Problems · by component

1998 Honda Civic electrical system problems

91 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Honda Civic cite electrical system, 20% of all 450 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
91
20% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THERE IS A RECALL ON 1998 HONDA CIVICS FOR THE IGNITION. I AM BEING TOLD MY CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL . MY CAR SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL IT IS STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC DUE TO THE IGNITION LOSING IT'S CONNECTION . IT HAS ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE A FEW TIMES . THE CAR HAS BECOME UNUSABLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HI WAY DOING 67 MILES A HOUR THE CAR JUST STOPPED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE BEFORE I WAS HIT . IT HAS DONE THIS NOW EVERY TIME I TRY TO DRIVE . THE MECHANIC TOLD ME WHAT WAS WRONG AND TOLD ME TO CHECK ABOUT THE RECALL . I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED . IT SHOULD BE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2016Electrical systemODI 10826038
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE IGNITION KEY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RUN. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2015Electrical systemODI 10787637
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2015Electrical system, EngineODI 10786272
“CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. HAVE TO WAIT 5 TO 10 MINUTES TO RESTART. MECHANIC TRIED SEVERAL REPAIRS AND FINALLY CONCLUDED IT'S A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. NHTSA RECALL # 02V-120. TODAY, I ALMOST GOT HIT AND PARKED IT UNTIL PROBLEM IS FIXED. LUCKY TO HAVE A BACKUP CAR. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE SAID THEY WON'T FIX IT, BECAUSE IT HAS 220 MILES. I WANT HONDA TO ACT RESPONSIBLY AND FIX IT. THIS PROBLEM IS A RECIPE FOR ROADS DISASTERS ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE MULTIPLE CARS OR JUST TAKING IT FOR GRANTED. TODAY, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR HURT AN INNOCENT PERSON .I AM SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF HONDA OWNERS STRUGGLING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FEAR TO COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS WITH THIS SCARY PROBLEM AND JUST DRIVING AS IF EVERYTHING IS OK. SOMETIMES WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THIS, THE WHOLE TRUTH IS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2015Electrical systemODI 10733140
“1998 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED LAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE STALLED A NUMBER OF TIMES, WHILE HE WAS WIFE WAS DRIVING. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 14 TIMES, OVER A PERIOD OF JUST A FEW DAYS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2015Electrical systemODI 10711765
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2015Electrical systemODI 10703525

Showing 6 of 91 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: switch

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.

Electrical systemReported May 16, 2002NHTSA 02V120000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 6, 2026

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