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.

1.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
113,929 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 engine problems

engine problem

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1999 Honda Civic Owner Comments

problem #14

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 #13

Feb 222021

Civic

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

- Canon, GA, USA

problem #12

Jan 282020

Civic

  • 144,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60-70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after approximately three minutes. The vehicle was taken to (vandergriff Honda 1104 w interstate 20 w, arlington, tx 76017) however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of this issue. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.

- Kenner, LA, USA

problem #11

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 #10

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 #9

Jan 142015

Civic

  • 11,000 miles
When I drive the car the check engine light comes on. And requires maintence to the vehicle. Just wanted to know if my car is under recalls at all. Thanks sometimes my transmissions slips.

- Carmel, NY, USA

problem #8

Dec 012014

Civic

  • 166,000 miles

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

I was driving my 1999 Honda Civic LX and out of no where it stalled coming up to a stop sign. No warning lights on the dash came on. It also gave a little shake while holding onto the steering wheel.it took a few ignition turns before it started back up. This was the start of many to come stalling out or several attempts at starting the vehicle. This happens intermittently. It will start...it won't start...it stalled...it did not stall. The car had a mind of it's own. Now, we took it to repair shop and they couldn't get it to not start. It started everytime while at the shop. In order to do a diagnostic test on the vehicle it would need to not start. It is dangerous to drive this vehicle as a result of stalling out without any warning and at any speed where a crash is inevitable. I researched this vehicle afterwards to find any recalls on it. Sure enough there was. It had a faulty ignition switch which causes the above symptoms.....stalling out and trouble starting. I never got a letter or mail of any kind stating there is a recall on this car's ignition switch. Why" there also is one other recall on this car, a fuel tank thermal insulator. No notice on that recall. What do I need to do to get these faulty recalls done" before there is a crash as a result of this manufacturer faulty equipment..

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #7

Apr 012014

Civic

  • 130,000 miles
While I was driving the vehicle, the engine just quits. There is no stuttering. It suddenly just quits. The radio, heater fan, brake lights were still working. When the key is turned to 'start', the engine starts but as soon as you released the key to spring back to the 'run' position, the engine would quit. I just got this vehicle from my friend and I am the 3rd owner. She told me the car was not in a good condition but didn't give me a detail. The symptom has been there and I changed several parts but never been solved.

- Berkeley, CA, USA

problem #6

Apr 082014

Civic

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while idling at a stop sign, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

- St Louis, MO, USA

problem #5

Feb 052014

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 117,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly stall. The contact indicated that after restarting the engine the vehicle would operate normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the oxygen sensors and fuel pump relay were faulty. The vehicle was repaired but the defect was not remedied. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 117,000. Vehicle was repaired under warranty. Updated 06/17/14 MA updated 8/22/2017

- Gahanna, OH, USA

problem #4

Jan 152013

Civic 4-cyl

  • 140,000 miles

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

The car engine stalls while driving soon after starting. It will happen typically while the car starts hot, either if the weather is hot or if the car was already warm from driving. The engine will also fail to stay started unless I turn the starter engine over a few times extra. I believe this is a result of the faulty ignition switch which was recalled for similar vehicle models.

- Calabasas, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 272013

Civic 4-cyl

  • miles
On 7/27/13, my son was driving and stopped at a traffic light. Prior to driving everything seemed fine. When he pulled off from the traffic light and the car got to about 25 mph the engine line flashed and the car suddenly stopped. He was able to pull off to the side into a parking lot, popped the hood and take a quick look to see if anything was wrong. He couldn't see anything and of course he's not a mechanic. He tried starting the car and it started right up. The car worked fine for a week and then on 8/5/13 he left work to quickly get lunch and while waiting at a traffic light the car died after the engine light flashed on and off. He waited a few seconds and tried restarting the car and it started without any problems. He took the car to 2 different mechanics and autozone and they couldn't find any issues with the car because the computer didn't identify a problem/error. Then he took it to Firestone and they told he and my husband it was an ignition switch problem ($350). He found out that this was a recall issue. I'm the 2nd owner of the car and I'm uncertain if this problem was ever fixed. How can I find out if this is reimbursable if it wasn't fixed in the recall. I notice a number of the more recent complaints on your site are cars with the same issue that were not included in the recall but clearly have this problem. What can be done about this"?"

- Edison, NJ, USA

problem #2

Apr 192012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 210,000 miles
Vehicle stalls without notice, can't accelerate anymore when it happens, have to throw hazard lights on and pull over into emergency lane. If not in motion, car will just stall, and cars behind will rear end my vehicle if not paying attention. This is a huge safety concern, it can cause an accident. I brought this up to american Honda, but, my VIN does not qualify for the recall they had on the electrical ignition switch. They directed me to have NHTSA add my VIN to the recall so that I may then qualify.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #1

Aug 102012

Civic

  • 144,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Honda Civic. While driving approximately 50 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stopped the vehicle on the shoulder of the road and was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.

- Yemassee, SC, USA

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