Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1988 Honda Civic. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES
- Summary
- THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
- Consequence
- THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy
- OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
FUEL:FUEL INJECTION:IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT
- Summary
- ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CONTROL UNIT MAY CAUSE IDLE SPEED TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 550 RPM WHILE CAR IS STOPPED IN GEAR.
- Consequence
- HIGHER THAN NORMAL IDLE COULD CREATE POTENTIAL FOR LOSSOF VEHICLE CONTROL.
- Remedy
- REPLACE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CONTROL UNIT.
EQUIPMENT:OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION
- Summary
- OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, SECTIONS 6A AND 6B WAS OMITTED FROM THE MANUAL.
- Consequence
- VEHICLES MANUAL INFORMATION DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS210.
- Remedy
- UPGRADE EXISTING MANUALS BY INSERTING ADHESIVE BACKED CORRECTION PAGES.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (46)
46 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The vehicle speed control is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 28.3% |
| Seat belts | 10 | 21.7% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 15.2% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 15.2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 8.7% |
| Seats | 3 | 6.5% |
| Structure | 2 | 4.3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2.2% |
| Power train | 1 | 2.2% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2.2% |
How 1988 compares with other Civic years
Best and worst Civic years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 5 | 3 |
| 1985 | 15 | 2 |
| 1986 | 35 | 3 |
| 1987 | 39 | 3 |
| 1988 | 46 | 3 |
| 1989 | 69 | 1 |
| 1990 | 91 | 3 |
| 1991 | 110 | 1 |
| 1992 | 98 | 1 |
| 1993 | 146 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 44 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 202 g/mi
- EPA class
- Two Seaters
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 44 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 41 / 49 / 44 | $1,500 | 202 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 37 / 47 / 41 | $1,650 | 217 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 35 / 32 | $2,100 | 278 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 35 / 32 | $2,100 | 278 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 35 / 32 | $2,100 | 278 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 34 / 31 | $2,150 | 287 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 33 / 30 | $2,250 | 296 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 29 | $2,300 | 306 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 33 / 29 | $2,300 | 306 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 32 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 24 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1988 Civic for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1988 Honda Civic FAQ
How many recalls does the 1988 Honda Civic have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 95V103001 (seat belt), 87V173000 (vehicle speed control), 87V171000 (equipment). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1988 Honda Civic problems?
Owners filed 46 complaints with NHTSA. Vehicle speed control (13), Seat belts (10), Electrical system (7) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1988 Honda Civic get?
EPA rates the 1.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 41 city, 49 highway and 44 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1988 Civic compare with other years?
Among the 1984–1993 Honda Civic model years at least five years old, the 1984 drew the fewest complaints (5) and the 1993 the most (146). The 1988 drew 46. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.