NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Buckle Assembly
1352.0%
Retractor
312.0%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings
28.0%
Webbing
28.0%
Anchorage
28.0%
Axle Shaft
14.0%
Bumpers
14.0%
Tread/Belt
14.0%
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.
Jan 1995peak 3Feb 2008
NHTSA investigations into the 1987 Honda Civic
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA94035Opened 27 Oct 1994Closed 31 Jul 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
PE94052Opened 11 Jul 1994Closed 27 Oct 1994SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILS
EA89005Opened 16 Nov 1988Closed 30 Nov 1989VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FUEL SYSTEM VENTING
===
Recalls on the 1987 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.
United States — NHTSA
95V103001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
88V180000
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
UNDER HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTACT UNIT COULD LOOSEN AND BECOME DISLODGED.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE AND WOULDAFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY.
87V171000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, SECTIONS 6A AND 6B WAS OMITTED FROM THE MANUAL.
Risk: VEHICLES MANUAL INFORMATION DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS210.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1995086423,467 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the platic front seatbelt release buttons may break allowing plastic pieces to fall into the buckle assembly. If this should happen, a no latch, false latch or failure to unlatch condition could occur creating the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Correction: Front seatbelt buckles will be repaired or replaced as necessary.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
SAN Bernardino, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #767346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apple Valley, MNCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE METAL TONGUE OF THE BUCKLE SNAPPED IN HALF. MY CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN STRANGLED BY THE T-TYPE HARNESS THAT GOES OVER HIS HEAD, IF WE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FORCE.
NHTSA complaint #704037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edwardsville, PA1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED IN ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #505134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelphia, PACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, HIT AN IRON FENCE.
NHTSA complaint #985321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
White Plains, NYCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED WHILE DRIVING ERRATIC OPERATION DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. TT
NHTSA complaint #961694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palms, MICrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVERS/PASSENGERS SHOULDER BELTS FAILED DURINGN AN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. TT
NHTSA complaint #960626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 267,358 milesSAN Leandro, CA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 HONDA CIVIC CRX. THE VEHICLE HAS HANKOOK RADIAL MAX A/S (NA) TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BOUNCED UP AND DOWN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS DELAMINATING. THE TIRE SHOP OFFERED THE CONTACT A TIRE UPGRADE AT HIS EXPENSE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE TIRE SIZE AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 267,358 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 267,427.
NHTSA complaint #10217979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 157,000 milesFrederick, MD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FUEL SYSTEM LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME BY A DEALER, THE SECOND TIME BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE FUEL SYSTEM LINES HAD FAILED AGAIN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint #10159221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,645 milesFrederick, MD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE FUEL LINE LEAKED WHICH CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. *AK THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. LIQUID GASOLINE DRIPPED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE DRIVER'S DOOR. REPLACED OLD PIPES AND FUEL LINES AND OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10034277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Bernardino, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #767346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yorktown, VA
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO SWERVE. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND NOTICED SUPPORT ROD ARM FOR REAR AXLE WAS TORN FROM FRAME ON LEFT SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #8005998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Paul, MN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER VEHICLE WILL SURGE AT SPEEDS OF AROUND 30 MPH. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.
NHTSA complaint #8001344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxnard, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE THE DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND COLLIDED WITH TWO OTHER PARKED VEHICLES. YH
NHTSA complaint #551202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belton, MO
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #551810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belton, MO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
NHTSA complaint #547480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apple Valley, MNCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE METAL TONGUE OF THE BUCKLE SNAPPED IN HALF. MY CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN STRANGLED BY THE T-TYPE HARNESS THAT GOES OVER HIS HEAD, IF WE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FORCE.
NHTSA complaint #704037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montgomery, NY
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE RIGHT SWINGARM ON THE REAR SUSPENSION BROKE DUE TO BEING ROTTED COMPLEATELY THROUGH, THE SWING ARM ON THE LEFR SIDE IS ALSO IN VERY BAD SHAPE AND ALSO WOULD LIKELY FAIL SOON.
NHTSA complaint #704029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gainesvill, FL
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT WINDOWS ARE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY AND REQUIRE TWO HANDS TO ROLL UP.
NHTSA complaint #538829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa FE, NM
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL # 95V103001, SEAT BELT BUCKLES; DEALER NOT ABLE TO CORRECT RECALL BECAUSE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. OWNER IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE BELT BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. DEALER NOT SURE WHEN PART WILL BECOME AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #822642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsburgh, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#95V103001) IN THE MAIL. CALLED DEALER & SET UP APPOINTMENT. ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT, TOOK VEHICLE IN. AFTER WAITING FOR AWHILE, WAS INFORMED DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS FOR REPAIR & DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #819158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Matteson, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, LESS THAN 10 MPH, COULD CAUSE CRASH, DEALER REPLACED AIR SHOT VALVE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #815239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.