Skip to content
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)Part report

1996 Honda Civic Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems

Complaints
34about this part
Share
11%of 305 total for the year
Median mileage
125,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 34 complaints about the visibility of the 1996 Honda Civic, 11% of the 305 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 125,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The window on the driver's side continually comes off the track. I have had it fixed, but it still comes off and it is very difficult to get the window back up. I have no children and usually ride alone to work so no one 'plays' with the up/down button. The window on the passenger side will sometimes not come up. I have to have someone manually pull it up while I press the button. This has been going on for a number of years.”

NHTSA complaint #10586078, filed 2014-05, 190,000 miles

“Complaint about the malfunction on my driver side window,and the fact that this problem occured over three times while under Honda warranty, and was never resolved.”

NHTSA complaint #10007761, filed 2003-02, 21,000 miles

“The contact stated the power windows were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where it was determined the wiring harness needed to be replaced. It was taken to the dealership for repair. Also, the hazard light was inoperable. The dealership determined the hazard light switch needed to be replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #10153052, filed 2006-03, 125,000 miles

“My 1996 Honda Civic hx has driver side window failure where the window falls off the track and will not go up or down. Also, the window molding around the driver's window buckles and causes the window to fall off the track. Have had it repaired several times and still has the exact same problem recurring. Have read many other complaints as to this same problem, and am wondering why there hasn't been some sort of recall.”

NHTSA complaint #10136829, filed 2005-09

“Both headlight got water in them when car washed-replaced seals and lenses-warranty, windshield made howling noise at freeway speeds-resealed twice-warranty, left front seat would not move back and forth-replaced track-warranty, dead battery-replaced-warranty, rt front seatbelt would not retract-installed new seatbelt-warranty.”

NHTSA complaint #724492, filed 2000-06

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202626%
202556%
202432%
2022121%
202132%
2020146%
2019102%
2018182%
2017376%
2016676%
201551%
201462%
2013144%
2012102%
20112112%
20105213%
2009297%
200813315%
200721218%
200623917%
200583%
200493%
2003122%
2002213%
2001283%
200052%
1999144%
1998246%
1997339%
19963411%
199563%
199421%
199364%
199255%
199144%
199067%
198923%
198713%
198517%

Other parts of the 1996 Honda Civic

Air bags
70 complaints
Brakes
61 complaints
Vehicle speed control
31 complaints
Engine cooling
27 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
25 complaints
Other or unknown
19 complaints
Body and structure
19 complaints
Electrical system
17 complaints
Exterior lighting
13 complaints
Tires
11 complaints
Equipment
10 complaints
Seat belts
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1996 Honda Civic

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology