FaultScore

1992 Honda Civic electrical problems

29 of the 113 complaints about the 1992 Honda Civic are about the electrical system — 26% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 204,430 miles.

D

29

Complaints

0

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Ignition 23 79.3%
Module 2 6.9%
Electrical System 2 6.9%
Wiring 1 3.4%
Switch 1 3.4%

Electrical System across every Honda Civic year

1989 12 0.8%
1990 19 1.2%
1991 24 1.6%
1992 29 1.9%
1993 28 1.8%
1995 13 0.8%
1996 18 1.2%
1997 33 2.2%
1998 96 6.3%
1999 122 8.0%
2000 41 2.7%
2001 61 4.0%
2002 49 3.2%
2003 51 3.3%
2004 32 2.1%
2005 26 1.7%
2006 101 6.6%
2007 70 4.6%
2008 51 3.3%
2009 36 2.3%
2010 23 1.5%
2011 15 1.0%
2012 59 3.8%
2013 39 2.5%
2014 39 2.5%
2015 27 1.8%
2016 119 7.8%
2017 99 6.5%
2018 61 4.0%
2019 37 2.4%
2020 34 2.2%
2021 17 1.1%
2022 38 2.5%
2023 15 1.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 205,105 miles Colorado Springs, CO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,105.

NHTSA complaint #10410003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 116,754 miles Pleasant Grove, UT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT EVENTS LEAD UP TO THIS FAILURE. 2. IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED APPROX. 90% OF THE TIME. (CAR IS IN PARK.) THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WHICH CAN CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY IF THE CAR IS STOLEN. 3. MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #10348694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington Beach, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WOULD START AND THEN STALL IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. HE FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT MAKING CONTACT. HE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE IS WORKING CORRECTLY AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10142994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 204,430 miles Daly City, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

WHILE DRIVING MY 1992 HONDA CIVIC ON INTERSTATE FREEWAY AND CITY STREETS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED IMMEDIATE ENGINE STALLING WITH NO WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10064366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yuma, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IN 1998 DISTRIBUTOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AT THAT TIME I HAD DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAD A SECOND DISTRIBUTOR PUT IN 6/22/2000 AFTER ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. SERVICE LIGHT AND DIAGNOSE POINTED TO BAD DISTRIBUTOR AGAIN. NOW IT 2002 AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON AGAIN. IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE SAME PROBLEM HOWEVER, I PLAN TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER SOON. DIAGNOSE CODE OF 9 FLASHES ON THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. POINTS MAYBE TO DISTRIBUTOR FAILURE AGAIN. I AM SUBMITTING THIS IN AN EFFORT TO BE REIMBURSTED BY HONDA FOR REPAIRS I PAID FOR. I ALSO WANT HONDA TO KNOW THERE DISTRIBUTORS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I DISCOVERED THAT THE DISTRIBUTORS FOR 1991-1993 ACCORD AND 199201993 CIVICS ALL HAVE COMMON PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #763877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dansville, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, DEALER REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8005134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DISTRIBUTOR HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. PRIVATE MECHANIC HAS REPLACED ALL OF PLUGS AND RECOMMENDED THAT CONSUMER FIND ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE "THE DISTRIBUTOR WANTS TO DIE". *AK THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE EASILY AND STALLS AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #888509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stony Brook, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED, THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION PICKUPS AND IGNITOR ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA complaint #555548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kenosha, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE DISTRIBUTOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE RECALLED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #557286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE DISTRIBUTOR MALFUNCTIONING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS, AND DEALER COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint #850205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DISTRIBUTOR, IGNITION COIL AND TIMING BELT FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #535831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Diamond BAR, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DISTRIBUTOR BEARING FAILURE

NHTSA complaint #703744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Germantown, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

FACTORY DISTRIBUTOR ASSY. REPLACED 04/1997. REPLACED AGAIN 02/1999. CONTACTED HONDA EACH TIME. SELECTIVE CAMPAIGN BY MFGR. MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY CAMPAIGN. RESEARCHED RELIABILITY AT WWW.CARPOINT.COM, DISCOVERED: 1991-1993 ACCORD AND 1992-1993 CIVIC ALL HAVE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH DISTRIBUTOR!!!

NHTSA complaint #703712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Poolesville, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DISTRIBUTOR BEARINGS WERE GROUND UP. DISTRIBUTOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I HEARD ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL/REIMBURSEMENT ON THE PAT GOSS AUTOMOTIVE RADIO SHOW. PAT TOLD ME THAT THERE IS SOME TYPE OF RECALL ON HONDA DISTRIBUTORS, AND THAT HONDA DISTRIBUTORS ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE AUTOMOTIVE FIELD. I AM SUBMITTING THIS IN AN EFFORT TO BE REIMBURSED BY HONDA FOR THE REPAIRS THAT I PAID FOR. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW IF HONDA HAS REDESIGNED THEIR DISTRIBUTORS SO THAT FAILURES WILL NOT OCCOUR IN THE FUTURE. THE PAT GOSS AUTOMOTIVE IS ON FROM 11AM TO 2PM EST ON SUNDAYS. HIS PHONE NUMBER AT THAT TIME IS 1-800-636-1067 IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HE KNOWS CONCERNING THE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH HONDA DISTRIBUTORS. PAT TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO MILEAGE LIMIT TO THE RECALL. I PLAN ON KEEPING THIS CAR AS LONG AS IT WILL RUN, AN WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ASSURED THAT ANY FUTURE REPAIRS TO THE DISTRIBUTOR WILL BE PAID FOR BY HONDA. MY CAR WAS DISABLED, SO I HAVE A TOWING BILL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REPAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!! PLEASE CONTACT ME AFTER YOU GET THIS, SO I KNOW IT WENT THRU. THANKS! -- MIKE YOUNG

NHTSA complaint #702782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norcross, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. DEALER HAD TOLD HER THE PROBLEM WAS DISTRIBUTOR.

NHTSA complaint #833523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bronx, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRING FAILS DURING WET WEATHER.

NHTSA complaint #605821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Metairie, LA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #541620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Melbourne, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

BEARING IN THE DISTRIBUTOR HOUSING GENERATES EXCESSIVE HEAT THROUGH THE STEEL DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT AND FAILS WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OFENGINE POWER AND DIMINSHING BRAKING AND STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #539715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Duarte, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #536312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miramar, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #528836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Rosa, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT BEARINGS WERE WEARING OUT AND WERE MAKING NOISE ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHERE THE WATER PUMP AND DISTRIBUTOR WERE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER'S MECHANIC.

NHTSA complaint #823955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Rosa, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT BEARINGS WERE DISINTEGRATING DUE TO ENTIRE DISTRIBUTOR AND INSIDE OF CAP BEING COVERED IN RUST DUST.

NHTSA complaint #526870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raleigh, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE BUSHING IN THE DISTRIBUTOR WAS MAKING A CHIRPING NOISE .

NHTSA complaint #513742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lawrencevill, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

UPON PULLING WAY FROM A STOP SIGN VEHICLE CONVULSED VIOLENTLY DUE TO DISTRIBUTOR/ROTOR/CAP FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #515419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfax, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE AIR CONDITION ON THE VEHICLE STALLS/HESITATES AND ALSO CUTS OFF.

NHTSA complaint #984848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Temecula, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE DISTRIBUTOR FROZE AND THEN THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #978132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Temecula, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE DISTRIBUTOR FROZE AND THEN THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #978132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver Sprin, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DISTRIBUTOR IS FAULTY; ENGINE SHUTS OFF FREQUENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. TT

NHTSA complaint #966165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bonita Sprin, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE ENGINE HESITATES DUE TO HUMIDITY, OWNER BELIEVES THE COMPUTER IN VEHICLE CAUSE MORE PORBLEM. TT

NHTSA complaint #965121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1992 Honda Civic problems

← Full 1992 Honda Civic report