1988 Honda Civic Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 4%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 2 complaints about the body and structure of the 1988 Honda Civic, 4% of the 46 complaints for this model year.
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.
“Rear beam which supports both left and right rear a frames is rusted more than 3/4 through causing beam to bend in the center causing rear wheels to come out of alignment, also when the part totally fails both of my rear wheels will collapse. I had a similar problem with a Honda except it was the front beam that rusted through. I live in the northeast where we use salt in the winter. Can I get the dealer to fix this safety problem?”
NHTSA complaint #712593, filed 1999-09“The rear left wheel of the vehicle broke off from the sub frame mounting point while I was backing up the vehicle on my driveway. The mounting point on the rear sub frame where the lower control arm is attached separated from the sub frame structure. It appears that the structural failure is caused by internal corrosion that can not be seen by external inspection. The rear sub frame on my vehicle is original and was never damaged. I believe the problem is potentially very dangerous for owner of this vehicle model and others that travel in or near it. …”
NHTSA complaint #725562, filed 2000-07Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 5% |
| 2024 | 2 | 2% |
| 2023 | 4 | 2% |
| 2022 | 13 | 1% |
| 2020 | 6 | 3% |
| 2019 | 13 | 3% |
| 2018 | 22 | 3% |
| 2017 | 37 | 6% |
| 2016 | 48 | 4% |
| 2015 | 17 | 4% |
| 2014 | 7 | 2% |
| 2013 | 23 | 7% |
| 2012 | 35 | 8% |
| 2011 | 10 | 6% |
| 2010 | 43 | 11% |
| 2009 | 45 | 11% |
| 2008 | 85 | 9% |
| 2007 | 70 | 6% |
| 2006 | 78 | 6% |
| 2005 | 25 | 8% |
| 2004 | 17 | 5% |
| 2003 | 26 | 5% |
| 2002 | 20 | 3% |
| 2001 | 29 | 3% |
| 2000 | 9 | 3% |
| 1999 | 16 | 5% |
| 1998 | 26 | 6% |
| 1997 | 18 | 5% |
| 1996 | 19 | 6% |
| 1995 | 12 | 6% |
| 1994 | 5 | 4% |
| 1993 | 7 | 5% |
| 1992 | 4 | 4% |
| 1991 | 13 | 12% |
| 1990 | 5 | 5% |
| 1989 | 2 | 3% |
| 1988 | 2 | 4% |
| 1987 | 1 | 3% |
| 1986 | 5 | 14% |
| 1984 | 2 | 40% |
Other parts of the 1988 Honda Civic
13 complaintsSeat belts
10 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsSeats
3 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 30, 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