CarComplaints.com Notes: Haven't we all owned one of these things at some point? Despite being a popular first car for teenage drivers and, as a result, being beat up like no other, the late 90's Civic is a true endurance car. And it still gets better gas mileage than more modern cars.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
133,631 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.

1999 Honda Civic electrical problems

electrical problem

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1999 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #62

Apr 152022

Civic

  • miles

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

While driving on the highway car engine shut off and completely lost power. After getting on to the shoulder car would not start, electric windows would not operate. Approximately 30 minutes later car started and made it home on city streets. Have not driven it since. Checked and did not find any recalls on this.

- Taylor, PA, USA

problem #61

Feb 222021

Civic

  • miles
Air condition unit stop working the smell of smoke.

- Canon, GA, USA

problem #60

Jan 202020

Civic

  • 180,575 miles
Loose ignition switch turns car off while driving

- Hollywood, MD, USA

problem #59

Mar 252019

Civic

  • 230,000 miles

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

Engine periodically stalls without warning while driving. After a few minutes, engine re-starts, but may then stall again. It has happened all times of day [morning, afternoon, etc] and at various speeds [ under 20 mph, at 60mph]. this is now happening with increasing frequency. Was initially once every few months, and is now every few days.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #58

Jan 152019

Civic

  • 170,000 miles
Vehicle dies in traffic for no apparent reason. Starts right up. Went online to see what the problem could be and ran across information concerning a recall for 97 to 99 Honda's. my car is exhibiting the same exact problem described in this recall. However when I enter the VIN it comes across as not having this problem with the key switch. When the car dies in traffic it is not only the engine but all the electrical power as well. Could my VIN just be an oversight and should be included in this recall? I bought this car new and it has been a great car but this issue is becoming a real safety issue. The car just recently started to do this and it does it at any speed and city or highway driving.

- Wichita Falls, TX, USA

problem #57

Nov 222018

Civic

  • 221,300 miles
Takata recall lights flashing/flickering in and out while driving inside and out. There are many forms online where this is happening to people with a Honda Civic from 1998-2000.

- Fishersville, VA, USA

problem #56

Oct 172018

Civic

  • 123,000 miles

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

Car shuts off while driving. Can happen at anytime, while stationary or in motion. Issue is a faulty ignition switch. Has to stop to restart and loss of power steering. Same issue as NHTSA campaign number: 02V120000, but many VIN's not included. Filing complaint for expanding issue beyond original scope under 02V120000.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #55

Aug 282018

Civic

  • 155,000 miles
Car shuts off while driving

- Santa Clarita, CA, USA

problem #54

Jul 162018

Civic

  • 120 miles
My car has been stalling and losing power without any warning while driving, most often on the freeway. After several tries it starts back up. This creates a potentially very dangerous driving situation. Somehow, as with many other drivers I have researched and read about, my VIN was not included in the 2002 recall for the ignition switch (faulty electrical component) including Honda Civics from 1999. No other repairs so far have fixed the problem. If this is indeed the problem, (the ignition switch) we very strongly feel (like many others) that it is the responsibility of Honda to take care of the replacement.

- Newark, CA, USA

problem #53

Oct 212016

Civic

  • 199,000 miles
I came to a stop at a light and the engine quit. When I tried to start it again, it lurched a little and quit again. When I tried to restart it, the engine would turn over but not start. The car was towed to a repair place. After a few days the mechanic got it running and I drove it home. When I tried to start it sometime later, it would not start, just like at the traffic light. It would rev up and then die. It did this a couple of times and then started. When I turned it off and tried to start it again it would turn over but not start. It was towed to a different repair place where the mechanic diagnosed it as a bad ignition switch and told me there was a recall on this make and model Honda. A check with the Honda dealer revealed that there was no applicable recall on this vehicle; ie., a vehicle with the above VIN. Why not?? apparently, for some reason my 1999 Honda Civic LX was "missed" because the problem I am having has all the characteristics of what is described in the recall. Why was there a recall, my vehicle was omitted, and now some years later the problem rears its head and I have to pay to have it corrected. It fails to start randomly and if it quits while I am driving and I can't start it again, it is a safety situation since I lose my power brakes and power steering.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

problem #52

Jun 202017

Civic

  • 200,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 1999 Honda Civic. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed by aaa to wrench on wheels of kent, Washington where the vehicle was inspected. It was determined that the ignition switch overheated at random, which caused the relay to become faulty. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #51

Mar 252017

Civic

  • 170,000 miles
Vehicle is stalling while driving without any warning or indication. It may start again or may not. May not restart for twenty times or more, or less. The one variable that remains the same is that it will stall at some point when driving this vehicle. A crash is very likely. There was a recall on this car for faulty ignition switch that could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. May 16, 2002 campaign number: 02V120000. Honda would not honor recall because it was a closed recall, but will open if VIN # shows it is one of the cars that was recalled. The car shows up with the recall with many complaints on ignition switch. More on the stalling, it would stall on any road, street, or highway in motion. Every stall was in motion. If starting the vehicle up from a stopped position it may or may not start the first time or twenty times later. Started in 2014. Honda wouldn't fix it. Next two years sat in parking space. 2017 started to drive it after new battery, new radiator+thermostat. Car still stalls in motion. 03/30/2017 took car to Honda for recall. Said car VIN # did not show recall on it that the recall was closed on the ignition switch. I need to know what my options are. I only drive on roads that have 30mph limits and I don't let my kids drive it. I don't want to cause a death or injury to anyone who may crash into my car.

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #50

Mar 132017

Civic

  • 1 miles
There is a recall out right now for my ignition switch but when I call Honda, they said there is no recalls for my vehicle. I am currently experiencing the symptoms of the recall but they refused to help me or dont believe me. I am not comfortable driving this vehicle right now because it shuts off while driving and I have no steering at all. This is my daily commuter. Please help.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #49

Mar 072017

Civic

  • 8 miles
Ignition switch is cuting off while drive the car, almost caused a accident looked up VIN said not in the recall list for the Honda Civic ignition recall

- Douglasville, GA, USA

problem #48

Dec 232016

Civic

  • 252,000 miles
While driving car shuts off. Able to restart, but after awhile. Somehow when I drive at night it doesn't shut off. When starting car I need to hold key in start position. If I let go it returns and dies out.

- Salinas, CA, USA

problem #47

Nov 072016

Civic

  • 185,212 miles
My son was driving home and the car shut off all of the sudden? he noticed the RPM gauge just dropping and he gave it some gas be RPM's continued down, he pulled into a business, stopped and opened hood to see or smell for any rubber, burnt, possibly if the timing belt was busted. He called me and we talked about what was going on, so after a couple of minutes he tried to start the car and it started right up. A few times I started the car and as I drove car just died. At times you try to start the car and it may take a few times, it would want to start up then turn off, and just a few days ago I started the car, waited a few minutes reversed it and car died than when I was starting to leave then car would turn off.

- Springtowni, TX, USA

problem #46

Aug 012016

Civic

  • 152,000 miles
Original ignition switch failure. Vehicle stalls often while driving on highways and local roads.

- Hendersonville, TN, USA

problem #45

Jun 012016

Civic

  • 205,000 miles
Car stalls unexpectedly. This happened twice, luckily on local streets and at very slow speeds. Both times car restarted easily. Honda had replaced the ignition switch on recall back in 2003 by the original owner--I'm the second owner-- but now with over 200,000 miles the problem seems to have returned. Called american Honda and they suggested I have the problem diagnosed at a Honda service center at my expense. $110 cost. If the ignition switch is proven defective, they will reimburse all expenses but only after approval from american Honda for a second replacement. Decided to have my own mechanic fix the problem and then send the bill to Honda with documentation. To be continued...

- Hastings On Hudson, NY, USA

problem #44

Apr 012016

Civic

  • 200,000 miles
Bad ignition switch will stall on highway and just starting where the key is 1,2,3 is start between 2 and 3 well on 2 it will not light up the dash lights no power so I turn into a little bit from 2 to 3 and make contact then start and sometimes keeps running others stalls random for the past year or 2 now just does it all the time

- Damascus, MD, USA

problem #43

Oct 102013

Civic

  • 135,000 miles
My 1999 Honda Civic dx kept shutting off several times while driving without warning. Died on the interstate, and subsequently, I was rearended. Was diagnosed with a faulty ignition switch which was recalled for my year, make and model but my batch supposedly wasn't one that was affected. They want $700 to repair the $80 recalled part and refuse to honor the already existing recall.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

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