5.0

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,735 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Honda Civic engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Honda Civic Owner Comments

problem #6

Jun 022005

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,408 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My daughter set the cruise control at 65/67 mph and the car continued to accelerate. After attempting to tap the brakes and turn the cruise control button off, the car was traveling at 90 mph. When trying to stop the vehicle she had to desperately press on the brakes using two feet to bring the car to a stop. After the car was stopped, she put the car in neutral with RPM's racing at 7500, she then disengaged the power. She then attempted to restart the vehicle 4 times and the RPM's were still racing at the same level. She had to to be towed for the amount of $325 from NJ to pa. It was towed to the dealership. Piazza Honda told me that she got dirty fuel and it caused a deposit on the throttle body and stretched the cable. They also told me that is she turned the car off it would reset. That was not the case because as stated before the car produced the same response whenever the vehicle was turned on. No deaths - no injuries - no crash but she could of been killed if there was a lot of traffic. Thank god this happened after 8:20 P.M. when there was not much traffic.

- Royersford, PA, USA

problem #5

Mar 252004

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles
While driving on the highway at approximately 55 mph driver applied the cruise control and set it on 55 mph. However, when applying, cruise control vehicle continued to accelerate. Driver had to turn the key off in order to get the vehicle to slow to a stop. Owner contacted the manufacturer, who urged consumer to take vehicle into a dealership. There may or may not be a charge.

- Pittsfield, MA, USA

problem #4

Nov 122003

(reported on)

Civic

  • 20,000 miles
The vehicle sticks in full throttle and accelerates at a high speed when cruise control is engaged. The dealership replaced a part (part unknown), but the problem recurred.

- Pittsfield, MA, USA

problem #3

Aug 012001

Civic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When at idle engine revs from 500rpm up to 1500 -2000rpm also when on a hill at a stop the car will roll backwards before engaging and going forward. On above date the car revved up to 4000 RPM before finally engaging and I was able to proceed from the stop. When the car was taken in for servicing I discovered that there had been a "service bulletin" mailed to dealers about this very problem. Honda knew about this particular problem and not made it public. If I had known that this was a symptom of a faulty transmission I would have certainly brought the car in. My waranty has expired 6 mos ago and the repair will not be covered. I have been accused of faulty maintenance because I did not bring in the car to the dealership for oil changes. I feel that this is a potentially dangerous situation as well as costly and that since Honda knows that it exists that there should be a recall or at least information made public about this problem.

- E Wenatchee, WA, USA

problem #2

Aug 012001

Civic

  • miles
When at idle engine revs from 500rpm up to 1500 -2000rpm also when on a hill at a stop the car will roll backwards before engaging and going forward. On above date the car revved up to 4000 RPM before finally engaging and I was able to proceed from the stop. When the car was taken in for servicing I discovered that there had been a "service bulletin" mailed to dealers about this very problem. Honda knew about this particular problem and not made it public. If I had known that this was a symptom of a faulty transmission I would have certainly brought the car in. My waranty has expired 6 mos ago and the repair will not be covered. I have been accused of faulty maintenance because I did not bring in the car to the dealership for oil changes. I feel that this is a potentially dangerous situation as well as costly and that since Honda knows that it exists that there should be a recall or at least information made public about this problem.

- E Wenatchee, WA, USA

problem #1

Mar 172000

(reported on)

Civic

  • miles
Transmission intermittently slips, in motion and idle position--idle speed is erratic--in reverse, car makes a whining noise-windows don't always work

- Bermuda Dunes, CA, USA

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