Problems · by component

1996 Honda Civic engine and engine cooling problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Honda Civic cite engine and engine cooling, 9% of all 314 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
27
9% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES THE OF 75 MPH THERE IS A BURNING SMELL THAT COMES FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. SERVICING INCLUDES AN OIL AND FLUID CHANGE AND A TRANSMISSION CHECK. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2006Engine and engine coolingODI 10151347
“WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ,AND PULLED OVER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2005Suspension, Engine and engine coolingODI 10115368
“WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2004Engine and engine coolingODI 10091750
“WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLEED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2004Engine and engine coolingODI 10084050
“THE COMPUTER CONTROL ISSUE IS UNRESOLVED. THE FACTORY DEFAULT SETTINGS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING WERE LOST AFTER A BATTERY EXCHANGE. EXPENSIVE CHARGES FOR HOURLY FISHING EXPEDITIONS HAVE NOT APPEALED TO ME. THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKS IT JUST DOESN'T APPLY TO THE APPROPRIATE BUTTONS ON THE CONTROL PANEL THEY SETTINGS ARE OFF LINE. HONDA WAS NO HELP TO ME. TODAY, MY IGNITION COIL WENT. HONDA SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED VIA FACTORY SERVICE BULLETIN ALTHOUGH THE ACCORD WAS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2004Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Unknown or otherODI 10069730
“MY ENGINE STARTS TO OVERHEAT WHILE IDLING FOR PERIODS LONGER THAN A FEW MINUTES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S HOT OUT. USING THE A/C TREMENDOUSLY SPEEDS UP THE OVERHEATING PROCESS. TURNING ON THE HEATER COOLS IT DOWN BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE CHECKED THE FLUIDS AND PERFORMED A RADIATOR FLUSH, AS WELL AS CHECKING BELTS AND THE FAN. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2003Engine and engine coolingODI 10023273

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.