1988 Honda Civic Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 22%of 46 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the seat belts of the 1988 Honda Civic, 22% of the 46 complaints for this model year. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
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.
“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“Consumer was in two different accidents and the driver's side seat belt retractor locked up and snapped her chest . Vehicle was hit on right front wheel, while coming out of a parking lot, also on another occasion a car stopped in front of consumer and consumer hit vehicle from the rear, and seat belt locked consumer suffered injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #803066, filed 1996-10Related recalls
- 95V103001May 24, 1995The 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…Covers: Honda Civic 1986–1991, Accord 1986–1991, Prelude 1986–1991 +3 more
Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 2 | 2% |
| 2023 | 3 | 1% |
| 2022 | 4 | 0% |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 5 | 1% |
| 2018 | 3 | 0% |
| 2017 | 5 | 1% |
| 2016 | 4 | 0% |
| 2015 | 5 | 1% |
| 2014 | 3 | 1% |
| 2013 | 5 | 2% |
| 2012 | 14 | 3% |
| 2011 | 7 | 4% |
| 2010 | 8 | 2% |
| 2009 | 5 | 1% |
| 2008 | 9 | 1% |
| 2007 | 16 | 1% |
| 2006 | 16 | 1% |
| 2005 | 21 | 7% |
| 2004 | 20 | 6% |
| 2003 | 20 | 4% |
| 2002 | 51 | 7% |
| 2001 | 41 | 4% |
| 2000 | 14 | 5% |
| 1999 | 9 | 3% |
| 1998 | 10 | 2% |
| 1997 | 13 | 3% |
| 1996 | 7 | 2% |
| 1995 | 16 | 8% |
| 1994 | 9 | 7% |
| 1993 | 11 | 8% |
| 1992 | 9 | 9% |
| 1991 | 38 | 35% |
| 1990 | 34 | 37% |
| 1989 | 18 | 26% |
| 1988 | 10 | 22% |
| 1987 | 21 | 54% |
| 1986 | 13 | 37% |
| 1985 | 5 | 33% |
| 1983 | 1 | 11% |
Other parts of the 1988 Honda Civic
13 complaintsElectrical system
7 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 Nov 1, 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