1988 Honda Civic Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 15%of 46 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 150,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the electrical system of the 1988 Honda Civic, 15% of the 46 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 150,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10162325, filed 2006-07, 150,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #765682, filed 2002-08“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.”
NHTSA complaint #882195, filed 2001-03Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 16% |
| 2025 | 6 | 8% |
| 2024 | 8 | 6% |
| 2023 | 17 | 7% |
| 2022 | 38 | 4% |
| 2021 | 18 | 12% |
| 2020 | 37 | 16% |
| 2019 | 37 | 8% |
| 2018 | 61 | 8% |
| 2017 | 103 | 17% |
| 2016 | 119 | 11% |
| 2015 | 28 | 7% |
| 2014 | 39 | 13% |
| 2013 | 39 | 12% |
| 2012 | 60 | 13% |
| 2011 | 16 | 9% |
| 2010 | 23 | 6% |
| 2009 | 36 | 9% |
| 2008 | 51 | 6% |
| 2007 | 67 | 6% |
| 2006 | 100 | 7% |
| 2005 | 26 | 8% |
| 2004 | 32 | 9% |
| 2003 | 51 | 10% |
| 2002 | 49 | 7% |
| 2001 | 59 | 5% |
| 2000 | 38 | 13% |
| 1999 | 118 | 35% |
| 1998 | 88 | 20% |
| 1997 | 30 | 8% |
| 1996 | 17 | 6% |
| 1995 | 12 | 6% |
| 1994 | 2 | 1% |
| 1993 | 25 | 17% |
| 1992 | 28 | 29% |
| 1991 | 22 | 20% |
| 1990 | 18 | 20% |
| 1989 | 11 | 16% |
| 1988 | 7 | 15% |
| 1986 | 4 | 11% |
Other parts of the 1988 Honda Civic
13 complaintsSeat belts
10 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1988 Honda Civic
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology