Model year guide

1986 Honda Civic

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1986 Honda Civic is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 20 on record.

1986 Honda Civic — representative photo
Representative photo

1986 Honda Civic at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints52
Combined26–34 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1986 Honda Civic recalls 3

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly NHTSA Campaign #95V103001 · 24/05/1995

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.

Fix: 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 SECU…

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer NHTSA Campaign #88V180000 · 18/11/1988

UNDER HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTACT UNIT COULD LOOSEN AND BECOME DISLODGED.

Fix: INSTALL A CONTACT UNIT HOLDER THAT WOULD PREVENT LOOSENING.

Power Train:driveline:driveshaft NHTSA Campaign #86V045000 · 20/03/1986

LEFT SIDE DRIVE SHAFT COULD DEVELOP CRACKS NEAR THE OUTER JOINT.

Fix: REPLACE LEFT DRIVE SHAFT WITH A PROPERLY MANUFACTURED PART.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1986 Honda Civic common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

1986 Honda Civic MPG & running costs

Combined26–34 mpg
City27 mpg
Highway33 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,363
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
Transmission3 options
Passenger volume84 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$188 less

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1986 Honda Civic costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$11,815
Fuel only$11,815
Per mile$0.16

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
144.9–163.4 in
Width
64.2 in
Height
50.8–58.3 in
Wheelbase
86.6–96.5 in
Curb weight
1,814–2,050 lb

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1986 Honda Civic — ranges cover the 6 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 3

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE Closed

NHTSA #EA94035 · Seat Belts · opened Oct 1994 · closed Jul 1995

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILS Closed

NHTSA #PE94052 · Seat Belts · opened Jul 1994 · closed Oct 1994

FUEL SYSTEM VENTING Closed

===

NHTSA #EA89005 · Vehicle Speed Control · opened Nov 1988 · closed Nov 1989

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the CIVIC. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 2

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1986 Honda Civic. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Seats And Restraints

On certain vehicles, the platic front seatbelt release buttons may break allowing plastic pieces to fall into the buckle assembly. If this should happen, a no latch, false latch or failure to unlatch condition could occur creating the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Correction: Front seatbelt buckles will be repaired or replaced as necessary.

Transport Canada #1995086 · May 1995

Powertrain

On certain vehicles, during a high driveshaft stress situation such as rapid acceleration or deceleration, the left side driveshaft could break and cause a sudden loss of power. Note: Vehicles equipped with 1.3 litre or 1.5 litre engines.

Transport Canada #1986035 · Mar 1986

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1972. As of 2023, the Civic is positioned between the Honda Fit/City and Honda Accord in Honda's global passenger car line-up. It is one of the best-selling automobiles in history, with over 27 million units sold through 2021.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1986 Honda Civic vehicles on record

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Other Honda Civic model years

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1986 Honda Civic — frequently asked questions

Does the 1986 Honda Civic have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1986 Honda Civic. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1986 Honda Civic?

Across all 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are seat belts, engine and engine cooling, structure.

What gas mileage does the 1986 Honda Civic get?

The 1986 Honda Civic has U.S. EPA estimates of 26–34 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.