Worst 1998 Honda Civic Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Air Bags:Frontal
Automatic Transmission
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Honda Civic.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 61 | 50 | — | 104,448 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 40 | 1 | — | 75,501 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 38 | — | — | 124,066 mi | |
| Airbags | 32 | 15 | — | 123,380 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 22 | — | — | 147,086 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 16 | — | — | 104,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 15 | 1 | — | 75,576 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 13 | — | — | 101,590 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 13 | — | — | 93,420 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 11 | 4 | — | 43,500 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 | — | — | 89,940 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 9 | 2 | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 8 | 2 | — | 30,785 mi | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 7 | — | — | 45,000 mi | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 7 | — | — | 117,000 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 6 | — | — | 39,469 mi | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 5 | 1 | — | 92,000 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | 1 | — | 45 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Bumpers | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 3 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Honda Civic. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1998 Honda Civic
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,439,841 vehicles.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Other Honda Civic Years
1998 Honda Civic — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Honda Civic reliable?
What are common problems with the 1998 Honda Civic?
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Honda Civic?
How safe is the 1998 Honda Civic?
Does the 1998 Honda Civic have any recalls?
Should I buy a 1998 Honda Civic?
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 1998 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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