior lighting06E064000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1998 Honda Civic — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 96 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 92 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 53 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 06E064000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 97V193000 · Air bags
  • Recall 99E015000 · Unknown or other
  • Recall 02V120000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E032000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E023000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E040000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E038000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E044000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E060000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07V512000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 20V026000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 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, accounting for 22% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1998 Honda Civic have?
18 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.