Honda CivicModel year report

1986 Honda Civic Problems

Complaints: 35filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 107,684miles, 2 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 3campaigns on record
Trend: RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating: —overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy: 28 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 26 city / 32 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1986 Honda Civic (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 35 consumer complaints for the 1986 Honda Civic. The part named most often is seat belts, with 13 complaints (37% of the total), followed by body and structure (5) and transmission and drivetrain (5). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 107,684 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Seat belts complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the buckle assembly and 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Steering (1).

Example complaints

Seat belts: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11649594, filed 2025-03, 135,368 miles

Body and structure: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10036632, filed 2003-08, 80,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #834909, filed 1999-03

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 80,000 and 135,368 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (2 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 107,684 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1986 Honda Civic version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

Version	Engine	Transmission	City	Hwy	Comb.	Fuel / yr
Civic FWD	1.3L 4-cyl	4-speed manual	31	39	34	$1,950
Civic FWD	1.5L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	26	32	28	$2,400
Civic FWD	1.5L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	26	30	27	$2,500
Civic FWD	1.5L 4-cyl	4-speed automatic	24	29	26	$2,600
Civic CRX FWD	1.5L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	26	33	29	$2,300
Civic CRX FWD	1.5L 4-cyl	4-speed automatic	25	32	28	$2,400
Civic CRX FWD	1.5L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	26	30	27	$2,500
Civic CRX HF FWD	1.5L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	42	51	46	$1,450
Civic CRX HF FWD	1.5L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	37	45	40	$1,700
Civic Wagon FWD	1.5L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	26	32	28	$2,400
Civic Wagon FWD	1.5L 4-cyl	4-speed automatic	24	29	26	$2,600
Civic Wagon 4WD	1.5L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	22	26	24	$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

95V103001May 24, 1995
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Covers: Honda Civic 1986–1991, Accord 1986–1991, Prelude 1986–1991 +3 more
The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
88V180000Nov 18, 1988
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Covers: Honda Civic 1985–1987, Acura Integra 1986–1987
Under high ambient temperatures front windshield wiper contact unit could loosen and become dislodged.
86V045000Mar 20, 1986
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Covers: Honda Civic 1986
Left side drive shaft could develop cracks near the outer joint.

Recall details for the 1986 Honda Civic → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

PE94052Seat belt buckle failsClosed · Jul 11, 1994

Technical service bulletins

No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1986 Honda Civic.

Other model years of the Honda Civic

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2026	32	300	0	5	34	Too new to compare	Too new
2025	77	7,278	2	5	34	Too new to compare	Too new
2024	125	11,000	3	5	33	Too new to compare	Too new
2023	259	10,000	4	5	33	64 · Typical	Too new
2022	886	27,000	4	5	33	100 · More	Rising
2021	147	30,000	4	5	33	10 · Fewer	Rising
2020	234	15,400	5	5	32	49 · Typical	Rising
2019	443	16,200	4	5	33	48 · Typical	Rising
2018	747	32,508	6	5	33	61 · Typical	Rising
2017	602	23,066	6	5	34	66 · More	Rising
2016	1,082	30,000	5	5	34	84 · More	Stable
2015	381	50,000	1	4–5	32	5 · Fewer	Falling
2014	293	32,570	2	4–5	32	15 · Fewer	Stable
2013	319	24,000	0	4–5	32	1 · Fewer	Stable
2012	456	30,150	3	4–5	31	51 · Typical	Stable
2011	169	31,500	9	3	29	30 · Fewer	Stable
2010	397	39,960	8	—	29	48 · Typical	Falling
2009	396	31,000	8	—	29	74 · More	Falling
2008	916	50,000	7	—	29	78 · More	Falling
2007	1,204	45,000	9	—	29	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2006	1,404	60,000	13	—	29	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2005	316	65,000	10	—	30	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2004	350	82,000	10	—	30	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2003	499	76,000	11	—	30	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2002	702	90,000	11	—	30	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2001	1,079	89,320	14	—	31	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2000	287	74,000	6	—	30	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1999	338	120,000	3	—	28	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1998	435	95,000	4	—	28	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1997	373	88,000	2	—	30	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1996	305	100,500	2	—	31	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1995	199	131,000	0	—	28	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1994	135	133,050	2	—	28	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1993	146	139,500	1	—	31	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1992	98	116,754	1	—	37	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1991	110	150,000	1	—	29	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising
1990	91	156,931	3	—	29	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1989	69	100,000	1	—	29	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1988	46	150,000	3	—	29	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1987	39	157,000	3	—	28	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1986	35	107,684	3	—	28	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising
1985	15	—	2	—	29	—	Stable
1984	5	—	3	—	29	—	Not enough data
1983	9	—	0	—	—	—	Not enough data

All Honda Civic model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1986 Honda Civic have?

NHTSA recorded 35 consumer complaints for the 1986 Honda Civic as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1986 Honda Civic is reported most often?

Seat belts is named most often, in 13 complaints (37% of the total), followed by body and structure with 5.

Has the 1986 Honda Civic been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1986 Honda Civic get?

The EPA rates the 1986 Honda Civic (Civic, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 26 city and 32 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1986 Honda Civic reported?

Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 107,684 miles and the middle half falls between 80,000 and 135,368 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.