The 1990 Honda Civic has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,700,083 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. 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…
POWER TRAIN90V1630001990-09-0418 affected
Defect
DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED INTERNAL SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION, THE PAWL MECHANISIM MAY NOT FULLY ENGAGE WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence
VEHICLE COULD ROLL WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARKPOSITION AND A CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy
INSTALL AN IMPROVED PARKING PAWL SHAFT.
VISIBILITY90V1260001990-07-1065 affected
Defect
POOR ADHESION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN PAINT LAYERS IN THE WINDSHIELD MOUNTING AREA DUE TO DEFECTIVE PAINT BATCHES OR OVERSPRAYING.
Consequence
PAINT SEPARATION IN THE WINDSHIELD AREAS WOULD LEADTO NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 212 RETENTION REQUIREMENTS. LOSS OF WINDSHIELDRETENTION ABILITY COULD CAUSE WINSHIELD TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNINGAND HARM VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS IN THE VICINITY.
Remedy
REINSTALL WINDSHIELD TO INSURE PROPER RETENTION.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
10
SEAT BELTS
9
2crashes2injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
8
2crashes3injuries1deaths
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
8
1crashes3injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
3crashes1injuries
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
2
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints110
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“Seat belt warning never stops at all times”
“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…”
“I have a 1990 honda civic 4 dr 1.5 liter auto. And the distributor went bad-I know the car is not worth much but it is my work car-to replace this part $800.00 and talking to several junk yards it would be $225.00 but the man said that there's no guarantee that part would be good as this yr. Make…”
“I have a 1990 honda civic 4 dr 1.5 liter auto. And the distributor went bad-I know the car is not worth much but it is my work car-to replace this part $800.00 and talking to several junk yards it would be $225.00 but the man said that there's no guarantee that part would be good as this yr. Make…”
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 1990 Honda Civic as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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