The 1988 Honda Civic has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,803,602 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS95V1030011995-05-243,700,000 affected
Defect
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence
THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN…
ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CONTROL UNIT MAY CAUSE IDLE SPEED TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 550 RPM WHILE CAR IS STOPPED IN GEAR.
Consequence
HIGHER THAN NORMAL IDLE COULD CREATE POTENTIAL FOR LOSSOF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy
REPLACE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CONTROL UNIT.
EQUIPMENT87V1710001987-10-2999,088 affected
Defect
OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, SECTIONS 6A AND 6B WAS OMITTED FROM THE MANUAL.
Consequence
VEHICLES MANUAL INFORMATION DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS210.
Remedy
UPGRADE EXISTING MANUALS BY INSERTING ADHESIVE BACKED CORRECTION PAGES.
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
1crashes
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
6
2crashes7injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
4
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2
1crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1
Total complaints51
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The speedometer never worked since I bought the car neither does the mileage indicator work. So I couldn't put an answer for that value. *tr”
“Car stalled in traffic. All the electrical power was lost. The car would not start. The car only starts when jumped. This happened before the battery, alternator and starter were replaced. It was ok for a while, then it happen again. I have talked with four owners of 1988 - 1991 honda civic's and…”
“Engine "revs" while stopped at a stop sign or stop light. Car accelerates by itself without applying the accelerator. Car jolts forward unexpectedly for no reason. Problem seems potentially dangerous because of lack of control of the car's acceleration. Mechanic has said that the car needs a new…”
“Pipe that is located on outside of the fuel tank has corroded through and fuel leaks when putting fuel into tank. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak”
“On my 1988 honda civic, I found out through the internet ,that there were recalls for the efi control unit, a recall for the seatbelts, and a recall for the ignitor, and for some reason I never received those recalls. I been driving the car with the bad efi, and the idle just jumps up and down,…”
“On my 1988 honda civic, I found out through the internet ,that there were recalls for the efi control unit, a recall for the seatbelts, and a recall for the ignitor, and for some reason I never received those recalls. I been driving the car with the bad efi, and the idle just jumps up and down,…”
“The rear left wheel of the vehicle broke off from the sub frame mounting point while I was backing up the vehicle on my driveway. The mounting point on the rear sub frame where the lower control arm is attached separated from the sub frame structure. It appears that the structural failure is…”
“Engine ignitor componant causung car to just quit”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA94035 Opened 1994-10-27 · closed 1995-07-31
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE93082 Opened 1993-09-23 · closed 1994-01-31
STALLING
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE94052 Opened 1994-07-11 · closed 1994-10-27
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Honda Civic as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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