1993 Honda Civic Problems
- Complaints
- 146filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 139,500miles, 16 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 31 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 29 city / 34 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1993 Honda Civic (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe air bags that did not deploy in collisions, along with ignition and electrical failures that stalled the car, sometimes after the engine quit in traffic. Many complaints come from cars well past 100,000 miles, and several describe failures that appeared suddenly while driving rather than as gradual wear.
- Air bags
Air bag does not deploy in a crash
- 27 complaints (18%)
- typically at 4.8 yrs old
- 26 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2003
Complaints describe frontal and rollover collisions where the driver's air bag, and sometimes the passenger's, did not inflate even though the car was heavily damaged. In some reports the air bag cover came loose from the steering wheel or a powder was released without full deployment. Owners say they or their passengers were injured, and in some cases the dealer said the air bag should be fine without inspecting the vehicle. Reported across a wide range of crash speeds and vehicle ages; mileage is usually not stated in these complaints.
What to check: Ask whether the air bag system has ever been diagnosed or the warning lamp checked, and have a shop confirm the air bag readiness light comes on and goes out at start-up.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“A friend was driving consumer's car on a city street approaching an intersection with flashing red lights, had to stop before making a left handed turn. Another vehicle was travelling about 20mph, hit consumer's vehicle on right front bumper, and driver's side airbag didn't deploy. Didn't contact dealer or manufacturer.”
NHTSA complaint #855703, filed 2000-01“While dodging from hitting a deer vehicle was turn into a field and collided into several trees on the passenger's side of the vehicle, and then a frontal collision with a big tree. Speed was undetermined. Upon impact, driver's air bag failed to deploy. Dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time.”
NHTSA complaint #865143, filed 2000-07 - Electrical system
Distributor / igniter failure causing stalls
- 17 complaints (12%)
- median 111,655 mi at 10.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
- filed 1997–2007
Owners describe the engine quitting without warning at speed or at a stop, then refusing to restart until the distributor or igniter was replaced. Mechanics quoted in the complaints point to the distributor bearing or igniter inside the distributor, and several owners report repeat failures after replacement, including with rebuilt units. Some also mention tune-up work being done at the same time. Reported from roughly 85,000 to 170,000 miles, often as an abrupt stall while driving.
What to check: Ask whether the distributor or igniter has been replaced and with what part; a pre-purchase inspection can check for a rough idle, hard starting or a cracked distributor cap.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I have a 1993 Honda Civic lx. Couple of days back when I was driving back from work, my car suddenly stalled at a traffic light. It would not start. With the help of a passer by I got my car pushed in a parking lot. Later I had it towed to my garage. My mechanic told me that the igniter had failed. He charged me $700 to replace the igniter and do a tune up.”
NHTSA complaint #10062183, filed 2004-03, 111,655 miles“Distributor failed and caused the vehicle stop on the freeway. When I had the car fixed, the mechanic said all the hondas during this period have the same failure. One year later my 1990 Honda Civic had the distributor fail also. I am concerned that accidents are occurring because the distributor fails in heavt traffic. It is a manufacture defect. I was told the bearings are low quality and freeze up.”
NHTSA complaint #10025547, filed 2003-07, 170,000 miles - Brakes
Brake pedal goes to the floor
Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints describe pressing the brake pedal and having it sink all the way down with little or no braking, in some cases followed by a collision. Owners report being told a sensor needed replacing, or that the dealer was already aware of the problem. One owner describes brake pads seizing in the guides and overheating the rotors. Reported at ordinary driving speeds on highways and city streets; mileage is often not given.
What to check: Check pedal feel and fluid level, look for leaks at the master cylinder and lines, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While traveling 30 MPH hit brake pedal and it went to the floorboard, brakes failed to stop vehicle, resulting in a collision. Consumer contcted dealer and they said the sensor needed to be replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #848084, filed 1999-09“Consumer was traveling about 40mph on highway and applied brakes, pedal went all the way to the floor. She was forced to pull over to shoulders. Dealership was aware of problem.”
NHTSA complaint #891696, filed 2001-06 - Seat belts
Seat belt will not stay latched or retract
- 11 complaints (8%)
- typically at 4.0 yrs old
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2001
Owners report buckles that click but release when the belt is moved, belts that will not latch at all, and belts that fail to retract or keep tightening in use. In a few crash reports the belt webbing or shoulder restraint gave way on impact. Some owners say the dealer was contacted to have the belt checked. Described on cars in everyday use; mileage and age are generally not stated.
What to check: Buckle and unbuckle every belt, tug each one to confirm it locks, and check that the belts retract smoothly.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The passenger's side seat belt buckle will not stay fastened. Consumer states when pushing the belt into the buckle, it clicks as though it is fastened, however when the belt is moved, it comes loose and it has to be refastened.”
NHTSA complaint #825777, filed 1998-07“Vehicle was rear ended and pushed into traffic and hit by a truck, upon impact the seatbelt strap webbing broke, causing a broke collar bone and injury to right hand. Seat latch also failed causing the seat back to collapse. Nlm”
NHTSA complaint #549338, filed 1999-10 - Transmission and drivetrain
Automatic transmission slipping or not engaging
Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints describe the automatic transmission leaking fluid and slipping out of gear, and a case where the car would not move when shifted into drive and rolled backward. One owner reports the dealer attempted a transmission repair three times without resolving it, and another mentions a recalled shift cable whose parts were unavailable. Mostly reported past 100,000 miles, including one at about 176,000 miles.
What to check: Check for a delayed or harsh engagement when shifting from park to drive, look for fluid leaks under the transmission, and ask whether the shift cable recall work was completed.
An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I was driving alone and the transmission locked my car would not move, I was hit from behind and was knocked into the car in front of me. I contacted the dealer they repaired it. Mjs”
NHTSA complaint #848672, filed 1999-09
Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection that covers the brakes, seat belts, air bag warning lamp and transmission is worth the cost on a car of this age, and it is reasonable to ask for service records showing whether the distributor and ignition parts have been replaced.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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 146 consumer complaints for the 1993 Honda Civic. 16 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 139,500 miles. Of all complaints, 40 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 31 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.
- Air bags27 18%
- Electrical system25 17%
- Steering15 10%
- Engine cooling13 8.9%
- Brakes12 8.2%
- Seat belts11 7.5%
- Body and structure7 4.8%
- Tires7 4.8%
- Seats6 4.1%
Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (6), Equipment (5), Other or unknown (5), Suspension (5), Vehicle speed control (5), Fuel system (4), Latches, locks and linkages (4).
Example complaints
Air bags: “Right front of vehicle impacted another vehicle while traveling at approximately 30 to 40 MPH. Driver's air bag released a powder, but failed to deploy. Dealership informed consumer that air bag should be fine, but has not examined the vehicle. Consumer was injured in accident.”
NHTSA complaint #891036, filed 2001-06Electrical system: “Check engine light,then rough idle,then total death of ignition,stalled. Repair station diagnosed it to be a distributor failure. Replaced with new one,6 months later it failed and was replaced with rebuilt unit. Now about 6 months again,same problem with the rebuilt distributor apparently. Haven't taken it to a repair shop yet.”
NHTSA complaint #10200059, filed 2007-08, 142,000 milesSteering: “Vehicle suffered broken tie rod causing vehicle to run off the road. The consumer hit a ditch. The failure was a broken rod on the right steering axle.”
NHTSA complaint #10047757, filed 2003-11Engine cooling: “The contact owns a 1993 Honda Civic. While driving 30 MPH, the accelerator pedal would not respond when depressed. The battery and engine oil lights illuminated and all electrical power failed. A mechanic stated that the engine coil failed and the dealer replaced the part. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 130,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10203415, filed 2007-09, 130,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 16 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 104,000 and 168,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1993 Honda Civic. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic · sedan | not rated | 3 / 4 | — | — | — |
| Civic · coupe | not rated | 3 / 4 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1993 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 | 41 | 38 | $1,750 |
| Civic FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 33 | 41 | 36 | $1,850 |
| Civic FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 29 | 36 | 32 | $2,100 |
| Civic FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 26 | 35 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Civic FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 25 | 32 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Civic FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 23 | 31 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Civic Del Sol FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 29 | 34 | 31 | $2,150 |
| Civic Del Sol FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 26 | 33 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Civic Del Sol FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 25 | 30 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Civic Del Sol 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 | 37 | 45 | 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 1993 Honda Civic → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE94055Alleged steering lockupClosed · Jul 20, 1994
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 | 78 | 7,278 | 2 | 5 | 34 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 126 | 11,000 | 3 | 5 | 33 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 259 | 10,000 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 64 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 886 | 27,000 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2021 | 147 | 30,000 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 10 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 234 | 15,400 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 49 · Typical | Rising |
| 2019 | 443 | 16,200 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 48 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 748 | 32,508 | 6 | 5 | 33 | 61 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 604 | 23,300 | 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 | 48 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 396 | 31,000 | 8 | — | 29 | 74 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 916 | 50,000 | 7 | — | 29 | 78 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 1,204 | 45,000 | 9 | — | 29 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 1,404 | 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 1993 Honda Civic?
Owners of this model year most often describe air bags that did not deploy in collisions, along with ignition and electrical failures that stalled the car, sometimes after the engine quit in traffic. The issues reported most often: Air bag does not deploy in a crash; Distributor / igniter failure causing stalls; Brake pedal goes to the floor.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1993 Honda Civic have?
NHTSA recorded 146 consumer complaints for the 1993 Honda Civic as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1993 Honda Civic is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 27 complaints (18% of the total), followed by electrical system with 25.
Has the 1993 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 1993 Honda Civic get?
The EPA rates the 1993 Honda Civic (Civic Del Sol, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 31 mpg combined, 29 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1993 Honda Civic reported?
Among the 16 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 139,500 miles and the middle half falls between 104,000 and 168,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.