1998 Honda Civic Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
KEY WON'T COME OUT OF SWITCH WHEN IN PARK. WAS TOLD NHTSA 610316 IS THE FIX, BUT CAN'T FIND ON INTERNET.
THERE IS A RECALL ON 1998 HONDA CIVICS FOR THE IGNITION. I AM BEING TOLD MY CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL . MY CAR SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL IT IS STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC DUE TO THE IGNITION LOSING IT'S CONNECTION . IT HAS ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE A FEW TIMES . THE CAR HAS BECOME UNUSABLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HI WAY DOING 67 MILES A HOUR THE CAR JUST STOPPED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE BEFORE I WAS HIT . IT HAS DONE THIS NOW EVERY TIME I TRY TO DRIVE . THE MECHANIC TOLD ME WHAT WAS WRONG AND TOLD ME TO CHECK ABOUT THE RECALL . I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED . IT SHOULD BE.
CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. HAVE TO WAIT 5 TO 10 MINUTES TO RESTART. MECHANIC TRIED SEVERAL REPAIRS AND FINALLY CONCLUDED IT'S A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. NHTSA RECALL # 02V-120. TODAY, I ALMOST GOT HIT AND PARKED IT UNTIL PROBLEM IS FIXED. LUCKY TO HAVE A BACKUP CAR. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE SAID THEY WON'T FIX IT, BECAUSE IT HAS 220 MILES. I WANT HONDA TO ACT RESPONSIBLY AND FIX IT. THIS PROBLEM IS A RECIPE FOR ROADS DISASTERS ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE MULTIPLE CARS OR JUST TAKING IT FOR GRANTED. TODAY, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR HURT AN INNOCENT PERSON .I AM SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF HONDA OWNERS STRUGGLING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FEAR TO COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS WITH THIS SCARY PROBLEM AND JUST DRIVING AS IF EVERYTHING IS OK. SOMETIMES WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THIS, THE WHOLE TRUTH IS UNKNOWN.
1998 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED LAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE STALLED A NUMBER OF TIMES, WHILE HE WAS WIFE WAS DRIVING. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 14 TIMES, OVER A PERIOD OF JUST A FEW DAYS. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE IGNITION KEY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RUN. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
MY CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. SPEED DOESN'T MATTER. ALL DASH LIGHTS GO OUT. HEADLIGHTS BARELY LIGHT AT NIGHT WHEN IT OCCURS. YOU LOSE ALL POWER. ONE DAY IT MIGHT DO IT 4 TIMES, THE NEXT IT MIGHT NOT DO IT ALL. IF YOU TURN THE KEY OFF AND TRY STARTING IT AGAIN SOMETIMES IT STARTS RIGHT UP, OTHER TIMES YOU MIGHT HAVE TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. I JUST WORRY ABOUT SOMEONE HITTING ME WHEN IT HAPPENS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW SOMETHING. *TR
MY CAR CUT OFF FOR NO REASON WHILE I WAS IN MOTION. I HAD JUST GOT A NEW DISTRIBUTOR. I NEED TO MAKE SURE MY VIN IS ON THE LIST SO I CAN GET MY IGNITION SWITCHED REPLACED. IT WAS A ISSUE WHEN I CALLED HONDA. HONDA SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NEVER FIXED PREVIOUS BUT THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF THIS MATTER CAN BE RESOLVED. *TR
1998 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. LAST WEEK, AS HE WAS DRIVING AT A CONSIDERABLE SPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY CUT OFF. IT STARTED UP AGAIN, BUT CUT OFF AGAIN, AFTER HE MOVED ABOUT 20 FEET. IT REPEATEDLY STALLED 15 MORE TIMES. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, HE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER EPISODE OF THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND EVEN BEFORE THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS; THE IGNITION SWITCH. THEIR EXAMINATION OF THE VEHICLE, CONFIRMED THEIR THEORY, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACE AT A COST OF $ 331.34. THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE RECALL, BUT THEY COULD NOT WAIVE THE COST, BECAUSE SO MUCH TIME HAD PASSED. *JB
IN COMPLIANCE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000, A TECHNICIAN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF AN AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH IN 2003. HOWEVER, DUE TO WORN CONTACTS, NOW THIS SWITCH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THEREBY INCREASES THE RISK OF A COLLISION. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER IS MISREADING BY STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS GOING ABOUT 10 MILES FASTER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V423000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH) BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 258,000.
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, STOPPING, AND ACCELERATING. IT WILL RESTART AFTER A TIME PERIOD OR AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. VEHICLE STALLED EXITING THE FREEWAY, APPROACHING A STOP, AND LEAVING AN INTERSECTION, MULTIPLE TIMES. HONDA REFUSED TO REPAIR THE IGNITION SWITCH EVEN THOUGH A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. REF HONDA RECALL ID #43534, NHTSA #02V120000 I WAS NOT CONTACTED BY HONDA FOR A REPAIR EVEN THOUGH I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALS HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR SAFETY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. I AM NOW FORCED TO REPAIR AT MY OWN COST. *TR
MY HONDA CIVIC 1998 ENGINE STALLED TWO TIMES IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE DRIVING. IT IS SHOWING EXACT SYMPTOMS AS THE 2002 IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. OVER THE LAST YEAR IT HAS ALSO HICCUPPED SEVERAL TIMES LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. I CHECKED WITH HONDA AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I BELIEVE MY CAR HAS THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE NOT BEEN USING THE ORIGINAL KEY SO I WILL START DOING THAT TO SEE IF THAT IS THE ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THE IGNITION CABLE. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURE WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO OCCUR EVERY OTHER DAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN IN 2011. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000. UPDATED 05/12/11 *BF UPDATED 05/26/11 *BF UPDATED 12/02/11 UPDATED 2/8/12 *CN
CAR SHUTS DOWN AT RANDOM INTERVALS WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THIS IS AN IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. USUALLY RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. VERY DANGEROUS!! HAS DIED IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC!! IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED PREVIOUSLY DUE TO RECALL, EVIDENTLY THIS IS A RECURRING DEFECT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT VARIOUS ENGINE AND FUEL COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REFERENCED RECALL 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 152,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.
WHILE DRVING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE JUST QUITS. THERE IS NO STUTTERING, STALLING, OR ENGINE MISFIRES, IT QUIETLY JUST QUITS. THE RADIO, HEATER FAN, BRAKE LIGHTS STILL WORK BUT NOT THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, INCLUDING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BUSY STATE ROADS, CREATING HAVOC AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STITUATIONS AS OTHER CARS SWERVE AND ANGRILY HONK HORNS TO AVOID A COLLISION. WHEN I FINALLY COME A STOP AND TRY TO RE-START, IT IMMEDIATELY RE-STARTS AND RUNS OKAY. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN IT WILL QUIT - WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS ARE NOT CONSISTENT WHEN IT FAILS EACH TIME. MY MECHANIC FIRST REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I DID A WEB SEARCH AND SAW THAT THERE IS A HONDA RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND OTHER WORKTWO HONDA DEALERS HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO OTHER THAN TO WITH HONDA CIVICS AND OTHER MODELS, INCLUDING 1998. UNFORTUNATELY, MY HONDA DEALER SAID THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT MY CAR HAS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IS THE SAME BASIS FOR THE HONDA IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ISSUED IN 2002. *TR
FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH ON A 1998 HONDA CIVIC EX AT 110,000 MILES. IT WAS CAUSING FREQUENT STALLING AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AT TIMES. WE HAVE HAD IT REPLACED BUT NOT SURE IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS CAR. *TR
I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STARTING. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IT TAKES A WHILE AND WHEN IT STARTS AND I GET OUT AND THEN BACK TO START IT THE SAME THING HAPPENS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 195,000.
MY CAR FALLS UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE HONDA IGNITION SWITCH. MY VIN# SAYS OTHERWISE. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS HAVING ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS. I ALMOST HIT A WALL ON THE INTERSTATE TODAY BECAUSE MY CAR "QUIT". MY CAR HAS DONE THIS A COUPLE TIMES. IF IT DIES WITH OUT WARNING, USUALLY I CAN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND START IT AGAIN... IF IT STARTS. I AM HAVING TROUBLE TALKING WITH THE HONDA DEALERSHIPS AROUND HERE TRYING TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT. I DRIVE INTERSTATE EVERYDAY TO WORK AND BACK. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS AND DEADLY CRASH WITH ME AND/OR MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. *TR
THE CAR STALLED ON THE FREEWAY, RESTARTED THE CAR AND PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. PROBLEM THEN CONTINUED AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WOULD RESTART EACH TIME. WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR FACILTY.FOLSOM CAR CARE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH AND ADVISED ME OF A HONDA RECALL CAMPAIGN. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (MEL RAPTON HONDA, SACRAMENTO, CA. THEY ADVISED ME THIS VEHICLE BY VIN WAS NOTE INCLUDED. I CALL FOLSOM CARE BACK AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HAD HONDA DENY A CAMPAIGN SO HE CALL SHINGLE SPRINGS HONDA AND GOT THE SAME RESPONSE. I THEN AUTHORIZED FOLSOM CARE CARE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THEY REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH P/N 35130-S04-305 (SAME ONE AS IN THE RECALL)AND THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THIS IS A 1998 CIVIC THAT BY MODEL AND YEAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT HONDA HAS DENIED MY CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT SYMPTOMS, FAILURE MODE, AND REPAIRS ARE IDENTICAL TO THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE FAILURE (STALLING ON THE FREEWAY). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE HIM TO REMOVE AND RE-INSTALL HIS AFTERMARKET ALARM SYSTEM, IN ORDER TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE RE-INSTALLATION. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,872.
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Quick Summary
The 1998 Honda Civic has 77 Electrical System complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.