There are 13 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 1996 Honda Civicin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
PASSENGER SIDE SUB-FRAME IS HEAVILY RUSTED AND BROKEN AT THE BOTTOM. PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL MOVES SIDE TO SIDE WITH EASE. THE CAR HAS BEEN OWNED BY ME FOR TWO YEARS WITH NO ISSUE. I DO NOT AND HAVE NOT USED THE A/C, BUT LIKELY RELATED TO THE A/C DRIP TUBE POINTING DIRECTLY ON THE SUB-FRAME AND RUSTING IT THROUGH. IT'S NOT WORTH REPAIRING BUT COULD POSSIBLE BE REINFORCED WITH A WELD. SELLING DEALER DENIES ANY DEFECT UPON ORIGINAL SALE. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS MAINLY RUST FREE, WHAT WAS LURKING UNDERNEATH WAS DEFINITELY NOT SAFETY INSPECTED BEFORE PUTTING ON THE LOT FOR SALE. AT THE TIME I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, I SAW NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND SUB-FRAME AREA. I LATER FOUND OUT THE DAMAGE TO BE CONCEALED BY SANDING AND DARK COLORED UNDERCOATING. PRESUMABLY BY THE SCAM DEALER. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN THE NE, HONDA SHOULD ASSURE THAT CRITICAL PARTS LIKE THIS WILL STAND UP. I CAN'T SAY WHAT WORK HAD BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE BEFORE I OWNED IT, OR IF THE VEHICLE WAS GARAGED OR NOT. FROM WHAT I AM READING, THAT DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE THOUGH. HONDA OWNERS, CHECK THIS ITEM. I COULDN'T SEE PUTTING A NEW SUB-FRAME, ALONG WITH STEEP DEALER LABOR PRICES TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. HONDA AMERICA NEEDS TO STEP UP WITH AN ADMISSION OF FAULT AND A RECALL, IF NOT ONLY TO REINFORCE THOSE FRAMES THAT ARE STRESSED.
THE REMOTE DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A WEEK IN THE DRIVEWAY. APPARENTLY A "CRYSTAL" WHICH CONTROLS THIS BROKE. THERE WAS NO RESON ON MY PART WHY IT SHOULD HAVE BROKEN. I DON'T SEE WHY I SHOULD PAY $450 FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A DEFECT AND HAS BEEN FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES BY MY MECHANIC IN CIVICS OF THE SAME YEAR. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAS FAILED IN NUMEROUS CIVICS FROM 1996 ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, LEADING US TO BELIEVE THAT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE DEFECTS.
SUPPORT ROD THAT HOLDS THE HOOD UP HAS A GIVEN POINT. THE SUPPORT ROD BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO COLLAPSE ON SOMEONE WHO'S UP UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE MISHANDLING OF THE PERSON WHO WAS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. *AK
POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED.
TRUNK SEAL FAILED CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INSIDE THE TRUNK WHEN IT RAINS.
SIDE/FRONT DOORS WOULD NOT STAY OPEN.
AFTER USING SUNVISOR AND IT IS RETURNED BACK TO ITS POSITION AGAINST THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE, THE VISOR POPS OUT OF ITS RIGHT-SIDE FASTENING CLIP BLOCKING VIEW.
PURCHASED CAR NEW, RECEIVED IT ON JUNE 29. 1996 THERE IS A NOISE IN THE STRUCTURE FRAME AND HARD TO SHIFT CAR MANUALLY . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
SUN VISOR IS TOO SMALL AND OWNER FEELS IT'S INSUFFICIENT.
LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO DRIVING DURING EXTENSIVE RAIN CONDITIONS. CAR IS BUILT TOO CLOSE TO THE ROAD AND EXCESSIVE WATER ON THE ROAD HAS NO PLACE TO GO EXCEPT UNDER THE CAR. LOST CONTROL EVERY TIME OVER 40MPH, EVEN WITH NEW TIRES. TRADED CAR. TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE IN HEAVY RAIN. ALSO SAW A FATILITY ON THE NEWS ABOUT LOSS OF CONTROL IN HEAVY RAIN WITH A HONDA CIVIC SEDAN. *AK
THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE ALLOWS WATER TO BLOCK DRIVER'S VIEW ON OUTSIDE MIRRORS AS WELL AS WINDOWS. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SERIOUS VISIBILITY HAZARD.
WHEN OPENING, TRUNK LID REBOUNDS STRIKING OPERATOR IN HEAD, CAUSING CONCUSSION
PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MAT PUSHES UNDER THE DASH, CAUSING AIR CODITIONER DRAIN HOSE TO DISCONNECT AND LEAK ONT INTERIOR CARPET, CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE CIVIC ORIGINAL MATS WHICH IS UNDER RECALL AT THIS TIME RECALL # 99-E-015-000. ----------------PLEASE ADD VIN.#-----------------
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026