1988 Honda Civic Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

1988 Honda Civic recalls

Most common 1988 Honda Civic problems

Problem areas named in the 46 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem area	Reports
Vehicle Speed Control	14
Seat Belts	10
Fuel System, Gasoline	7
Electrical System	7
Engine And Engine Cooling	4
Seats	3
Structure	2
Latches/Locks/Linkages	1
Suspension	1
Unknown Or Other	1

What owners report

2009-06-13, Electrical System
THE SPEEDOMETER NEVER WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEITHER DOES THE MILEAGE INDICATOR WORK. SO I COULDN'T PUT AN ANSWER FOR THAT VALUE. *TR

2006-07-13, Electrical System
CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC. ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR ONLY STARTS WHEN JUMPED. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER WERE REPLACED. IT WAS OK FOR A WHILE, THEN IT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE TALKED WITH FOUR OWNERS OF 1988 - 1991 HONDA CIVIC'S AND ALL HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR IGNITION SYSTEM. ONE OF THE PERSONS WORK WITH MY WIFE. HE TOLD US THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS. HE TRIED TO FIX HIS CAR WITH THE SAME REPAIRS THAT WE DID, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED UNTIL HE CHANGED THE IGNITION HARNESS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE HARNESS AS OF 7/13/2006. I TALK WITH HONDA MOTORS CORP AND THERE

2003-10-28, Vehicle Speed Control
ENGINE "REVS" WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF WITHOUT APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR. CAR JOLTS FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM SEEMS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF LACK OF CONTROL OF THE CAR'S ACCELERATION. MECHANIC HAS SAID THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW THROTTLE, A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. ALSO, CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING, ESPECIALLY IN DAMP WEATHER. SPARK PLUGS AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. DISTRIBUTOR WAS REPLACED, AND THE CAR STARTS BETTER, BUT ONCE IN A WHILE IT STILL HAS TROUBLE STARTING. ALSO, THE FUEL LINES LEAK GAS. THE GAS SMELL IS NOTICEABLE IN THE CAR. ALSO, THE FRAME OF THE CAR IS NEARLY RUSTED AWAY.

2002-09-12, Fuel System, Gasoline
PIPE THAT IS LOCATED ON OUTSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK HAS CORRODED THROUGH AND FUEL LEAKS WHEN PUTTING FUEL INTO TANK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

2002-08-20, Seat Belts
ON MY 1988 HONDA CIVIC, I FOUND OUT THROUGH THE INTERNET ,THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THE EFI CONTROL UNIT, A RECALL FOR THE SEATBELTS, AND A RECALL FOR THE IGNITOR, AND FOR SOME REASON I NEVER RECEIVED THOSE RECALLS. I BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE BAD EFI, AND THE IDLE JUST JUMPS UP AND DOWN, AND NOW MY IGNITOR IS GONE BAD AND THE CAR WON'T START. I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM THE BACK BECAUSE THE IGNITOR FAILED WHILE I WAS ON THE RIGHT LANE IN THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR SHUTTERS AND STALLS...THE EFI UNIT JUST SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP THE CAR, SINCE THE IDLE JUMPS UP..I SPENT SO MUCH MONEY CHANGING THE GOOD PARTS. I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO REPLACE THE IGNITOR AND THE EFI UNIT FREE OF CHARGE, NOW THAT I KNOW THOS

1988 Honda Civic questions

Does the 1988 Honda Civic have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 1988 Honda Civic: Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control; Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 1988 Honda Civic?

Based on 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Vehicle Speed Control (14), Seat Belts (10), Fuel System, Gasoline (7).

How do I check if a recall on my 1988 Honda Civic has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.