FaultScore

1996 Honda Civic body problems

19 of the 383 complaints about the 1996 Honda Civic are about the body and structure — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 154,012 miles.

B

19

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Door 6 31.6%
Body 4 21.1%
Structure 4 21.1%
Trunk LID 2 10.5%
Hinge AND Attachments 1 5.3%
Frame AND Members 1 5.3%
Hinge AND Attachments 1 5.3%

Body & Structure across every Honda Civic year

1991 13 1.7%
1995 12 1.5%
1996 19 2.4%
1997 18 2.3%
1998 28 3.6%
1999 19 2.4%
2000 10 1.3%
2001 30 3.9%
2002 20 2.6%
2003 26 3.3%
2004 17 2.2%
2005 25 3.2%
2006 80 10.3%
2007 71 9.1%
2008 85 10.9%
2009 45 5.8%
2010 43 5.5%
2011 10 1.3%
2012 35 4.5%
2013 23 3.0%
2015 18 2.3%
2016 48 6.2%
2017 37 4.7%
2018 21 2.7%
2019 12 1.5%
2022 14 1.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 218,025 miles Massillon, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY

PASSENGER SIDE SUB-FRAME IS HEAVILY RUSTED AND BROKEN AT THE BOTTOM. PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL MOVES SIDE TO SIDE WITH EASE. THE CAR HAS BEEN OWNED BY ME FOR TWO YEARS WITH NO ISSUE. I DO NOT AND HAVE NOT USED THE A/C, BUT LIKELY RELATED TO THE A/C DRIP TUBE POINTING DIRECTLY ON THE SUB-FRAME AND RUSTING IT THROUGH. IT'S NOT WORTH REPAIRING BUT COULD POSSIBLE BE REINFORCED WITH A WELD. SELLING DEALER DENIES ANY DEFECT UPON ORIGINAL SALE. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS MAINLY RUST FREE, WHAT WAS LURKING UNDERNEATH WAS DEFINITELY NOT SAFETY INSPECTED BEFORE PUTTING ON THE LOT FOR SALE. AT THE TIME I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, I SAW NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND SUB-FRAME AREA. I LATER FOUND OUT THE DAMAGE TO BE CONCEALED BY SANDING AND DARK COLORED UNDERCOATING. PRESUMABLY BY THE SCAM DEALER. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN THE NE, HONDA SHOULD ASSURE THAT CRITICAL PARTS LIKE THIS WILL STAND UP. I CAN'T SAY WHAT WORK HAD BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE BEFORE I OWNED IT, OR IF THE VEHICLE WAS GARAGED OR NOT. FROM WHAT I AM READING, THAT DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE THOUGH. HONDA OWNERS, CHECK THIS ITEM. I COULDN'T SEE PUTTING A NEW SUB-FRAME, ALONG WITH STEEP DEALER LABOR PRICES TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. HONDA AMERICA NEEDS TO STEP UP WITH AN ADMISSION OF FAULT AND A RECALL, IF NOT ONLY TO REINFORCE THOSE FRAMES THAT ARE STRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #10816165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Levittown, PA

STRUCTURE

8/4/2014 DEAR AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY, INC. I AM A PROUD HONDA OWNER, AND I CHOSE HONDA AS MY AUTO OF CHOICE FOR ITS COMPACT SIZE, ITS KNOWN RELIABILITY AS WELL AS GREAT GAS MILEAGE. I HAVE BEEN HOLDING ON YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE @ 1-800-999-1009 FOR QUITE A WHILE AND A FEW DAYS, AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SPEAK TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, SO I AM IN THIS LETTER CORRESPONDING MY CONCERNS TO YOU. I OWN A 1997 HONDA CIVIC LX WHICH I PURCHASE IN 6/12/2006 NEW. MY HONDA HAS JUST LEGITIMATELY CLOCKED 90 THOUSAND MILES AS OF 8/4/2014, SO I AM QUERIED I WOULD BE HAVING PROBLEMS. I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED BY A HONDA DEALER AS WELL AS I CHECKED AND READ ON LINE THAT HONDA ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE MODELS FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AS WELL AS THE PAINT CHIPPING OFF IN SEVERAL AREAS. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY KIND OF NOTIFICATION FROM HONDA NOR HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MY HONDA CHECKED FOR THESE PROBLEMS, ALTHOUGH I HAD MY HONDA SERVICED IN 3 MAJOR PENNSYLVANIA HONDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT WAS NEVER REPORTED AS A MAJOR CONCERN TO ME, MY AUTO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF AND THE CAR STUTTERS AND JERKS WHILE ACCELERATING INDICATING PROBLEMS, I CAN DRIVE WITHOUT A MAJOR INCIDENT DOING NEIGHBORHOOD CHORES OR PHYSICIANS OFFICE VISITS IF THE AUTO IS GOING 40 MPH OR UNDER, AND WHEN TAKEN TO BE SERVICED BY ME AND CHECKED, IT IS NOT SHOWING UP. RECENTLY MY AUTO BOGGED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY ONLY GOING 50 MPH WHILE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 70, I WAS FRIGHTENED BY THIS OCCURRENCE AND I FELT THE AUTO WAS GOING TO STOP AND I WOULD BE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY! I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN ON A FIXED INCOME AND I AM ASKING FOR GOODWILL REPAIRS CONCERNING THESE PROBLEM AS WELL AS A REPAIR FOR THE CHIPPING PAINT. WOULD YOU PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME SO THESE CAN BE RESOLVED?

NHTSA complaint #10618839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL Crash

STRUCTURE

BELTS CAME OF PULLEYS, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL RESULTING IN ACOLLISION. ALSO, REPLACED THROTTLE CABLE/EMISSIONS/IGNITION/CV BOOTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.

NHTSA complaint #10009619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Upper Marlboro, MD

STRUCTURE:BODY

LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO DRIVING DURING EXTENSIVE RAIN CONDITIONS. CAR IS BUILT TOO CLOSE TO THE ROAD AND EXCESSIVE WATER ON THE ROAD HAS NO PLACE TO GO EXCEPT UNDER THE CAR. LOST CONTROL EVERY TIME OVER 40MPH, EVEN WITH NEW TIRES. TRADED CAR. TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE IN HEAVY RAIN. ALSO SAW A FATILITY ON THE NEWS ABOUT LOSS OF CONTROL IN HEAVY RAIN WITH A HONDA CIVIC SEDAN.

NHTSA complaint #752280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

WHEN OPENING, TRUNK LID REBOUNDS STRIKING OPERATOR IN HEAD, CAUSING CONCUSSION

NHTSA complaint #720252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cedar Grove, NJ

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE REMOTE DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A WEEK IN THE DRIVEWAY. APPARENTLY A "CRYSTAL" WHICH CONTROLS THIS BROKE. THERE WAS NO RESON ON MY PART WHY IT SHOULD HAVE BROKEN. I DON'T SEE WHY I SHOULD PAY $450 FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A DEFECT AND HAS BEEN FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES BY MY MECHANIC IN CIVICS OF THE SAME YEAR. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAS FAILED IN NUMEROUS CIVICS FROM 1996 ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, LEADING US TO BELIEVE THAT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE DEFECTS.

NHTSA complaint #712830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Witchataw, KS

STRUCTURE

PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MAT PUSHES UNDER THE DASH, CAUSING AIR CODITIONER DRAIN HOSE TO DISCONNECT AND LEAK ONT INTERIOR CARPET, CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE CIVIC ORIGINAL MATS WHICH IS UNDER RECALL AT THIS TIME RECALL # 99-E-015-000. ----------------PLEASE ADD VIN.#-----------------

NHTSA complaint #840577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tempe, AZ

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

ELECTRIC WINDOW/DOOR LOCKS FAILED 4 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #538130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cerritos, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

TRUNK SEAL FAILED CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INSIDE THE TRUNK WHEN IT RAINS.

NHTSA complaint #604256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #605094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUN VISOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #604948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bath, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOOR LOCKS FAIL INTERMITTANTLY.

NHTSA complaint #510944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Edmonds, WA

STRUCTURE

THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE ALLOWS WATER TO BLOCK DRIVER'S VIEW ON OUTSIDE MIRRORS AS WELL AS WINDOWS. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SERIOUS VISIBILITY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #520989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LA Mirada, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

SIDE/FRONT DOORS WOULD NOT STAY OPEN.

NHTSA complaint #605377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #606046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Azusa, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

PROBLEM WITH ARM REST.

NHTSA complaint #603852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rockville, MD

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

SUPPORT ROD THAT HOLDS THE HOOD UP HAS A GIVEN POINT. THE SUPPORT ROD BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO COLLAPSE ON SOMEONE WHO'S UP UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE MISHANDLING OF THE PERSON WHO WAS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.

NHTSA complaint #814030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vestal, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY

AFTER USING SUNVISOR AND IT IS RETURNED BACK TO ITS POSITION AGAINST THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE, THE VISOR POPS OUT OF ITS RIGHT-SIDE FASTENING CLIP BLOCKING VIEW.

NHTSA complaint #506109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carmel, IN

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

PURCHASED CAR NEW, RECEIVED IT ON JUNE 29. 1996 THERE IS A NOISE IN THE STRUCTURE FRAME AND HARD TO SHIFT CAR MANUALLY . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #802196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Honda Civic problems

← Full 1996 Honda Civic report