Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Car stalls without warning. Have to wait 5 to 10 minutes to restart. Mechanic tried several repairs and finally concluded it's a faulty ignition switch. NHTSA recall # 02v-120. Today, I almost got hit and parked it until problem is fixed. Lucky to have a backup car. Honda customer service line said they won't fix it, because it has 220 miles. I want Honda to act responsibly and fix it. This problem is a recipe for roads disasters especially for people who don't have multiple cars or just taking it for granted. Today, I could have been killed or hurt an innocent person .I am sure there are a lot of Honda owners struggling with the same problem and fear to come out of the shadows with this scary problem and just driving as if everything is OK. Sometimes when accidents happen because of this, the whole truth is unknown.
On Saturday, 01/17/2015, while driving at approximately 25 MPH on busy street car stalled while driving. I had to pull over to middle median lane, and then received help to push car out of busy street/traffic to safety on sidestreet curb. The car would not start, it cranked and tried to turn over but would not start. I had to be pushed home by neighbor. After taking it to mechanic, I have had the coil replaced, distributor replaced, spark plugs and wires replaced as well as a sensor. The car still will not start. I have learned of the recall of the faulty ignition, and would like for this to be replaced by dealer under recall process. Nothing is working so far. Please assist, need car to take child to school and to able to work, take care of business.
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 notification of NHTSA campaign number: 02V120000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
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 to this problem. When I was driving on the hi way doing 67 miles a hour the car just stopped. Luckily I was able to get it to the side before I was hit . It has done this now every time I try to drive . The mechanic told me what was wrong and told me to check about the recall . I was told my VIN was not covered . It should be.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Honda Civic. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The contact was unsure of what part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was aware of NHTSA campaign number: 02V120000 (electrical system) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 180,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.
While driving at 34 MPH a fire started in the trunk of the vehicle. The consumer managed to pull over and have the vehicle towed. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The cause was not determined.
While drving the vehicle, the engine just quits. There is no stuttering, stalling, or engine misfires, it quietly just quits. The radio, heater fan, brake lights still work but not the signal lights. This has happened many times, including while driving on the highway and busy state roads, creating havoc and extremely dangerous stituations as other cars swerve and angrily honk horns to avoid a collision. When I finally come a stop and try to re-start, it immediately re-starts and runs okay. It is impossible to predict when it will quit - weather and road conditions are not consistent when it fails each time. My mechanic first replaced the alternator but the problem continues. I did a web search and saw that there is a Honda recall for this exact same problem and other worktwo Honda dealers had no idea what to do other than to with Honda civics and other models, including 1998. …
The car stalled on the freeway, restarted the car and problem happened again. Problem then continued after getting off the freeway. It would restart each time. Was able to get the vehicle to a repair facilty.folsom car care diagnosed the problem as a defective ignition switch and advised me of a Honda recall campaign. I called the local dealer (mel rapton Honda, sacramento, ca. They advised me this vehicle by VIN was note included. I call folsom care back and they said they never had Honda deny a campaign so he call shingle springs Honda and got the same response. I then authorized folsom care care to repair the vehicle. They replace the ignition switch with p/n 35130-s04-305 (same one as in the recall)and the problem was repaired. …
Car was in park, hand brake was up-limit, air conditioner and engine on, in a driveway with an incline. I was unloading three pet birds from car in over 90 degree weather, therefore left air conditioner on. When I was done unloading, I knelt on my knees on the front passenger seat and reached over to ignition, turned key and removed it. Car jumped gears to neutral and slid back down hill, into street, causing close to $2,000 damage to my car as well as damage to the car I was parked next to in driveway. I could easily have been severly hurt or killed had a car been coming up or down the street. I reported problem to American Honda. Sent numerous letters. Was initially just laughed at. Eventually they opened a case number but concluded it was "driver error". In light of the recent news releases about the prevelance of this defect on hondas and acuras, I am furious.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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.
Remedy: 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…
Electrical complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 88 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Honda Civic, 20% of the model year's 435 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › switch (38 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Honda Civic electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-120 (switch, May 16, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Honda Civic electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 128,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 2 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.