Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1985 Honda Civic
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
529.4%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Doors, Latches & Locks
211.8%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Seats
211.8%
Fuel & Propulsion
211.8%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Engine & Cooling
211.8%
Tires
15.9%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
15.9%
Suspension
15.9%
Brakes
15.9%
1 crashes, 0 fires
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1995peak 4Feb 2001
Recalls on the 1985 Honda Civic
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 198811230,629 units in Canada
Fuel System
On certain vehicles, the mechanically operated fuel pump on carburated engine may eventually develop a fuel leak at the crimped seam between the two fuel pump halves. This could result in an engine compartment fire. Correction: An improved fuel pump will be installed.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Suisun City, CAFire1 injured
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DUE TO PRESSURE BUILD UP IN FUEL TANK VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING MINOR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #880554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lancaster, CACrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME OPEN UPON IMPACT AND DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER CHEST.
NHTSA complaint #804904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, MOCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
SON DRIVING VEHICLE, WENT ACROSS 4 LANES, STOPPED AT SIGN, PULLED ONTO MERIDIAN, BRAKES FAILED, PUMPED BRAKES HARD, NOT WORKING, FOUND BRAKE FLUID ON SEALS.
NHTSA complaint #986088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #979988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Davenport, IACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE BELT CAME OUT THE BUCKLE. TT
NHTSA complaint #979129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Suisun City, CAFire1 injured
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DUE TO PRESSURE BUILD UP IN FUEL TANK VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, RESULTING MINOR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #880554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairfield, CA
TIRES
TIRE TRACTION UNACCEPTABLY LOW. TIRES SPIN ON TAKE-OFF AND SKID ON ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE PROBLEM IS TREMENDOUSLY WORSE ON WET ROAD THAN ON DRY ROAD, BUT STILL POSES DANGER EVEN ON DRY ROAD. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO GETTING WORSE AS THE TIRES GET OLDER. THEY WERE PURCHASED IN OCTOBER OF 1999. WHEN THE TIRES SLIDE OR SPIN, THEY MAKE VERY LITTLE NOISE AND LEAVE NO MARKS. THEY ARE ALSO SHOWING VIRTUALLY NO WEAR. THEY HAVE BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 14,000 MILES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 175/70R13)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 175/70R13 )
NHTSA complaint #740677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE OVERHEATED TWICE DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #520813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Accord, NY
SUSPENSION:REAR
LEFT REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM DISCONNECTED FROM THE AXLE HOUSING ATTACHMENT POINT. ALSO SPRING ON SEAT NEARLY ROTTED OUT, AND SHOCK ABSORBER WAS NEARLY ROTTING OUT.
NHTSA complaint #815716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lancaster, CACrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME OPEN UPON IMPACT AND DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER CHEST.
NHTSA complaint #804904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, MOCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
SON DRIVING VEHICLE, WENT ACROSS 4 LANES, STOPPED AT SIGN, PULLED ONTO MERIDIAN, BRAKES FAILED, PUMPED BRAKES HARD, NOT WORKING, FOUND BRAKE FLUID ON SEALS.
NHTSA complaint #986088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.