1998 Honda Civic Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 29about this part
- Share
- 7%of 435 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 35,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1998 Honda Civic, 7% of the 435 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 35,000 miles. 7 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.
“While driving on and approaching one of if not the largest socal freeway interchanges, driving at about 70mph or so, back to la from san diego; our 1998 Civic lx took control of itself and the speed increased to over 105mph, shaking and thumping. After weaving around pockets of traffic, including using the small shoulders, and all 5 or so lanes, as we approached the massive merging of freeways, panicked, we stomped and banged the floor, dash, everything. …”
NHTSA complaint #10302470, filed 2010-01, 35,000 miles“My accelerator pedal gets stuck and cannot be pressed unless a lot of force is used. When the pedal comes unstuck the car then jumps forward. This makes it very difficult and dangerous to drive, especially in slow traffic and when it rains. I have taken the car to the dealer eight times to repair from june 1998 to november 2002, but they could not repair it, even though Honda had a safety recall for this problem. The floor mat never caused the sticking. …”
NHTSA complaint #10066497, filed 2004-04, 3,570 miles“I was traveling on a wet road at 40mph. When applied brakes, the body of the vehicle jerked forward abruptly and the brakes locked up on me, causing the vehicle to skid off road. The vehicle hit concrete blocks and totaled the front end. The air bags failed to deploy. Ts”
NHTSA complaint #10000354, filed 2002-12, 58,000 miles“Regarding my 1998 Honda passport - stop and go traffic. Put foot on brake and car suddenly accelerated. Put both feet on brake, engine sounded like it had been kicked into passing gear. Brakes were squealing. Rear ended vehicle in front of me. Vehicle I hit jumped forward and my passport continued to rev and lurch forward striking the vehicle again. After the 2nd strike the engine kicked back down. I'm seeing similar reports regarding the passport and it's sister/brother the rodeo. This is dangerous. Thankfully no one was injured this time. This car can't be trusted.”
NHTSA complaint #10107945, filed 2005-01, 52,000 miles“While driving on the highway at approximately 55 MPH driver applied the cruise control and set it on 55 MPH. However, when applying, cruise control vehicle continued to accelerate. Driver had to turn the key off in order to get the vehicle to slow to a stop. Owner contacted the manufacturer, who urged consumer to take vehicle into a dealership. There may or may not be a charge.”
NHTSA complaint #10115076, filed 2005-03, 30,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10086422Sep 21, 2016Service bulletin - due to the floor design, a mispositioned floor mat could prevent the accelerator pedal from returning to the idle position. In this case, the vehicle may…
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 6% |
| 2025 | 4 | 5% |
| 2024 | 4 | 3% |
| 2023 | 4 | 2% |
| 2022 | 42 | 5% |
| 2021 | 6 | 4% |
| 2020 | 4 | 2% |
| 2019 | 11 | 2% |
| 2018 | 5 | 1% |
| 2017 | 13 | 2% |
| 2016 | 17 | 2% |
| 2015 | 20 | 5% |
| 2014 | 9 | 3% |
| 2013 | 20 | 6% |
| 2012 | 38 | 8% |
| 2011 | 10 | 6% |
| 2010 | 15 | 4% |
| 2009 | 17 | 4% |
| 2008 | 29 | 3% |
| 2007 | 24 | 2% |
| 2006 | 40 | 3% |
| 2005 | 25 | 8% |
| 2004 | 23 | 7% |
| 2003 | 34 | 7% |
| 2002 | 25 | 4% |
| 2001 | 30 | 3% |
| 2000 | 17 | 6% |
| 1999 | 13 | 4% |
| 1998 | 29 | 7% |
| 1997 | 38 | 10% |
| 1996 | 31 | 10% |
| 1995 | 7 | 4% |
| 1994 | 9 | 7% |
| 1993 | 5 | 3% |
| 1992 | 2 | 2% |
| 1991 | 2 | 2% |
| 1990 | 5 | 5% |
| 1989 | 9 | 13% |
| 1988 | 13 | 28% |
| 1987 | 4 | 10% |
Other parts of the 1998 Honda Civic
96 complaintsElectrical system
88 complaintsEngine cooling
53 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
49 complaintsBody and structure
26 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
24 complaintsTires
18 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsEquipment
10 complaintsSeat belts
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Honda Civic
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 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