1996 Honda Civic Electrical Problems

Your engine suddenly dies while driving at any speed, then restarts after a few moments (sometimes taking several tries). You may also notice the car jerking slightly as if it's not getting fuel. The dealer removed an old alarm system and replaced the fuel pump with genuine Honda parts, but the problem continues happening almost daily — you can't predict whether the car will start or stall. The fix may involve diagnosing the ignition system, as similar problems were recalled on later Honda models.

Your 1996 Civic wouldn't start one cold morning, and a week later it suddenly stalled and shut off while you were driving 65+ mph on the freeway. After coasting to a stop, the car was difficult to restart but eventually started again. You found that Honda issued a recall for similar electrical issues on 1997-2000 Civics and other models, but your 1996 model wasn't included, leaving you at risk with an unresolved defect.

CIVIC HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 24 HOURS AND WHEN I LOOKED OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT WINDOW IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO START IN THE DASH WIRING SOMEWHERE. THE FIRE STARTED THERE AS THE MOST DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT PORTION OF THE CAR AND THE DASH WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS NOT DAMAGED, THE REAR SEAT WAS DAMAGED BUT NOT DESTROYED BY FIRE COMPLETELY, AND THE TRUNK WAS UNTOUCHED. FRONT WINDOW BLEW OUT AND THE SAFETY GLASS (MORE LIKELY THE PLASTIC FILM IN BETWEEN GLASS SHEETS) MELTED, BOTH FRONT DOOR WINDOWS BLEW OUTWARDS, AND MOONROOF GLASS SHATTERED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY PUT IT OUT. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. IT WAS JUNKED. NO INSURANCE CLAIM WAS FILED ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS PAID OFF AND WE WERE ONLY CARRYING LIABILITY ON IT.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY COULD TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IN ANY GEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

REGULATOR ON THE ALTERNATOR IS CHARGING UP, THEN GOING DOWN THEN UP. LIGHTS ARE AFFECTED.*AK

TURNED CAR OFF. CAR BEGAN TO HONK WILDLY, INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED, DOOR LOCKED AND UNLOCKED, AND RADIO IS WITHOUT POWER. HAD TO PULL UNDER HOOD HORN FUSE TO STOP POWERING THE ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS FUSE POWERS HORN AND BRAKE LIGHTS. FUSE MUST REMAIN PULLED TO KEEP HORN FROM SOUNDING. PREVIOUSLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS. THESE WERE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. LATEST PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED BEFORE BUT DID NOT INCLUDE DOOR LOCKS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. AFRAID UNDER DASH ELECTRICAL SHORT WILL CAUSE ACCIDENT (AUTO-DEPLOY AIRBAGS, ETC. WHILE DRIVING). *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON IT SLIPS PAST THE CORRECT POSITION , CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HORN LOCATION MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO USE WHENEVER NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS PROBLEM. *AK

INTERMITTENT STALLING DUE TO DISTRIBUTOR MALFUNCTIONING.

ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILED.

THE HORN BUTTONS ARE TOO SMALL, AND CANNOT BE REACHED WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. *AK

AT VARIOUS TIMES WHEN STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE, VEHICLE WILL DEACCELERATE W/CAUSE UNKNOWN BY HERSONS HONDA IN ROCKVILLE MD., *AK