1989 HONDA CIVIC Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
I HAD AUTO ACCIDENT, I WAS GOING 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN I HIT SMALL TREE. THE STEERING WHEEL CRUSHED MY CHEST AND I SUFFERED A SPINAL CORD INJURY AT THE T~2 LEVEL AND NOW I'M NOW A QUADRIPLEGIC. MY SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN RECALLED MINE WAS REPLACED U...
I HAD AUTO ACCIDENT, I WAS GOING 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN I HIT SMALL TREE. THE STEERING WHEEL CRUSHED MY CHEST AND I SUFFERED A SPINAL CORD INJURY AT THE T~2 LEVEL AND NOW I'M NOW A QUADRIPLEGIC. MY SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN RECALLED MINE WAS REPLACED U...
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IDLED IN PARK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE GEARS WERE HARD TO SHIFT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE ...
Mileage: 100,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IDLED IN PARK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE GEARS WERE HARD TO SHIFT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE ...
Mileage: 100,000
ENGINE "REVS" AND SURGES FORWARD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN IN IDLE OR WHEN RESTARTING AFTER HAVING BEEN DRIVEN. SEVERAL TIMES THIS HIGH REVVING HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD, AND IN A COUPLE OF INSTANCES HAS ALMOST CAUSED CAR TO HIT AUTO IN FRONT OF IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASE T...
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. A TECHNICIAN SERVICED THE VEHICLE ON 3-15-04, AND DETERMINED THAT IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
HONDA ISSUED A RECALL OF THE FRONT SEATBELTS IN THE 1989 HONDA. THE BELT CAN SPONTANEOUSLY COME UNLATCHED. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN MY FIANCE'S 1989 HONDA. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT OFTEN SPONTANEOUSLY UNLATCHES -- THAT IS WHERE I SIT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO PLANET HONDA IN GO...
Mileage: 90,000
TRAVELING ON I-15 SOUTH AT 75 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRES TREAD SEPARATED WHICH IMMEDIATELY SENT MY 89 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK INTO A SPIN ENDING WITH US HITTING HEAD FIRST INTO THE CENTER DIVIDE, WRECKING THE CAR AND LUCKILY ONLY GIVING US WHIPLASH AND NOTHING MORE. *JB
Mileage: 192,000
THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS BOUGHT FROM LARRY'S AUTO PARTS - NAPA, KAIMUKI ON O'AHU, HAWAII. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A LIFETIME-WARRANTY AND WAS MANUFACTURED BY UNITED BRAKE. THE FIRST NAPA MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER (NMBC) WAS PUT ON MY FRIEND'S 1989 HONDA CIVIC BY MYSELF ON AUGUST 29, 2001. THE FI...
FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS WHEN CAR WAS PARKED IN SUMMER SUN, CAR WOULD START (MYSTERIOUSLY) ONLY AFTER I LIFTED THE HOOD TO TINKER. RECENTLY A HONDA DEALER'S EMPLOYEE CASUALLY MENTIONED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE RELAY THAT WOULD COST $60 TO REPLACE. IT FAILED AT SUMMER TEMPERATURES. THAT EXPLAINED EVERYTHING, E.G....
WHILE DRIVING, LEFT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEWOUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE A GUARDRAIL, THERE WAS DAMAMGE TO VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC
WHILE DRIVING, LEFT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEWOUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE A GUARDRAIL, THERE WAS DAMAMGE TO VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC
PREVIOUSY VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH INTERMITTENTLY NOT STARTING AND STALLING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND DEALER NEVER MADE CONSUMER AWARE OF A RECALL. IGNITER WAS REPLACED WITH A UPDATE PIECE. *AK
I SPOKE WITH REPAIR FACILITIES AND OTHER CIVIC OWNERS WHO SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE REPAIR CENTERS SAID THEY ALWAYS REPLACE THE CRACKED PLASTIC RADIATOR WITH A METAL RADIATOR. HONDA SHOULD INSTALL A METAL RADIATOR TO BEGIN WITH AND THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM.*AK
GAS TANK LEAKING, OWNER HAD GAS TANK REPLACED. *CJ
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN A PARKING LOT CAUSING COLLISON, THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT THAT THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A BROKEN SHOULDER BLADE. NLM
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLECROSSED FROM ANOTHER LANE IN FRONT SUDDENLY. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES & REAR ENDED VEHICLEIN FRONT. UPON IMPACT WITH VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP TO RESTRAIN DRIVER. SEAT BELT BUCKLE LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE. DRIVER WAS THROWN FORWARD, ...
THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE GETS IN THE WAY OF THE BRAKES AND THE GAS PETALS. SOMETIMES IT KEEPS THE GAS PETAL DOWN. SOMETIMES, IT KEEPS THE BRAKE PETAL DOWN. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE FLOOR MATS. THESE MATS WERE PURCHASED NEW WITH THE VEHICLE. THE AIR CONDITIONER BROKE TWICE. I HAD TO PURCHASE ...
THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE GETS IN THE WAY OF THE BRAKES AND THE GAS PETALS. SOMETIMES IT KEEPS THE GAS PETAL DOWN. SOMETIMES, IT KEEPS THE BRAKE PETAL DOWN. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE FLOOR MATS. THESE MATS WERE PURCHASED NEW WITH THE VEHICLE. THE AIR CONDITIONER BROKE TWICE. I HAD TO PURCHASE ...
CAR STALLED AT SPEED ON HIGHWAY. SMOKE OBSERVED UNDER HOOD WHICH WAS JAMMED SHUT. FIRE STARTED WHICH ENGULFED THE CAR. TOTAL LOSS. *AK
CAR STALLED AT SPEED ON HIGHWAY. SMOKE OBSERVED UNDER HOOD WHICH WAS JAMMED SHUT. FIRE STARTED WHICH ENGULFED THE CAR. TOTAL LOSS. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN CONSUMER PUT SHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE CAUSING BROKEN BONES AND SEVERAL OTHER INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. NLM
CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. OWNER CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNER AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELTS AND THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED. *AK *ML
THE 1989 HONDA CIVIC DX USES MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS. MY NIECE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THIS WEEKEND, HIT A FREEWAY RAILING THAT CAUSED THE BATTERY TO BECOME DISCONNECTED; UPON ITS DISCONNECT, THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS WERE RELEASED WHICH RESULTED IN MY NIECE BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS KILLED I...
STRUCTURE OF THE SUN ROOF WOULD LEAK WHEN IT WAS RAINING OR VEHICLE WAS BEING WASHED. THE TRUNK WOULD LEAK ALSO. THIS CAUSED THE SEALS & THE CARPET INSIDE VEHICLE TO BE SOAKED & SOMETIMES MILDEW APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC DID WATER TEST. THE LEAKS WERE FOUND, BUT DAMAGE WAS NOT REPA...
THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR AFTER PURCHASE THE VEHICLE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART (TEMPORARILY)WHILE MOVING. ONE ONE OCCASION MERELY WAITING AT CURBSIDE ABOUT 25 MINUTES WAS SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW CAR TO RESTART. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS INDICATED ANY PROBLEM. THE SITUATION REPEA...
DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEATBACK TO FALL BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
MY CIVIC COLLIDED WITH THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. THE LAP COMPONENT OF MY SEATBELT ENGAGED ALLOWING ONLY MINOR BRUISING/CUTS TO MY KNEES WHICH HIT THE DASH. THE SHOULDER BELT, HOWEVER, DID NOT ENGAGE CAUSING MY CHEST TO SLAM INTO THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING A DEEP CHEST CO...
SEAT BELT FAILED.
THE DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM MALFUCTIONS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE BODY/FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM/OXYGEN SENSOR AND THERMOSTAT. PROBLEM REOCCURRING. *AK *NLM
TIMING BELT FAILED.
AXLE FAILED.
CLUTCH FAILED
BATTERY FAILED.
TIE ROD FAILED.
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAT TRACK AND ANCHORS BROKE. OWNER NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. OWNER HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED AT HIS EXPENSE. *AK
BOTH FRONT SPRINGS ARE CRACKED AT BOTTOM. *AK *SLC
TRUNK LID WILL NOT STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION. CONSUMER HAS BEEN HIT IN THE HEAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*AK
THE RACK AND PINON STEERING GOES OUT FREQUENTLY AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO STEERING.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THE RACK AND PINON STEERING GOES OUT FREQUENTLY AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO STEERING.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD; HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE/SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ON, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, GAS LEAKS DOWN FROM SEAM OF TANK ONTO VEHICLE FLOOR; SLOWING STOPS WHEN VEHICLE NOT IN MOTION; CAN HEAR AND SEE GAS DROPPING DOWN. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *DSH
SEAT BELT INADVERTENTLY WRAPPED AROUND SEAT POSITION LEVER/DISLODGED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSS CONTROL AND HAD AN ACCIDENT. *SD
THE DRIVER SIDE MANUAL LOCK BROKE IN THE INSIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
GAS PIPE IS ROTTED OUT, LEAKS OIL ALL OVER, AFRAID IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
SEAT BELT TWISTED PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD
THE CAR WILL NOT START IF THE WEATHER IS BAD ( RAIN, FOG, MISTY) THE CAR HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER THEY REPLACED DEMODULER AND THE CAR STILL WON'T START.
THE CAR WILL NOT START IF THE WEATHER IS BAD ( RAIN, FOG, MISTY) THE CAR HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER THEY REPLACED DEMODULER AND THE CAR STILL WON'T START.
DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION IMPACT 12:00 POSITION HITTING WALL IN THE GARAGE. TT
THROTTLE ASSEMBLE REPLACED DUE TO GASOLINE LEAKING ONTO THE COMPUTER SHORTING IT OUT. *SD
DIFFICULTY STARTING VEHICLE, THINKS THA TIT IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY STARTER; ALSO, FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE. *AK
DIFFICULTY STARTING VEHICLE, THINKS THA TIT IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY STARTER; ALSO, FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE. *AK
NOTICEABLE THUMPING AND KNOCKING NOISE IN BRAKE SYSTEM. RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TT
HOOD FLEW UP AND WRAPPED AROUND WINDSHIELD. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL. TT
VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED DAMAGING OXYGEN SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP. TT
VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED DAMAGING OXYGEN SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP. TT
VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED DAMAGING OXYGEN SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP. TT
FUEL THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY SPRAYED GAS ON COMPUTER SHORTING IT OUT. TT THE TROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS POSSIBLE TO CAUSE FIRE IN THE ENGINE. *YH
FUEL THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY SPRAYED GAS ON COMPUTER SHORTING IT OUT. TT
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. TT
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. TT
THE OWNERS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE FAULTY SEATBELT UNLATCHED AND CAUSED HER FURTHER INJURIES.TT ON IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT SEAT BELT UNLATCHED, CONSUMER WAS HIT IN THE HEAD AND CAUSD HEAD INJURY.*JB
THE OWNERS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE FAULTY SEATBELT UNLATCHED AND CAUSED HER FURTHER INJURIES.TT ON IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT SEAT BELT UNLATCHED, CONSUMER WAS HIT IN THE HEAD AND CAUSD HEAD INJURY.*JB
VEHICLE WAS IMPACT 8:00 POSITION SPEED 30MPH, DRIVER BUCKLE DID NOT HOLD, RECALL RELATED 95V103001. TT
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE. TT THE BREAKING OF THE SEAT WAS A SAFETY DEFECT. *YH
HEATER; DEFOGGER FAILURE, INSIDE WINDOWS ARE FOGGING UP, REDUCES VISIBILITY. TT
THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR DOOR LOCKS BROKE . TT
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LOCK . TT
THE MASTER CYLINDER , THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE HEAD GAKSET BLEW . TT
THE MASTER CYLINDER , THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE HEAD GAKSET BLEW . TT
THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND THE CAR WENT UNDER THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITOR TWICE. *AK
PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE JAMMED/WILLNOT LOCK IN PLACE. *SD
RUSTED FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY DAMAGED FUEL PUMP/OXYGEN SENSOR AND CONTAMINATED GASOLINE, LEAVING VEHICLE INOPERABLE. *AW
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE DOOR. TT
REAR FOLD DOWN SEATS AND CAN NOT BE USED WITH THE CARSEATS. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BROKE AWAY FROM ATTACHMENT DURING ACCIDENT, THROWING PASSENGER INTO TREE, RESULTING IN DEATH. *SKD
WHILE TURNING WHEELS TO LEFT, HEARD THUMPING SOUND; JOINT REPLACED; SPEED 30 MPH. TT
TAKATA SEAT BELT FAILURE, DIFFICULTY UNLATCHING BELT BUCKLE. TT
CAR WAS IN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DIDN'T HOLD THE PERSON IN THE CAR . TT
VEHICLE EQUIPPED W/WIDE TIRES THAT HAVE FRONT AND REAR GROUND EFFECTS, SNOW BUILDS UP UNDER GROUND EFFECTS, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD
DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS FAILED TO HOLD SECURELY DURING ACCIDENT.
THE REAR HATCH LATCH MAKE A NOISE. TT
DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING SHIFTER INTO PARK GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK/ACCIDENT/INJURIES.
WATER ACCUMULATED INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT LENSE, CAUSING REDUCTION OF LIGHT/VISIBILITY. *SKD