The 1991 Honda Civic has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 3,700,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. 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…
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS
18
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
15
1fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
7
1crashes2injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
7
3crashes3injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
7
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
6
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
4
4fires
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
4
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
3
Total complaints143
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 1991 honda civic. The contact stated that the front passenger's side and driver's side shoulder belts pretensioners failed to operate as designed and the shoulder belts failed to tighten during aggressive braking. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact…”
“The contact owns a 1991 honda civic. The contact stated that the front passenger's side and driver's side shoulder belts pretensioners failed to operate as designed and the shoulder belts failed to tighten during aggressive braking. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact…”
“Tread belt separation”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1991 honda civic. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the seat belt failed to retract. The seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was…”
“1991 honda civic. Consumer writes in regards to seat belt problems. *smd the consumer stated the seat belt flashed and an alarm sounded. The seat belt did not pull tight, in an emergency braking situation.”
“Not quite sure but I remember going hard in a straight line passing rides just enjoying the ride me and my ex girlfriend I was in the left driver seat and she was in the right passenger side and I just heard when I got hit in the back right side I just continued home when reaching home it was just…”
“1991 honda civic automatic seat belt system failure. Car seat belt system will not work. There is suppose to be a life time warranty on the system but the honda corporation is not honoring the warranty. *tr”
“I own a 1991 honda civic 4-door sedan. I was having my car worked on for something completely unrelated when, all of the sudden, the automatic seatbelt (shoulder harness) on the driver's side stopped functioning. It will no longer run along the track when my driver's side door is opened. I am…”
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 1991 Honda Civic as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.