Total Complaints
17 filings
HONDA CIVIC · model year
1985 HONDA CIVIC
17 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985HONDACIVIC carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 CIVIC is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (2) and seats (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1985 CIVIC. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
17
Complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010214TIRES
TIRE TRACTION UNACCEPTABLY LOW. TIRES SPIN ON TAKE-OFF AND SKID ON ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE PROBLEM IS TREMENDOUSLY WORSE ON WET ROAD THAN ON DRY ROAD, BUT STILL POSES DANGER EVEN ON DRY ROAD. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO GETTING WORSE AS THE TIRES GET OLDER. THEY WERE PURCHASED IN OCTOBER OF 1999. WHEN THE TIRES SLIDE OR SPIN, THEY MAKE VERY LITTLE NOISE AND LEAVE NO MARKS. THEY ARE ALSO SHOWING VIRTUALLY NO WEAR. THEY HAVE BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 14,000 MILES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 175/70R13)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 175/70R13 )
20010214FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DUE TO PRESSURE BUILD UP IN FUEL TANK VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING MINOR INJURIES. *AK
19970930SUSPENSION:REAR
LEFT REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM DISCONNECTED FROM THE AXLE HOUSING ATTACHMENT POINT. ALSO SPRING ON SEAT NEARLY ROTTED OUT, AND SHOCK ABSORBER WAS NEARLY ROTTING OUT. *AK
19970930ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE OVERHEATED TWICE DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *AK
19961113CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME OPEN UPON IMPACT AND DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER CHEST. *AK
19960624CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
SON DRIVING VEHICLE, WENT ACROSS 4 LANES, STOPPED AT SIGN, PULLED ONTO MERIDIAN, BRAKES FAILED, PUMPED BRAKES HARD, NOT WORKING, FOUND BRAKE FLUID ON SEALS. *AK
19960301CrashLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
DRIVING AT SPEED 65MPH, HOOD FLEW OPEN, CAUSING IMPACT 6:00 POSITION. *AK
19960301CrashLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
DRIVING AT SPEED 65MPH, HOOD FLEW OPEN, CAUSING IMPACT 6:00 POSITION. *AK
19960229SEATS
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FAILURE. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOLT FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE BACKWARDS.
19960229SEATS
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FAILURE. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOLT FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE BACKWARDS.
19960213CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE BELT CAME OUT THE BUCKLE. TT
19960131VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE AFFECTED DRIVER VISIBILITY RECALL 88V117000. TT
19951227ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CAM PULLEY BROKE OFF THE CAR PURCHASE CAR USED FROM OWNER . TT
19950524SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS INOPERATIVE. TT
19950511FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL. (88V-117) *AW
19950511SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD DRIVER SECURE DURING ACCIDENT. *SKD
19950504SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE REAR SEAT BELT CAN'T BE PULLED OUT. TT
Compare 1985HONDACIVIC to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 HONDA CIVIC have?▼
The 1985 HONDA CIVIC has 17 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 1 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 HONDA CIVIC?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 HONDA CIVIC is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and SEATS.
Is the 1985 HONDA CIVIC safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.