1990 Honda Civic problems & reliability
91 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1990 Honda Civic. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
11 complaints report injuries (17 injured, 2 deaths reported).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 1990 Honda Civic vehicles were involved in 8 fatal crashes with 7 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 34 | 37% |
| Electrical System | 18 | 20% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 7% |
| Power Train | 6 | 7% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 7% |
| Visibility | 6 | 7% |
| Structure | 5 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 5% |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 4% |
| Tires | 3 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Tl* the contact owns a 1987 (na) honda civic. The contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle and smelled a strong fuel odor. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing, but the results were unknown. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failures…”
Fuel/propulsion System · filed May 28, 2019
“The front seat shoulder lap seat belts have not functioned properly for a long time on both the passenger and driver's side. They do not retract along the doors when the doors are opened and closed. Also, the seat belt warning light and beep are now constantly on making it very difficult to focus on driving.”
Seat Belts · filed May 13, 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 honda civic. While the vehicle was parked the contact noticed the front passenger side automatic seat belt would not retract and could not be retracted manually. The seat belt could not be used to secure a passenger in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing…”
Seat Belts · filed Sep 13, 2011
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
Engineering Analysis EA94035 · opened Oct 27, 1994 · closed Jul 31, 1995 · led to recall 95V103001
- SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILS
Preliminary Evaluation PE94052 · opened Jul 11, 1994 · closed Oct 27, 1994
- STALLING
Preliminary Evaluation PE93082 · opened Sep 23, 1993 · closed Jan 31, 1994
Technical service bulletins
7 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1990 Honda Civic.
Audio unit and navigation system anti-theft codes available on interactive network. *nm
05012004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2004
Audio, anti-theft codes. Honda. Tech line summary. *tt
404 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 16, 2004
Concerns with a clunk or squeak from the rear suspension when going over rough or bumpy roads. *tt
00006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 11, 2001
Information regarding cam-on fuel fill cap failures during smog check. *yh
010901 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 1, 2001
Experiencing a clunk from the rear suspension when going over rough or bumpy roads. *tt
00006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 28, 2000
Problems with head gasket leaks. *yc
97111097047 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 10, 1997
UNKNOWN
HON050895 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 1995
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1990 Honda Civic in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1990 Honda Civic?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.