77 complaints reported

1998 Honda Civic Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
77
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2007

HEADLIGHTS/INTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO "FLICKER", SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR STALLS/ENGINE CUTS OFF WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. PROBLEM WITH POWER MANAGEMENT. CAUSED BY A CHAFFED WIRE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GROUNDING OUT. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2007
Mar 2007

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. A RECALL WAS MADE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 118000. *AK CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A RECALL ON A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH BUT IT DOES NOT PERTAIN TO HIS VIN NUMBER. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SEE IF HIS VEHICLE CAN BE FIXED. UPDATE *4/12TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2006
Mar 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNLESS THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE BLOCK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 10/24/07. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2007
Jul 2006

IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED CAR TO STOP RUNNING WHILE ON HIGHWAY. CAR WAS RECALLED SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO REPLACE FAULTY SWITCH. NEW ONE HAS SAME PROBLEM. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2006
Jun 2005

MY HONDA CIVIC 1998 ENGINE STALLED AND I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC, AFTER INSPECTION HE TOLD ME THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS A FLAW AND HONDA HAD A RECALL. I CHECKED WITH HONDA AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL # IS 97V193000. I BELIEVE MY CAR HAS THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2005
Jan 2005

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(02V120000) IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER HAD THE WORK DONE AT THE DEALER PROBLEM STILL THERE. SERVICE MANAGER RON HAMILTON. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2005
Nov 2004

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITION OR HIGHWAYS.NO WARNING,NO ENGINE LIGHT COME ON.I CALL AMERICAN HONDA THEY SAID MY CAR DOES NOT ON RACALL 02V120000.BUT IT IS DOING THAT EXACT THING THE RECALL SAID.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2004
Jul 2004

1998 HONDA CIVIC EX, ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. NO ERROR CODES TO RECOVER AND HAPPENS RADOMLY. NEW IGNITION COIL AND MODULE INSTALLED AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. FUEL PRESSURE IS GOOD, NEW PLUGS AND WIRES INSTALLED. WILL RESTART ALMOST INSTANTLY.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2004
Jun 2004 Fire

WHILE DRIVING AT 34 MPH A FIRE STARTED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. *MR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2004
Apr 2004

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC CAR WOULD CUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT CATCH RIGHT AWAY AND CARS RPM WAS DOWN TO THREE NOTCHES FROM ZERO WHEN IDLING. TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC 3/22/04 AND THEN AGAIN 3/24/04 FOR CAR TO GO ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SHOWED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM COMING FROM DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY. MECHANIC CONTACTED HONDA AND THIS WAS NOT A RECALL. I CONTACTED GEICO FOR CAR TO BE FIXED UNDER MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN THAT IS INCLUDED IN MY POLICY. GEICO CONTACTED MECHANIC CONCERNING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THEN AUTHORIZED FOR CAR TO BE FIXED WHICH TOOK FROM 3/25/04 - 4/1/04. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2004
Mar 2004

IGNITION KEY INTERLOCK MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE KEYS WERE LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2004
Jan 2004

SINCE THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 02V120000 WAS PERFORMED THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2002
Dec 2003

AS PART OF A SAFETY RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCHES AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS CO. IMPOSES A FLAT CHARGE OF $75 TO RECONNECT "AFTER MARKET", NON-HONDA, CAR ALARMS. THIS CHARGE IS INVALID BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS INCIDENTAL TO THE RECALL AND EXCESSIVE. BOTH THE SERVICE DEALER AND AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS HAVE REFUSED TO CHANGE THIS POLICY AFTER WE COMPLAINED TO THEM.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2002
Dec 2003

RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM HONDA FOR EXPENSES INCURRED RELATING TO RECONNECTION OF ALARM SYSTEM WHEN DEALERSHIP PERFORMED CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR IGNITION RECALL 02V120000. *AK *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Oct 2003 Crash

CAR WAS IN PARK, HAND BRAKE WAS UP-LIMIT, AIR CONDITIONER AND ENGINE ON, IN A DRIVEWAY WITH AN INCLINE. I WAS UNLOADING THREE PET BIRDS FROM CAR IN OVER 90 DEGREE WEATHER, THEREFORE LEFT AIR CONDITIONER ON. WHEN I WAS DONE UNLOADING, I KNELT ON MY KNEES ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND REACHED OVER TO IGNITION, TURNED KEY AND REMOVED IT. CAR JUMPED GEARS TO NEUTRAL AND SLID BACK DOWN HILL, INTO STREET, CAUSING CLOSE TO $2,000 DAMAGE TO MY CAR AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE CAR I WAS PARKED NEXT TO IN DRIVEWAY. I COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN SEVERLY HURT OR KILLED HAD A CAR BEEN COMING UP OR DOWN THE STREET. I REPORTED PROBLEM TO AMERICAN HONDA. SENT NUMEROUS LETTERS. WAS INITIALLY JUST LAUGHED AT. EVENTUALLY THEY OPENED A CASE NUMBER BUT CONCLUDED IT WAS "DRIVER ERROR". IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT NEWS RELEASES ABOUT THE PREVELANCE OF THIS DEFECT ON HONDAS AND ACURAS, I AM FURIOUS.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 1998
Jul 2003

1998 HONDA CIVIC LX WIRING HARNESS RUN UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD SHORTING OUT DUE TO WIRING INSULATION BEING ABRADED BY THE INTAKE MAINIFOLD. ACCORDING TO HONDA SERVICE TECHNICIAN EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS ACCELERATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WOULD CONTACT THE WIRES. HE SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS ON OTHER CARS AS WELL. THIS CONDITION CAUSED THE CAR TO NOT SHIFT, SHIFT ERRATICALLY, OR NOT MOVE AT ALL, AND SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY EITHER.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2003
Jun 2003

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FOR IGNITION. DEALER WAS CHARGING TO PUT ALARM BACK ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER FELT SHE SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
May 2003

FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH AND COIL. *MR THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT SEVERAL 1997-2000 MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR FAULTY IGNITION COILS (RECALL NUMBER 02V-120000). THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL HOWEVER THE VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH AND COIL FAILED WHICH IN TURN SHORTED OUT THE IGNITER. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP CRACKED AND THE ROTORS FAILED. *SCC *NLM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2001
Apr 2003

A FAULTY IGNITION CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. A RECALL (02V-120000) WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NLM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Mar 2003

MY CAR WAS REPAIRED ON 8/16/2001 FOR A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND COIL WHICH CAUSED THE IGNITER TO SHORT OUT AND MY CAR TO SUDDENLY STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR IS NOT LISTED AS A RECALLED VECHILE, BUT OTHER HONDA CIVICS AND MODEL ARE. I WOULD LIKE A REPRESENTATIVE TO REVIEW MY CASE FOR A RECALL ON 1998 HONDA CIVIC EX MODELS FOR THIS RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED HONDA WITH THE SAME INFORMATION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2001
Dec 2002

CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT VEHICLE ALARM BE DISCONNECTED FREE OF CHARGE IN ORDER TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE/RECALLED IGNITION SWITCH. *TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Dec 2002

CONSUMER STATED AFTER HAVING THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED DONE ON THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE REMOTE STARTER WAS NO LONGER WORKING, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE RECALL, THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF IT DID NOT WORK AFTER FIXING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS LEFT WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 4 HOURS TO HAVE THE REMOTE STARTER RECONNECTED FOR AT A COST OF 60 DOLLARS, BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP HAD DESTROYED ALL OF THE WIRES.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Dec 2002

PROBLEMS ARE THE RESULT OF DEALER REPAIR, NHTSA RECALL 02VRO (IGNITION SWITCH). *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770756***

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2002
Dec 2002

DEALER WILL NOT DO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ID: 02V120000 WITHOUT CHARGING $98 FOR RECONNECTION OF SECURITY SYSTEM. WHY SHOULD I BE LIABLE FOR THE RECALL? DT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Nov 2002

THE CONSUMER RECIEVED AN INGNITION SWITCH RECALL; NHTSA# 02V120000. THERE WAS NO CHARGE IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INGITION SWITCH, BUT DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE IGNITION REPLACEMENT THE VEHICLES BURGLAR ALARM HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED AND WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE ALARM COMPANY TO HAVE THE ALARM RE-CONNECTED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY 35.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE ALARM RECONNECTED AND FEELS THAT HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AMOUNT, BECAUSE THE ALARM WAS WORKING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN. THE CONSUMER SEEKS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS AMOUNT. *SCC *NLM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

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.