Complaints
110
Crashes
22
Fires
3
Injuries
19
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0
Worst 1990 Honda Civic Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#110 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
Avg mileage:119,000 mi
#29 complaints
Seat Belt Issues
Avg mileage:284,833 mi
Crash-related:2
#38 complaints
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1990 Honda Civic.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 10 | — | — | 119,000 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 9 | 2 | — | 284,833 mi | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 8 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Electrical System:Ignition
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
119,000
Seat Belt Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
284,833
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1990 Honda Civic. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Honda Civic Years
1990 Honda Civic — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1990 Honda Civic reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1990 Honda Civic has 110 NHTSA complaints, 22 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition with 10 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1990 Honda Civic?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition (10 complaints, avg 119,000 mi); Seat Belt Issues (9 complaints, avg 284,833 mi); Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage (8 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1990 Honda Civic?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 197,552 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1990 Honda Civic?
NHTSA complaints for the 1990 Honda Civic include 22 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 19 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1990 Honda Civic have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1990 Honda Civic as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1990 Honda Civic?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Honda Civic reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1990 Honda Civic
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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