VehicleVerdict

1990 Honda Civic electrical system problems

The 1990 Honda Civic has 20 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 18% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

20

Electrical System complaints

18%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Civic electrical system complaints by model year149 complaints1986: 4 complaints1988: 7 complaints1989: 12 complaints1990: 20 complaints1991: 24 complaints1992: 29 complaints1993: 29 complaints1994: 4 complaints1995: 15 complaints1996: 22 complaints1997: 33 complaints1998: 99 complaints1999: 124 complaints2000: 45 complaints2001: 72 complaints2002: 53 complaints2003: 60 complaints2004: 34 complaints2005: 29 complaints2006: 105 complaints2007: 74 complaints2008: 55 complaints2009: 37 complaints2010: 27 complaints2011: 17 complaints2012: 69 complaints2013: 48 complaints2014: 43 complaints2015: 30 complaints2016: 149 complaints2017: 111 complaints2018: 65 complaints2019: 40 complaints2020: 36 complaints2021: 17 complaints2022: 38 complaints2023: 15 complaints2024: 5 complaints2025: 6 complaints2026: 3 complaints
Civic electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“AFTER DRIVING MY CAR AND IT SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 AND A HALF HOURS I NOTICED THAT THEIR WAS FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I RAN OUT AND TURNED ON THE WATER HOSE AND STARTED TO SQUIRT IT AS A NEIGHBOR OPENED THE HOOD FOR ME BUT WE QUICKLY REALIZED THAT WASN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · November 24, 2004 · fire

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 1990 Honda Civic have?

NHTSA has 20 complaints about the 1990 Honda Civic electrical system — 18% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.