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 1999 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 1999 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle lost electrical power inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. Additionally, the contact stated that the instrument panel lights were no longer illuminated while starting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ignition switch was corroded at the contact point. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and several other unknown dealers were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. …
I left work as usual when shortly after near my work I began to smell a strong gasoline smell and I parked to check the vehicle when I turned off the vehicle it made a slight explosion and caught fire
While driving on the highway car engine shut off and completely lost power. After getting on to the shoulder car would not start, electric windows would not operate. Approximately 30 minutes later car started and made it home on city streets. Have not driven it since. Checked and did not find any recalls on this.
My 1999 Honda Civic dx kept shutting off several times while driving without warning. Died on the interstate, and subsequently, I was rearended. Was diagnosed with a faulty ignition switch which was recalled for my year, make and model but my batch supposedly wasn't one that was affected. They want $700 to repair the $80 recalled part and refuse to honor the already existing recall.
I was driving my 1999 Honda Civic lx and out of no where it stalled coming up to a stop sign. No warning lights on the dash came on. It also gave a little shake while holding onto the steering wheel.it took a few ignition turns before it started back up. This was the start of many to come stalling out or several attempts at starting the vehicle. This happens intermittently. It will start...it won't start...it stalled...it did not stall. The car had a mind of it's own. Now, we took it to repair shop and they couldn't get it to not start. It started everytime while at the shop. In order to do a diagnostic test on the vehicle it would need to not start. It is dangerous to drive this vehicle as a result of stalling out without any warning and at any speed where a crash is inevitable. I researched this vehicle afterwards to find any recalls on it. Sure enough there was. …
Vehicle is stalling while driving without any warning or indication. It May start again or May not. May not restart for twenty times or more, or less. The one variable that remains the same is that it will stall at some point when driving this vehicle. A crash is very likely. There was a recall on this car for faulty ignition switch that could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. May 16, 2002 campaign number: 02V120000 . Honda would not honor recall because it was a closed recall, but will open if VIN # shows it is one of the cars that was recalled. The car shows up with the recall with many complaints on ignition switch. More on the stalling, it would stall on any road, street, or highway in motion. Every stall was in motion. If starting the vehicle up from a stopped position it May or May not start the first time or twenty times later. …
I came to a stop at a light and the engine quit. When I tried to start it again, it lurched a little and quit again. When I tried to restart it, the engine would turn over but not start. The car was towed to a repair place. After a few days the mechanic got it running and I drove it home. When I tried to start it sometime later, it would not start, just like at the traffic light. It would rev up and then die. It did this a couple of times and then started. When I turned it off and tried to start it again it would turn over but not start. It was towed to a different repair place where the mechanic diagnosed it as a bad ignition switch and told me there was a recall on this make and model Honda. A check with the Honda dealer revealed that there was no applicable recall on this vehicle; ie., a vehicle with the above VIN. Why not?? …
Vehicle has stalled once while idling and twice while driving - once on a city street and once at highway speed. On the highway, the car initially hesitated and then I felt a 'thunk' in the drivetrain {as if the engine restarted with a surge}, all of the dash lights flashed at least 3 times accompanied by a relay clicking with each on / off cycle. The speedometer gyrated about my actual speed ~5 MPH below and then above before the engine completely died and I coasted to a stop. After turning the ignition off, the car restarted immediately as if nothing had happened, and I was able to resume driving normally. Although the ignition recall has been completed for this car, I am suspecting the problem could be the same issue the recall was supposed to prevent. The ignition coil, distributor and rotor, and wires were all recently replaced and a tune-up performed at the Honda dealer. …
The car is still stalling out. The latest today, when pulling into parking space at home, it stalled. No warning, no lights, no sounds....just stalled. What do you think would happen if it happened on the interstate at fast speeds or in high traffic areas where you might Ram into the back of my car, without warning, just stopped in front of you with no warning. Maybe even in a turning lane, cars coming at me, right/left/front/behind. I am scared to death my luck is going to run out and someone or some people are going to get hurt and lose their lives because Honda can't fix this problem with the ignition switch. They can, but won't!!! They, Honda, is risking lives in order to save some money, not lives, money. It could be you behind me the next time it happens and it will happen again. Please help get this fix. I wanna save lives not end lives!!!!!!!!!! …
Back in November 2014, I changed out my headlights. They seemed to be working fine until recent. Last week my SRS and my battery light would flicker on and off. My headlights then blew out. I replaced the bulbs and checked the fuses. Less than one day later, my lights blew out again. I changed my battery and the alternator out within the last year. I am thinking that there must be a short in the wires somewhere, but not sure. I am sure this problem is going to cost several hundreds of dollars. There have been other issues in the past such as the radio having to be reset even though the battery was never disconnected. Power locks are erratic as sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. The last couple of points are further examples of potential wiring issues. This writing is as of 02/16/2015.
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 1999 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 118 complaints about the electrical system of the 1999 Honda Civic, 35% of the model year's 338 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › switch (42 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Honda Civic electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-120 (switch, May 16, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Honda Civic electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 150,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 3 fires and 2 injuries 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.