1992 Honda Civic Problems
- Complaints
- 98filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 116,754miles, 11 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 37 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 33 city / 42 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1992 Honda Civic (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints on this model year cluster around a few recurring themes rather than one dominant problem: the ignition distributor failing and stalling the engine, air bags that did not deploy in crashes (or deployed unexpectedly), and various older-vehicle electrical and tire issues. Many reports come from cars well past 100,000 miles, though air bag and seat belt complaints are often filed regardless of mileage because they follow a collision.
- Electrical system
Distributor failure causing stalling or no-start
- 22 complaints (22%)
- median 160,929 mi at 18.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
- filed 1995–2011
Owners describe the engine cutting out without warning while driving, sometimes at highway speed, and then restarting after a pause or not starting at all. Several say the distributor was replaced once or repeatedly and the problem returned; one report notes noise and wear at the distributor shaft bearings, and another points to the ignition pickup and ignitor assembly. Some owners contacted the manufacturer about reimbursement for repeated repairs and were told their vehicle was not covered by any campaign. Mileage in the sampled reports ranges from moderate to about 205,000 miles, with failures recurring over multiple years of ownership.
What to check: Ask whether the distributor has been replaced and how many times, and check for a receipt. During a test drive, watch for hesitation, a check-engine light, or an engine that quits when warm and restarts after cooling.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“In 1998 distributor failed without warning. At that time I had distributor replaced. Since then I had a second distributor put in 6/22/2000 after engine check light came on. Service light and diagnose pointed to bad distributor again. Now it 2002 and check engine light is coming on again. It looks like it might be the same problem however, I plan to take it to the dealer soon. Diagnose code of 9 flashes on the engine check light. Points maybe to distributor failure again. …”
NHTSA complaint #763877, filed 2002-07“Distributor bearings were ground up. Distributor needed replacement. I heard about a possible recall/reimbursement on the pat goss automotive radio show. Pat told me that there is some type of recall on Honda distributors, and that Honda distributors are a known problem in the automotive field. I am submitting this in an effort to be reimbursed by Honda for the repairs that I paid for. I also want to know if Honda has redesigned their distributors so that failures will not occour in the future. …”
NHTSA complaint #702782, filed 1999-01 - Air bags
Air bag did not deploy in a crash
- 14 complaints (14%)
- median 70,000 mi at 12.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2003
Owners describe frontal and other collisions in which the air bag did not inflate, with occupants reporting head injuries, cuts and bruising from contact with the windshield or interior. Complaint text notes the front end was damaged in some of these events and that the dealer or manufacturer was notified afterward. A small number describe the opposite, an unexpected deployment while driving or after hitting a curb. Reported across a wide mileage range, including vehicles with roughly 70,000 miles; the common factor in the sample is involvement in a collision rather than age or mileage.
What to check: Have the air bag system scanned for stored fault codes and confirm the warning lamp behaves normally at start-up; a lamp that never lights can indicate the system is not being monitored.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“In a forward collision, strong enough for my head to punch a 2 inch hemispherical indentation into the windshield, the airbag did not deploy. I was wearing my seat belt. The impact of my head against the windshield resulted in a moderate concussion.”
NHTSA complaint #10047426, filed 2003-11, 70,000 miles“I was involved in a high speed roll-over, the car rolled several times down a 20 ft. Bank, the airbag did not deploy even though the front end was damaged very severly, my sister was the driver and was ejected from the car, I am confused on why my airbag did not deploy, should it have? And how can I persue this problem?”
NHTSA complaint #708861, filed 1999-07 - Tires
Tire tread separation, bulges and pressure loss
Mentioned in 6 of 46 sampled complaints
Owners report vibration at highway speed, tread separating from the casing, bubbles in the sidewall, and tires that repeatedly lose pressure without a findable puncture. In several cases the tires were replaced at the owner's expense, and one owner describes a disagreement with the dealer over how many tires should have been covered. Tire sizes mentioned are typically 13-inch fitments. Mileage in the sampled reports ranges from a few thousand miles on the tires up to about 152,000 miles on the vehicle; several reports involve highway speeds.
What to check: Inspect all four tires for date codes, sidewall bulges and uneven wear, and check pressures cold. Ask when the tires were installed and whether any have been replaced for pressure loss.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Vehicle was vibrating due to the tires. Tread was separating on 3 of the tires, and a bubble was found on the other tire. Tire size p175/70r13. Replacement equipment for Honda, Civic, 1992. 3 of the 4 tires were replaced with a charge to the consumer, (1 tire with the bubble was replaced free of charge), who feels that all 4 should have been replaced free due to defects.”
NHTSA complaint #8005848, filed 2002-03“Pe00 020; was traveling about 65mph on highway and felt vibration , steering wheel started to shake. Front left tire tread had separated from vehicle. Firestone/ bridgestone, sf-135ene, p175/70r13, DOT elfhcem441. Dealership is aware of problem. Consumer has not been reimbursed due to tire not being included in recall.”
NHTSA complaint #891064, filed 2001-06 - Seat belts
Seat belt buckle or webbing not holding
- 7 complaints (7%)
- median 144 mi at 18.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2009
Complaints describe seat belts that did not restrain occupants in a collision, including a buckle that released under impact and a belt that was worn but did not hold. One owner reported that the rear belts did not hold a child seat securely in the center position, letting it shift side to side. Another notes the seat back bracket broke and the seat reclined unexpectedly. Reports span very low mileage (a few hundred miles) up to routine use, and are generally tied to a collision event rather than a specific mileage.
What to check: Pull each belt fully out and let it retract to check for fraying or slow retraction, latch and release every buckle several times, and confirm the seat backs lock upright.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I was in a car accident on 9/7/09. I was injured, and had to be taken to shock trauma. My seat belt was on but did not work, and because it didn't work I received a severe head injury as well as neck and back problems, and constant headaches.”
NHTSA complaint #10283407, filed 2009-09, 144 miles“Passenger seat belt buckle fails to latch releasing when vehicle involved sandwich impact. No air bag deployed w/seat becoming wobbly. Please describe detail.”
NHTSA complaint #968541, filed 1995-07
Buying note. This is an old vehicle, so condition and maintenance history matter more than the model year itself; ask specifically about distributor replacements, tire age, and the air bag and seat belt systems. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a brake and air bag scan is worth the cost on a car of this age.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 46 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.
NHTSA recorded 98 consumer complaints for the 1992 Honda Civic. 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 27% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 116,754 miles. Of all complaints, 25 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 26 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
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.
- Electrical system28 29%
- Air bags17 17%
- Seat belts9 9.2%
- Brakes7 7.1%
- Tires7 7.1%
- Engine cooling6 6.1%
- Steering5 5.1%
Also reported: Other or unknown (4), Body and structure (4), Seats (3), Vehicle speed control (2), Equipment (1), Fuel system (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “1. I do not know what events lead up to this failure. 2. Ignition key cannot be removed approx. 90% of the time. (car is in park.) this problem developed about two years ago. Have to leave the key in the ignition which can cause a problem with my insurance company if the car is stolen. 3. Mechanics are unable to determine what is causing this to happen.”
NHTSA complaint #10348694, filed 2010-08, 116,754 milesAir bags: “Vehicle involved in a frontal collision of 35-45 mhp on normal road conditions, and driver's air bag failed to deploy. Driver received head injury/minor cuts and bruises. Dealer was notified.”
NHTSA complaint #860770, filed 2000-04Seat belts: “Rear seatbelts do not properly retain carseat when driving, causing carseat to move from side to side when place in center(rear). Please describe details. Tt”
NHTSA complaint #960025, filed 1995-02Brakes: “Excessive front brake bias: causes locked front tires, increased stopping distance, and warped front rotors. The excessive stopping distance has resulted in two accidents.”
NHTSA complaint #703742, filed 1999-02Mileage when problems were reported
27% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 43,000 and 152,057 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1992 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 | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 35 | 43 | 38 | $1,750 |
| Civic FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 33 | 42 | 37 | $1,800 |
| Civic FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 30 | 36 | 32 | $2,100 |
| Civic FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 26 | 33 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Civic FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Civic FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 23 | 31 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Civic HB VX FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 39 | 49 | 43 | $1,550 |
| Civic HB VX FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 36 | 46 | 40 | $1,700 |
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
- 94V063000Apr 10, 1994Power train › Automatic transmissionCovers: Honda Civic 1992–1994, Acura Integra 1994
A retaining clip that connects the transmission shift cable to the shift lever actuating rod can have insufficient retention pressure and may eventually come off after repeated shift lever operation. If this happens, the position of the shift lever may not…
Recall details for the 1992 Honda Civic → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- DP00007Ignition distributorClosed · Nov 13, 2000
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10013953May 1, 2004Equipment. Audio unit and navigation system anti-theft codes available on interactive network.
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 | 76 | 6,555 | 2 | 5 | 34 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 124 | 11,000 | 3 | 5 | 33 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 258 | 10,000 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 65 · More | Too new |
| 2022 | 885 | 26,264 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2021 | 147 | 30,000 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 10 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 231 | 15,400 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 48 · Typical | Rising |
| 2019 | 442 | 16,200 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 48 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 746 | 32,508 | 6 | 5 | 33 | 61 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 601 | 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 | 49 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 396 | 31,000 | 8 | — | 29 | 74 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 916 | 50,000 | 7 | — | 29 | 79 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 1,204 | 45,000 | 9 | — | 29 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 1,403 | 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
What are the most common problems with the 1992 Honda Civic?
Complaints on this model year cluster around a few recurring themes rather than one dominant problem: the ignition distributor failing and stalling the engine, air bags that did not deploy in crashes (or deployed unexpectedly), and various older-vehicle electrical and tire issues. The issues reported most often: Distributor failure causing stalling or no-start; Air bag did not deploy in a crash; Tire tread separation, bulges and pressure loss.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1992 Honda Civic have?
NHTSA recorded 98 consumer complaints for the 1992 Honda Civic as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1992 Honda Civic is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 28 complaints (29% of the total), followed by air bags with 17.
Has the 1992 Honda Civic been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1992 Honda Civic get?
The EPA rates the 1992 Honda Civic (Civic, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 37 mpg combined, 33 city and 42 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1992 Honda Civic reported?
Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 116,754 miles and the middle half falls between 43,000 and 152,057 miles; 27% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.