The 1986 Honda Civic has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,077,536 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS95V1030011995-05-243,700,000 affected
Defect
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence
THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN…
VISIBILITY88V1800001988-11-18360,198 affected
Defect
UNDER HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTACT UNIT COULD LOOSEN AND BECOME DISLODGED.
Consequence
THIS COULD RESULT IN WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE AND WOULDAFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy
INSTALL A CONTACT UNIT HOLDER THAT WOULD PREVENT LOOSENING.
POWER TRAIN86V0450001986-03-2017,338 affected
Defect
LEFT SIDE DRIVE SHAFT COULD DEVELOP CRACKS NEAR THE OUTER JOINT.
Consequence
CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: DURING HIGH STRESS SITUATIONS, SUCH AS RAPID ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, THE DRIVE SHAFT COULD BREAK WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
REPLACE LEFT DRIVE SHAFT WITH A PROPERLY MANUFACTURED PART.
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
4
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
2
1fires2injuries
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
2
Total complaints54
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 1986 honda civic. The contact stated that whether the vehicle was parked, stationary, or driven, the seat belt was difficult to retract. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the seat belts became difficult to retract even more frequently over time.…”
“The contact owns a 1986 honda civic. The contact stated that whether the vehicle was parked, stationary, or driven, the seat belt was difficult to retract. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the seat belts became difficult to retract even more frequently over time.…”
“The 1986 honda crx has plastic fenders that hold the side marker lamps. The plastic has become very brittle over time. My side marker lights are only held on by a clumsy, plug-in attachment next to the headlight. The two screw holes that hold the lamps are useless in the fenders that are both…”
“The seatbelt anchor points near the doors have both rusted out and do not restrain properly. The car is now in violation of national seatbelt laws. What can I do? What will honda do? Thank you.”
“While driving with low beam, beams died out and went to 0. Consumer stated switch was faulty. *ak the low beam switch failed causing the low beam inoperative. *yh”
“The trim piece above the front bumper in front of the hood is cracked in 3 places. I have been looking at other crx's and every similar crx I have seen is cracked in the same places.”
“Dt: the contact owns a 1986 honda civic. The engine constantly broke down. The dealership told the contact to get rid of the vehicle. The engine broken down five times and had to be replaced. The engine overheated and stopped. The dealership was unable to find a reason why this is happened. The…”
“After parking vehicle, 5 minutes later, the horn was beeping intermittently, then continuously beeping. Two minutes after a loud noise like explosion, found out vehicle had caught fire. Then house caught fire. Fire department came and extinguished fire. Vehicle was totalled. Dealer not aware of…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA89005 Opened 1988-11-16 · closed 1989-11-30
FUEL SYSTEM VENTING
===
InvestigationEA94035 Opened 1994-10-27 · closed 1995-07-31
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE94052 Opened 1994-07-11 · closed 1994-10-27
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Honda Civic as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.