Total Complaints
143 filings
HONDA CIVIC · model year
143 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991HONDACIVIC carries 143 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 9 fires, 16 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1991 CIVIC is seat belts with 18 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (15) and structure:body:trunk lid (7). 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 1991 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.
Total Complaints
143 filings
Crashes Reported
13 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 18 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 15 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 7 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 6 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 6 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 4 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 2 |
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 to an auto body shop. The vehicle was taken to the auto body shop, where the front passenger's side and driver's side shoulder belts and pretensioners were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Mileage: 130,000
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 to an auto body shop. The vehicle was taken to the auto body shop, where the front passenger's side and driver's side shoulder belts and pretensioners were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Mileage: 130,000
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 425,000.
Mileage: 425,000
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 A SCRATCH REMOVING THE TOP COAT OF MY RED PAINT I JUST CALLED IT MY LESSON FOR GOING FAST. *TR
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.
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
Mileage: 78,000
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 UNSURE ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS FAILURE ON ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I KNEW OF HONDA'S "LIFETIME WARRANTY" ON THEIR SEATBELTS AND TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT ACTUALLY COVER THE NEEDED FIX DUE TO ITS LIKELIHOOD OF BEING AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. AFTER THOROUGHLY READING THROUGH THE WARRANTY, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT CLEARLY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN ELECTRICAL AND NON-ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS - THUS MY COMPLAINT. *TR
Mileage: 170,000
I PURCHASED A 1991 HONDA CIVIC USED FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. SEVERAL YEARS LATER NOW, THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS SEATBELT HAS STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE READ SEVERAL PLACES THAT HONDA OF AMERICA IS TRYING TO CHARGE OWNERS FOR REPLACEMENT OF A SYSTEM THAT IN MY OPINION FOR THE SAFETY OF CAR OWNERS, SHOULD NOT FAIL IN THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. AND IF IT DOES FAIL I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING OR REPAIRING THE AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM ON ITS VEHICLES. *TR
Mileage: 207,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH SHE HIT AN ANIMAL, THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE SUSTAINED INJURY TO HER HIPS, ANKLE FACE, AND SOME BONES WERE BROKEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104,000.
Mileage: 104,000
THE CLUTCH PEDAL PLATE ASSEMBLY HAS CRACKED ON MY CAR, RENDERING THE CAR IMMOBILE BECAUSE THE CLUTCH PEDAL CAN NO LONGER ACTIVATE A SWITCH TO DETERMINE THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. BECAUSE THE SWITCH CAN NOT BE PRESSED BY THE DEPRESSED CLUTCH PEDAL ANY LONGER, THE CAR CAN NOT BE TURNED ON. I HAVE NOT YET FIXED THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WILL COST $400 TO DO SO. *TR
Mileage: 153,590
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER SEATBELT FAILS TO MOVE TO THE SECURE POSITION WHEN SITTING IN THE CAR. *TR
Mileage: 85,000
91 HONDA CIVIC LX, THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, MAKES CONSTANT BEEPING NOISE AND LIGHT IS BLINKING . *TR
1991 CIVIC THAT IS HAVING THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM THAT HONDA ISSUED RECALLS FOR IN MID TO LATE 90'S VEHICLES. (INTERMITTENT CURRENT IN RUN POSITION) FROM A BRIEF WEB SEARCH, I FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON HONDA PROBLEM. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS. CAR WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AT IT'S OWN DISCRETION. *JB
Mileage: 175,000
VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HONDA. SPEED OF HONDA AT TIME WAS 40 MPH. ON IMPACT DRIVERS SEAT BELT WORKED BUT THEN FAILED, SPOOLING OUT, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT WINDSHIELD AND STEERING WHEEL. INJURIES INCLUDED BROKEN JAW, COLLARBONE,NECK, BOTH FEMURS,LOWER LEG AND LEFT FOOT, HAND, FINGERS AND NINE RIBS ONE OF WHICH SEVERED LOWER LEFT AORTA, EVERY ORGAN SEVERELY DAMAGED RESULTING IN DEATH. *NM
I TOOK MY HONDA IN TO HAVE RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CHECKED OUT BY HOLMES HONDA, CLIVE, IOWA. PROBLEM IS THE SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT FLASHING AND BUZZER GOING OFF, AND TENSIONERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY DRIVERS SEAT BELT FEELS LOOSE, DOESN?T TIGHTEN WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. I HAD MENTIONED TO SERVICE MANAGER THAT ON THE ALLDATA WEBSITE FOR THAT YEAR OF VEHICLE FRONT SEAT BELTS WAS A RECALL ISSUE, AND THAT ALSO IN MY RESEARCH I HAD FOUND THAT HONDA CORP DOES WARRANTY THEIR "SEAT BELT SYSTEM" FOR LIFE OF VEHICLE. WHEN I PICKED CAR UP, SERVICE MANAGER STATED THEY WOULD NEED LOTS OF SERVICE DIAGNOSTICS TO PINPOINT PROBLEM AND THAT IF I WANTED IT FIXED RIGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX. I DON?T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC, AND PARTS WHEN IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY HONDA. SERVICE MANAGER DID STATE THE SEAT BELTS ARE WARRANTIED THROUGH HONDA BUT THAT ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT IS PART OF SYSTEM IS NOT WARRANTIED. I STATED HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF VEHICLES THAT A
Mileage: 150,000
IGNITION FAILURE. *AK
Mileage: 220,100
CONSUMER STATES THAT SEAT BELTS ARE NOT ON TRACK WHEN SHE STOPS SEAT BELT GOES FORWARD. ALSO, WHILE SHE IS DRIVING SEAT BELTS GO BACK AND FORTH AT WILL. THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT SECURE, AND DO NOT HOLD.*AK
THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON MY 1991 HONDA CIVIC FAILS TO CLOSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT IS STUCK IN THE "OPEN" POSITION INTERFERING WITH DRIVING AND NOT PROVIDING ANY SHOULDER RESTRAINT. THE COMPONENT THAT RIDES ALONG THE FRONT DOOR TRACK WHERE THE SEAT BELT OPENS AND CLOSES WILL NOT MANUALLY MOVE ALONG THE TRACK. IT APPEARS, THIS IS THE WAY THE SEAT BELT IS CONSTRUCTED, IT CAUSES TENSION OR PULLS ON THE COMPONENT THAT SLIDES ALONG THE DOOR. THAT MAY CAUSE AN OBSTACLE TO MY SEAT BELT CLOSING. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A FAULTY DOOR LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHICH I HAD REPLACED WITH A NEW DOOR LATCH, AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THE DOOR LATCH FAILURE WAS MAKING THE SEAT BELT OPEN AND CLOSE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE SEAT BELT ALSO DAMAGED THE SUN VISOR. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH SUCH A FLAKY SEAT BELT AND WOULD LIKE HONDA TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE WARRANTY. *JB
Mileage: 129,058
THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON MY 1991 HONDA CIVIC FAILS TO CLOSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT IS STUCK IN THE "OPEN" POSITION INTERFERING WITH DRIVING AND NOT PROVIDING ANY SHOULDER RESTRAINT. THE COMPONENT THAT RIDES ALONG THE FRONT DOOR TRACK WHERE THE SEAT BELT OPENS AND CLOSES WILL NOT MANUALLY MOVE ALONG THE TRACK. IT APPEARS, THIS IS THE WAY THE SEAT BELT IS CONSTRUCTED, IT CAUSES TENSION OR PULLS ON THE COMPONENT THAT SLIDES ALONG THE DOOR. THAT MAY CAUSE AN OBSTACLE TO MY SEAT BELT CLOSING. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A FAULTY DOOR LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHICH I HAD REPLACED WITH A NEW DOOR LATCH, AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THE DOOR LATCH FAILURE WAS MAKING THE SEAT BELT OPEN AND CLOSE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE SEAT BELT ALSO DAMAGED THE SUN VISOR. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH SUCH A FLAKY SEAT BELT AND WOULD LIKE HONDA TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE WARRANTY. *JB
Mileage: 129,058
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.