1991 Honda Civic Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the automatic shoulder belt system and its door-mounted track, which on many cars no longer slides, retracts, tightens or releases. Older cars also show a recurring pattern of water getting into the trunk and shorting the rear lights, plus occasional stalling or total electrical loss. Most reports are filed on vehicles with well over 100,000 miles, though several seat belt complaints come with no mileage stated.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Automatic shoulder belt stuck, loose or not retracting

   • 17 complaints (15%)
   • median 140,000 mi at 16.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2023

   Owners describe the automatic shoulder harness on the driver's or passenger's side failing to move along its door track, staying stuck open, or no longer retracting after the door is opened and closed. Some say the belt feels loose and does not tighten when the brakes are applied, and the belt warning light or buzzer comes on. Several mention being told the seat belt system carries a lifetime warranty and then being charged for repairs or having the claim refused. Appears mostly on cars with six-figure mileage, with complaints filed from the mid-1990s through the 2010s; many reports give no mileage.

   Recall 95V103001

   What to check: Open and close each front door and watch whether the shoulder belt slides the full length of its track and retracts on its own; pull the belt sharply to check that it locks. Ask whether the buckle recall 95V103001 was performed and whether any belt repairs are documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 1991 Honda Civic used from a private owner. Several years later now, the automatic shoulder harness seatbelt has stopped working. I have read several places that Honda of america is trying to charge owners for replacement of a system that in my opinion for the safety of car owners, should not fail in the lifetime of the car. And if it does fail I feel that Honda should be responsible for replacing or repairing the automatic restraint system on its vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10288770, filed 2009-10, 207,000 miles

   “The automatic seat belt on my 1991 Honda Civic fails to close on the driver's side. It is stuck in the open position interfering with driving and not providing any shoulder restraint. The component that rides along the front door track where the seat belt opens and closes will not manually move along the track. It appears, this is the way the seat belt is constructed, it causes tension or pulls on the component that slides along the door. That may cause an obstacle to my seat belt closing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10010889, filed 2003-03, 129,058 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalling or sudden loss of electrical power

   • 10 complaints (9%)
   • median 175,000 mi at 15.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2006

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out at speed or the car going completely dead, sometimes traced by shops to the ignition switch, distributor coil or alternator. Some owners say the dealer could not reproduce the condition, and a few mention replacing the same part repeatedly. Others report erratic idling or a tachometer reading that jumps when cold. Reports span the 1990s through the 2000s, often on cars above 150,000 miles, with some failures occurring at highway speed.

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, distributor and alternator have been replaced and when; during a test drive watch for a flickering dash, a stalling idle or a tachometer that jumps when the engine is cold.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On five separate occasions auto completely lost all power. Three of these incidents occurred on main road streets, two occurred at about 65 MPH on the freeway. I had it towed in each occasion, to different repair shops since I broke down in 5 different locations. After describing this incident to a repair shop, the owner said that Honda has a recall out on ignition wire which is the continuous cause of this problem. How do I go about having Honda fix this problem for the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #744701, filed 2001-04

   “My car came to a stop going up a ramp after it began jerking . I had the car towed and repaired at my expense because it was no longer under warranty. Approximately 4 months later it happened again, it was the coil in the distributor and the driveshaft was bent both times. I had the car repaired, but was urged to contact Honda to find if there was an open recall I was told by shockley Honda that there was no recall, this was in 1996. Since then, my car has had thhe exact same repair 5 more times, and it broke down again yesterday. …”

   NHTSA complaint #702740, filed 1999-01
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Belt does not hold in a crash or hard braking

   • 12 complaints (11%)
   • median 130,000 mi at 32.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2023

   Complaints describe the shoulder belt failing to lock during a rear impact or sudden stop, letting the occupant move forward into the steering wheel or windshield. Some describe the buckle releasing or the belt spooling out after the initial impact. A few also report the buckle release button breaking or the buckle not unlocking. Reported across the model year's life, in collisions and hard-braking situations at ordinary road speeds; mileage is mostly not stated.

   Recall 95V103001

   What to check: Test each belt with a firm tug in a safe spot and check that both buckle and release work smoothly; ask for any repair history on the belts and pretensioners, since these parts age.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was stopped in traffic at a light behind another car when my car was rearended. Though I was wearing both seatbelts (shoulder and lap), the shoulder belt failed to lock up with the impact and I was thrown against the steering wheel, fracturing my sternum. Of the three cars rearended, I suffered the only injury. The seatbelts are warranted for the life of the car, yet Honda refuses to admit that there was any failure, has not conducted any meaningful test of the seatbelt failure and refuses to honor the warranty and replace the seatbelts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #757144, filed 2002-01

   “Vehicle pulled out in front of Honda. Speed of Honda at time was 40 MPH. On impact drivers seat belt worked but then failed, spooling out, causing driver to hit windshield and steering wheel. Injuries included broken jaw, collarbone,neck, both femurs,lower leg and left foot, hand, fingers and nine ribs one of which severed lower left aorta, every organ severely damaged resulting in death.”

   NHTSA complaint #10163373, filed 2006-07
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Water in trunk shorts rear lights

   • 12 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 6.6 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2000

   Owners report rain or wash water collecting in the trunk and draining into the rear light housings, leaving corroded sockets and blackened bulbs, with blinkers and tail lights going out or flickering rapidly. Several say the trunk seal or lid area was resealed but the leak came back, and that the cause was hard to pin down at the dealer. Typically described after rain and on older cars, with complaints filed from the mid-1990s onward; mileage is mostly not stated.

   What to check: Open the trunk after rain and look for pooled water, damp carpet or rust, and pull the rear light bulbs to check sockets for corrosion or scorching.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer noticed tail light went out. Went to change light bulb, noticed it was corrored and socket was blackened and burned. Flasher was flashing rapidly, called mechanicand he went to replace it and found high level of water in unit because of flat front, water dripped in trunk which was draining into unit.”

   NHTSA complaint #817235, filed 1997-10

   “Is a warning sound available for leaving lights on? Apprx. How much would this cost to add? I have mechanics look into sealing the trunk, have been told it has been fixed, yet rain water accumulates in grey box and leaks upon opening trunk.”

   NHTSA complaint #719379, filed 2000-02

Buying note. On a car this old, the automatic belts and their door tracks are the item most worth testing carefully, and belt repairs can be needed at any mileage. Also check the trunk for leaks and the rear light sockets for corrosion, and confirm the hood latch engages firmly and holds when pulled.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 53 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.