1992 Honda Civic problems & reliability
98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1992 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.
19 complaints report injuries (27 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 1992 Honda Civic vehicles were involved in 19 fatal crashes with 20 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 28 | 29% |
| Air Bags | 17 | 17% |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 9% |
| Tires | 7 | 7% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 6% |
| Power Train | 5 | 5% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 5% |
| Steering | 5 | 5% |
| Visibility | 5 | 5% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 4% |
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 1992 honda civic. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start after being parked and turned off for approximately 20 minutes. After repeated attempts, the contact was able to start the vehicle. The failure had since recurred every time the vehicle was operated. An independent mechanic…”
Electrical System · filed Jun 30, 2011
“1. I do not know what events lead up to this failure. 2. Ignition key cannot be removed approx. 90% of the time. (car is in park.) this problem developed about two years ago. Have to leave the key in the ignition which can cause a problem with my insurance company if the car is stolen. 3. Mechanics are unable to…”
Electrical System · filed Aug 11, 2010
“I was in a car accident on 9/7/09. I was injured, and had to be taken to shock trauma. My seat belt was on but did not work, and because it didn't work I received a severe head injury as well as neck and back problems, and constant headaches. *tr”
Seat Belts · filed Sep 9, 2009
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR
Defect Petition DP00007 · opened Nov 13, 2000 · closed Oct 25, 2001
Technical service bulletins
16 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1992 Honda Civic. The 10 most recent:
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
Heater blower motor gets hot or blows a fuse. Honda. Servicenews. *tt
11012003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 1, 2003
Subject regarding customer complaints that the engine hesitates briefly when accelerating. *tt
010402 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 1, 2002
Customers may complain of a brief hesitation when accelerating at high engine speeds. *tt
302 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 16, 2002
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 water leakage during a car wash. *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
Information on replacing the automatic transmission housing. *tt
000101 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 1, 2000
Problems with head gasket leaks. *yc
97111097047 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 10, 1997
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 1992 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 1992 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.