HONDA CIVIC · model year

1988 HONDA CIVIC

51 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1988HONDACIVIC carries 51 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 1 fire, 9 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 1988 CIVIC is vehicle speed control with 7 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (6) and vehicle speed control:cruise control (6). 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 1988 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.

51
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

51 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
SEATS1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT1

Recent Complaints

20090613ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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

20060713ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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 ALL HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR IGNITION SYSTEM. ONE OF THE PERSONS WORK WITH MY WIFE. HE TOLD US THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS. HE TRIED TO FIX HIS CAR WITH THE SAME REPAIRS THAT WE DID, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED UNTIL HE CHANGED THE IGNITION HARNESS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE HARNESS AS OF 7/13/2006. I TALK WITH HONDA MOTORS CORP AND THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS MODEL. ONE FOR THE 1997 - 1999 CIVIC. RECALL NUMBER 02031 DATED 2002. ANY HELP YOU BE ABLE TO GIVE ME WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU! *JB

Mileage: 150,000

20031028VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

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 THROTTLE, A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. ALSO, CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING, ESPECIALLY IN DAMP WEATHER. SPARK PLUGS AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. DISTRIBUTOR WAS REPLACED, AND THE CAR STARTS BETTER, BUT ONCE IN A WHILE IT STILL HAS TROUBLE STARTING. ALSO, THE FUEL LINES LEAK GAS. THE GAS SMELL IS NOTICEABLE IN THE CAR. ALSO, THE FRAME OF THE CAR IS NEARLY RUSTED AWAY.

20020912FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

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

20020820SEAT BELTS

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, AND NOW MY IGNITOR IS GONE BAD AND THE CAR WON'T START. I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM THE BACK BECAUSE THE IGNITOR FAILED WHILE I WAS ON THE RIGHT LANE IN THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR SHUTTERS AND STALLS...THE EFI UNIT JUST SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP THE CAR, SINCE THE IDLE JUMPS UP..I SPENT SO MUCH MONEY CHANGING THE GOOD PARTS. I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO REPLACE THE IGNITOR AND THE EFI UNIT FREE OF CHARGE, NOW THAT I KNOW THOSE 2 PARTS ARE THE PROBLEMS ALL THESE YEARS.. PLEASE CHK THIS SITE ALSO: HTTP://EARTHRENEWAL.ORG/ARE_HONDA_AUTOMOBILES_SAFE_AND_R.HTM ..PLEASE WRITE BACK ASAP..THANK YOU..

20020820ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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, AND NOW MY IGNITOR IS GONE BAD AND THE CAR WON'T START. I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM THE BACK BECAUSE THE IGNITOR FAILED WHILE I WAS ON THE RIGHT LANE IN THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR SHUTTERS AND STALLS...THE EFI UNIT JUST SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP THE CAR, SINCE THE IDLE JUMPS UP..I SPENT SO MUCH MONEY CHANGING THE GOOD PARTS. I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO REPLACE THE IGNITOR AND THE EFI UNIT FREE OF CHARGE, NOW THAT I KNOW THOSE 2 PARTS ARE THE PROBLEMS ALL THESE YEARS.. PLEASE CHK THIS SITE ALSO: HTTP://EARTHRENEWAL.ORG/ARE_HONDA_AUTOMOBILES_SAFE_AND_R.HTM ..PLEASE WRITE BACK ASAP..THANK YOU..

20010405FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

NHTSA CAMPAIGN#:87V173000 ORIGINAL PART FAILURE-LOCAL DEALERSHIP WON'T HONOR RECALL. *AK

20010306ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE TRAVELING FOR SEVERAL YEARS ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD STAY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENT. CONSUMER REPLACED COMPURTER BOARD, INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OFF, VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20010306ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

WHILE TRAVELING FOR SEVERAL YEARS ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD STAY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENT. CONSUMER REPLACED COMPURTER BOARD, INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OFF, VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20010306POWER TRAIN

WHILE TRAVELING FOR SEVERAL YEARS ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD STAY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENT. CONSUMER REPLACED COMPURTER BOARD, INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OFF, VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20000906ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE IGNITOR COMPONANT CAUSUNG CAR TO JUST QUIT

20000822STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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 CAUSED BY INTERNAL CORROSION THAT CAN NOT BE SEEN BY EXTERNAL INSPECTION. THE REAR SUB FRAME ON MY VEHICLE IS ORIGINAL AND WAS NEVER DAMAGED. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS FOR OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND OTHERS THAT TRAVEL IN OR NEAR IT. I CONSIDER MY SELF VERY LUCKY IN THAT THE WHEEL DID NOT BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR ROAD.*AK

20000508ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

THE VEHICLE COMPUTER BATTERY DIED IN TRAFFIC CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE MOTOR AND LIGHTS. NLM

19990930STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

REAR BEAM WHICH SUPPORTS BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR "A" FRAMES IS RUSTED MORE THAN 3/4 THROUGH CAUSING BEAM TO BEND IN THE CENTER CAUSING REAR WHEELS TO COME OUT OF ALIGNMENT, ALSO WHEN THE PART TOTALLY FAILS BOTH OF MY REAR WHEELS WILL COLLAPSE. I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH A HONDA EXCEPT IT WAS THE FRONT BEAM THAT RUSTED THROUGH. I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE WE USE SALT IN THE WINTER. CAN I GET THE DEALER TO FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM?

19990908VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CRASH CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CONTROL UNIT.

19990903FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

CAR FEELS UNSAFE IN PARKED OR TEMPORARY STALL POSITION. CONTACTED A HONDA DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THERE IS A STATUTE OF LIMITATION TO FIXING A RECALL ITEM. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE. 2ND, WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE OWNED THE VHICLE BEFORE US. HOWEVER, WE NEED TO KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM WAS EVER ADDRESSED IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK

19990823VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHILE CONSUMERS FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE IDLES HIGH AND LUNGES FORWARD.

19990816VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LURCHES FORWARD AND THE RPMS INCREASE UNEXPECTEDLY TO AN UNCONTROLLABLE LEVEL. THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN EARLY 1996. HONDA SAYS THE RECALL OF A SIMILAR PART DOES NOT COVER MY CAR. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IS MINE THE ONLY SUCH REPORT AND WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE AS FAR AS NHTSA IS CONCERNED.

19990522UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

19990406VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS IDLING VERY HIGH. HOWEVER, WHEN CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD AND THE IDLE IS INCREASED WITH HIGH SPEED. *AK

Compare 1988HONDACIVIC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1988 HONDA CIVIC have?
The 1988 HONDA CIVIC has 51 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 1 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 HONDA CIVIC?
The most-complained component for the 1988 HONDA CIVIC is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL.
Is the 1988 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.