Total Complaints
54 filings
HONDA CIVIC · model year
1986 HONDA CIVIC
54 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986HONDACIVIC carries 54 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 2 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 1986 CIVIC is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 4 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (3) and seat belts:front:retractor (3). 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 1986 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.
54
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 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 | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 2 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20250320SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
The contact owns a 1986 Honda Civic. The contact stated that whether the vehicle was parked, stationary, or driven, the seat belt was difficult to retract. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the seat belts became difficult to retract even more frequently over time. The contact tested the seat belts, and the seat belts stopped recoiling. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,368.
Mileage: 135,368
20250320SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
The contact owns a 1986 Honda Civic. The contact stated that whether the vehicle was parked, stationary, or driven, the seat belt was difficult to retract. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the seat belts became difficult to retract even more frequently over time. The contact tested the seat belts, and the seat belts stopped recoiling. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,368.
Mileage: 135,368
20050824ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 HONDA CIVIC. THE ENGINE CONSTANTLY BROKE DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE BROKEN DOWN FIVE TIMES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND A REASON WHY THIS IS HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER FIRST BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. *AK
20030826STRUCTURE
THE 1986 HONDA CRX HAS PLASTIC FENDERS THAT HOLD THE SIDE MARKER LAMPS. THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME VERY BRITTLE OVER TIME. MY SIDE MARKER LIGHTS ARE ONLY HELD ON BY A CLUMSY, PLUG-IN ATTACHMENT NEXT TO THE HEADLIGHT. THE TWO SCREW HOLES THAT HOLD THE LAMPS ARE USELESS IN THE FENDERS THAT ARE BOTH BROKEN IN SEVERAL SPOTS. *NLM
Mileage: 80,000
20010718SEAT BELTS
THE SEATBELT ANCHOR POINTS NEAR THE DOORS HAVE BOTH RUSTED OUT AND DO NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY. THE CAR IS NOW IN VIOLATION OF NATIONAL SEATBELT LAWS. WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT WILL HONDA DO? THANK YOU.
20010611STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
THE TRIM PIECE ABOVE THE FRONT BUMPER IN FRONT OF THE HOOD IS CRACKED IN 3 PLACES. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER CRX'S AND EVERY SIMILAR CRX I HAVE SEEN IS CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACES.
20010316EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
THE LOW BEAM SWITCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CAUSING THE LIGHT TO GO OUT, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. NLM
20010316STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BOTH FENDERS HAVE CRACKS MIDWAY BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR FENDER, THERE ARE ALSO CRACKS ACROSS THE FRONT IN THE METAL WHICH IS BETWEEN THE HOOD AND BUMPER. NLM
20010205EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING WITH LOW BEAM, BEAMS DIED OUT AND WENT TO 0. CONSUMER STATED SWITCH WAS FAULTY. *AK THE LOW BEAM SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE LOW BEAM INOPERATIVE. *YH
19990305FirePOWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, 5 MINUTES LATER, THE HORN WAS BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY, THEN CONTINUOUSLY BEEPING. TWO MINUTES AFTER A LOUD NOISE LIKE EXPLOSION, FOUND OUT VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THEN HOUSE CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. FRICTION FROM WHEEL BEARING TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE LINE CAUSED THE FIRE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
19981020SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT SPRING BROKE CAUSING SEAT TO SWING BACK.
19980324POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH FAILURE. ALSO ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
19980324ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CLUTCH FAILURE. ALSO ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
19970924FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
DISINTEGRATED/CORRODED FUEL FILTER PIPE, RESULTING IN PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER CAR IN THE MORNING ONLY WHEN TANK IS FULL. DURING REPAIRS CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO VAPORS IGNITING DURING A PASSINGELECTRICAL STORM. *AK
19970828SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED BY DEALER.
19970716SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK CORRECTED. PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE LISTED RECALL 95V103001, SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *AK
19970627ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED 2 TIMES.
19970623POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
THE DRIVESHAFT HAS A CRACK IN IT .THERE IS A RECALL ON THE HONDA CIVIC , CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WITH VIN . CONSUMER WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. *AK
19970527FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN TANK IS FILLED.
19970429SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL #95V1030.01, ORDERED PARTS IN NOVEMBER OF 96. RECEIVED CALL FROM DEALER ON APRIL 25, 1997 STATING THAT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. WAITED MORE THAN (60) DAYS. *AK
Compare 1986HONDACIVIC to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 HONDA CIVIC have?▼
The 1986 HONDA CIVIC has 54 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 HONDA CIVIC?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 HONDA CIVIC is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1986 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.