1999 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
THE CAR IGNITION TURNED OFF SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND RESTART THE ENGINE. MY CAR ALREADY HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED PER THE NATIONAL RECALL. IT LOOKS LIKE THE REPLACEMENTS ARE NOT AN IMPROVEMENT. *TR
THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WILL IMMEDIATELY RESTART ONCE STOPPED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER ANOTHER RECALL IN 2005 FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR AGAIN AND WANTS TO CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS INTERMITTENT JUST AS STATED IN THE RECALL, SAME ISSUES HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWELVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC EX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 01/05/13*LJ UPDATED 2/8/2013 *JS UPDATED 2/7/13 *CN UPDATED 02/21/2013 *JS STATUS UPDATE 03/20/13
IT BEGAN I THINK IN FEBRUARY 2012 GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. MY 1999 HONDA CIVIC TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON WHICH JERKED THE CAR. IT DID NOT DO IT AGAIN UNTIL WEEKS LATER. THEN IT WOULD BEGIN TO ACTUALLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVER WITHOUT WARNING. BUT THEN AGAIN IT WOULD ONLY DO IT A TIME OR 2.... THEN NOT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS LATER (WHICH BY THEN I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT). IT DID THIS ON AND OFF FOR THE REST OF 2012.... BUT WOULD ALWAYS START RIGHT BACK UP.... EVEN PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL WHILE MOVING AND STARTING IT..... THEN PUTTING IT BACK IN GEAR WITHOUT HARDLY SLOWING DOWN. BUT THE LAST FEW MONTHS, ESPECIALLY IN JULY (2013).... IT BEGAN CUTTING OFF MORE OFTEN AND WOULD BE HARDER TO START. SO I DECIDED TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I HAD IT REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFINITELY BECOMING A HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL IN 2002 FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH (NHTSA # 02V120000). I SEE ONLINE THERE ARE MANY MORE INSTANCES OF THIS PART FAILING AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY CAR ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST AND POSSIBLY REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED ERRATICALLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS RESTARTED WITHIN TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND ADVISED HER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,635.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 205,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 7/26/12 *CN
SINCE 2011 THIS CAR HAS BEEN CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE SPEED COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 30 MPH ON A STREET OR 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS COMPLETE "POWERING OFF" HAS CAUSED ME NEAR MISSES AND ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES. SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR IN 2007, I HAVE HAD THE DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED 3 TIMES; AS WE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURES. IT WAS NOT. VERY RECENTLY (IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY) THE CAR CUT OUT SO MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND IT BECAME SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE I BROUGHT IT MY MECHANIC AND TOLD HIM I COULD NOT DRIVE ANYMORE UNTIL THE ROOT CAUSE WAS DETERMINED. FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. I HAD ALL THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, ETC REPLACED. THE CAR STILL POWERED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEN, I HAD THE DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED AGAIN. THE CAR STILL CUT OUT. THE MECHANIC THEN REMOVED THE STARTER AND PUT A NEW ONE IN AND IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN I'VE READ ONLINE THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND I AM GOING TO PURSUE GETTING MY MONEY BACK FOR ALL THE WORK DONE TO THE CAR THIS MONTH. I KEPT THE STARTER AND THE KEY IF NEEDED FOR EVIDENCE. *TR
THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, REGARDLESS OF SPEED (THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND DASH LIGHTS WOULD CUT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY). I INDICATED TO HONDA THAT I BELIEVED IT COULD BE AN IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE THAT WAS COVERED UNDER A 2002 SAFETY BULLETIN. THEY INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. MY LOCAL MECHANIC FIXED THE ISSUE THAT WAS IN FACT A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. HONDA REFUSED TO ISSUE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FAILED PART. *TR
FAILED IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED CAR TO STALL(ENGINE SHUT OFF). HAD TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD AND ATTEMPT TO RESTART VEHICLE. ENGINE STARTED AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. FOR THE NEXT 3 WEEKS ENGINE WOULD RANDOMLY STALL AND ALL DASH LIGHTS/CLUSTER WOULD LOSE POWER. *TR **NOTE: IGNITION SWITCH RECALL WAS ALREADY COMPLETED FOR THIS VEHICLE IN 2002.
VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND WOULD RESTART AFTER PULLING OVER. ACTS LIKE A FAILED IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS RECALLED FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL BUT DOES NOT COVER MY PARTICULAR VIN. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL THE CONTACT FIRST REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. UPDATED 11/16/11 *BF UPDATED 11/18/11*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC NOTICED A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY; HOWEVER, IT WOULD STALL MORE FREQUENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES AS THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) RECALL, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,100.
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, AUTO WOULD RESTART STALLING BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND RESTARTING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT UNTIL ON 01/01/2011 VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND SOLVED PROBLEM. CANADIAN RECALL INCLUDES MY VEHICLE BUT AMERICAN DOES NOT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH) . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 206,436.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FAILING TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THEY HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CYLINDER LOCK FAILED. THE CONTACT LOCATED A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 253,000.
1999 HONDA CIVICS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION KEYS. IT IS POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WHILE THE CAR IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. IF A CAR IS STARTED WITH THE IGNITION KEY IT CAN THEN BE REMOVED AND DRIVEN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN BRAKING TO A FULL STOP, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WOULD ILLUMINATE FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WOULD START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND OCCASIONALLY, WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET THE WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
GOOD AFTERNOON, I HAVE A 1999 HONDA CIVIC LX, WHEN I'M DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT OR IDLING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE JUST DIES FOR NO REASON. YOU LOSE ALL POWER STEERING CONTROL AND POWER BRAKES, ETC. THIS TOO ME IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD QUITE POSSIBLY GET ME (OR MY TEENS WHO DRIVE IT) REAR ENDED OR CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL, CRASH AND BE KILLED. I HAVE CONFIRMED (FROM HONDA) THAT MY ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND IT IS SHUTTING OFF BY ITSELF DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SWITCH, CAUSE; HONDA) THERE IS TOO MUCH POWER GOING THROUGH THE SWITCH. (I CAN ACTUALLY REMOVE MY KEY WHILE I'M DRIVING.) THERE IS A RECALL BY HONDA ON THIS SWITCH WHICH WAS POSTED IN MAY 2002 FOR ALL HONDA CIVICS FROM 1997 TO 2001. ALL CIVICS WERE BUILT IN CANADA AT THAT TIME.1,000,000 WERE RECALLED. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ( MY VIN # NOT IN THE RECALL, IN CANADA IT WAS ALL CARS RECALLED). HONDA REPS TELL ME THEY DON'T KNOW WHY MY CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL. I HAVE THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS AS IN THE RECALL. IN CANADA, THEY RECALLED AND REPAIRED EVERY SINGLE CAR IN THAT COUNTRY. WHY NOT MY CAR? BECAUSE IT WAS SENT INTO THE USA? I'M FILING A MAJOR SAFETY COMPLAINT AGAINST HONDA USA AND I WANT MY CAR FIXED BY THEM. THE COST IS $ 153.00 FOR THE SWITCH AND 195.00 FOR LABOR. I'M READY TO ELEVATE THIS COMPLAINT IF NECESSARY, NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, ETC IF YOU DIRECT ME TO DO THIS. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME AND ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE USA WHO OWN A HONDA CIVIC FOR THOSE YEARS, HAVE A BAD SWITCH BUT, THEIR VIN # ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HOPE NOBODY DIES BEFORE THIS SAFETY PROBLEM ITS FIXED. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP!! YOU GUYS AT THE NHTSA ARE AWESOME!! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!! *TR
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Quick Summary
The 1999 Honda Civic has 103 Electrical System complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.