1998 Honda Civic Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 1998 Honda Civic, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 128,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (47% of reports).
- 88electrical system complaints
- 128,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 43%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 41 of 88 complaints (47%)
- Consumer states: mentioned in 9 of 88 complaints (10%)
- Provide further information: mentioned in 6 of 88 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 35 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 88 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury.
Honda Civic electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Civic | 5 | 16% | 300 |
| 2025 Civic | 6 | 8% | — |
| 2024 Civic | 7 | 6% | 11,000 |
| 2023 Civic | 16 | 6% | 200 |
| 2022 Civic | 38 | 4% | 37,900 |
| 2021 Civic | 18 | 12% | 251 |
| 2020 Civic | 37 | 16% | 9,000 |
| 2019 Civic | 36 | 8% | 9,638 |
| 2018 Civic | 61 | 8% | 11,775 |
| 2017 Civic | 103 | 17% | 19,000 |
| 2016 Civic | 119 | 11% | 26,575 |
| 2015 Civic | 27 | 7% | 32,000 |
| 2014 Civic | 39 | 13% | 40,780 |
| 2013 Civic | 39 | 12% | 35,000 |
| 2012 Civic | 60 | 13% | 40,000 |
| 2011 Civic | 16 | 9% | 31,000 |
| 2010 Civic | 23 | 6% | 50,000 |
| 2009 Civic | 35 | 9% | 13,100 |
| 2008 Civic | 51 | 6% | 33,500 |
| 2007 Civic | 67 | 6% | 40,000 |
| 2006 Civic | 100 | 7% | 53,000 |
| 2005 Civic | 26 | 8% | 78,100 |
| 2004 Civic | 32 | 9% | 91,000 |
| 2003 Civic | 51 | 10% | 101,223 |
| 2002 Civic | 49 | 7% | 110,000 |
| 2001 Civic | 59 | 5% | 91,750 |
| 2000 Civic | 38 | 13% | 122,925 |
| 1999 Civic | 118 | 35% | 149,569 |
| 1998 Civic | 88 | 20% | 128,000 |
| 1997 Civic | 30 | 8% | 85,000 |
| 1996 Civic | 17 | 6% | 170,000 |
| 1995 Civic | 12 | 6% | 115,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and sport utility vehicles, electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is started.
Risk: Worn contacts could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ignition switch. Owner notification began june 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Key won't come out of switch when in park. Was told nhtsa 610316 is the fix, but can't find on internet.
There is a recall on 1998 honda civics for the ignition. I am being told my car is not in the recall . My car should be part of the recall it is stalling in the middle of traffic due to the ignition losing it's connection . It has almost cost me my life a few times . The car has become unusable due…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 honda civic. When the ignition was turned to the on position, the contact had to hold the ignition key in order for the vehicle to run. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Honda Civics have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 88 owner complaints about electrical system for the 1998 Honda Civic (20% of the 435 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Honda Civic electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 128,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 1998 Honda Civic?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 41 of 88 complaints, followed by “consumer states” (9).
Other 1998 Honda Civic problems
See all 1998 Honda Civic problems or electrical system problems across all Civic years.