Total Complaints
171 filings
HONDA CIVIC · model year
171 NHTSA complaints, 79 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994HONDACIVIC carries 171 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 79 crashes, 0 fires, 64 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 1994 CIVIC is air bags:frontal with 47 filings, followed by air bags (17) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (8). 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 1994 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
171 filings
Crashes Reported
79 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 47 |
| AIR BAGS | 17 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 8 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 8 |
| TIRES | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 5 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 4 |
| SEATS | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 3 |
ABS LIGHT COMES ON. I HEAR A SOUND AS IF THERE'S SOMETHING LOOSE WHEN ABS LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS PULSATING WHILE IN MOTION. SHIFT LEVER ALSO GETS STUCK WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT OF PARKING LOT.
Mileage: 217,000
MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING HER VEHICLE ALONE AND HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH A DEER STRIKE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ACCIDENT WAS IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. SINCE THAT DATE (UNKNOWN TO ME) THE SRS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONTINUOUSLY AND HONDA REFUSES TO FIX THIS POTENTIAL DEADLY SYSTEM FLAW. *TR
MY LITTLE ONE AND I WERE IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *JS
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEATBELT DID NOT CATCH. *TR
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEATBELT DID NOT CATCH. *TR
WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE SHIFTER LOCKS UP AND DRIVER MUST USE KEY IN SHIFT LOCK TO RELEASE THE SHIFTER ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. *JB
1994 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE HOOD OPENED AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND THE ROOF. *MC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE OPENED THE HOOD EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THE HOOD LATCH WAS FUNCTIONING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).*JB
SRS LIGHT IS ON WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE. AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. HONDA ADMITS TO THIS ONGOING, WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO EXCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THERE ARE TOO MANY CONSUMERS FINDING THEMSELVES IN THE SAME POSITION AS ME, CONTINUALLY PAYING HONDA DEALERSHIPS TO GET IT FIXED WITH NO RESOLVE. *JB
SRS LIGHT IS ON WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE. AIR BAGS MOST LIKELY WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *NM
1994 HONDA CIVIC EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO TWO CARS.*MR THE OFFICER CALLED TO THE ACCIDENT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, BUT MANAGED TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A TICKET FOR $70.00. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, WHILE THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. *BF *NM
THE CONSUMER WAS GOING THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE ONCOMING VEHICLE WHICH WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH AND HIT THE OWNER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
Mileage: 150,000
ALL FOUR OF MY SEARS (GOODYEAR) WEATHERHANDLER LS TIRES HAVE SIGNS OF BELT SEPARATION. TWO INDEPENDENT GARAGES (ONE A GOODYEAR FACTORY-OWNED STORE) STATE THAT THEY HAVE SIGNS OF BELT SEPARATION, THE GOODYEAR REPRESENTATIVE GOING SO FAR AS TO STATE THAT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE MAY RESULT. SEARS, WHO WARRANTS THE TIRES, ON THE OTHER HAND FLATLY DENIES THERE IS BELT SEPARATION, BUT HAS AGREED TO REPLACE PRO-RATA.*AK
I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1996 .ABOUT AFTER 1YEAR I NOTICED THE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR WAS TURNING INTO WHITE SPOTS ALL OVER ,LIKE SOME KIND OF OXADATION WENT WRONG WITH THE PAINT .I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY CIVIC'S WITH SAME ISSUE .MY COMPLAINT IS THIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF HONDA HAD A RECALL ON THESE PAINT JOBS.*AK
Mileage: 60,000
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEIR FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. *LA
Mileage: 188,000
CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES WHEN THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. *LA *JB *CB
WHILE COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE'S MOTOR STARTED TO SOUND FUNNY, AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BOLT IN THE CRANK SHAFT HAD LOOSENED AND WALLOWED. *LA THE REFURBISHED CRANKSHAFT ONLY LASTED 3 WEEKS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
THE OEM CARPET/MAT WHICH I BOUGHT TOGETHER WITH THE CAR (NEW CAR FROM A HONDA DEALER) STARTED TO GET CAUGHT UP UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING AN UNSAFE SITUATION WHERE I WOULD LET OFF ON THE GAS, BUT THE MOTOR WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I FINALLY REPLACED THE MAT WITH A 3RD PARTY PRODUCT. THAT MAT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING, AND WAS REMOVED ALSO.*AK I RECALL SEEING A RECALL NOTICE IN CONSUMER REPORTS FOR HONDA CIVICS (OTHER YEARS) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MENTIONING THIS DID NOT PUSH DEALER TO DO THE RIGHT THING. I'VE LOOKED AT THIS A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT HAPPENS. THE CONTOUR OF THE FLOOR AREA UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ENDS UP WARPING THE CARPET/MAT INTO A SHAPE THAT ENDS UP CAUSING IT TO CREEP UP AND GET WEDGED.
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
WHILE IN MOTION, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR BURST INTO PIECES. *JG
WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*JB
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.