Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 244 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Honda Civic, and it carries 12 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 81 | 33% |
| Power train | 16 | 7% |
| Equipment | 14 | 6% |
| Seats | 13 | 5% |
| Structure | 12 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 11 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 11 | 5% |
| Tires | 9 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
95 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN 4 DOOR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ALSO IS GETTING HARDER TO START. ALSO STALLS WHEN NOT MOVING ALSO. YOU CAN DRIVE 10 FEET OR A FEW MILES DEPENDING UPON THE OUTSIDE TEMP. AND WEATHER CONDITIO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE AIRBAG IN THIS CAR DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE BEEN HIT TWICE, AND KNOW AS A FACT THE AIRBAG "DID-NOT DEPLOY" EITHER TIMES. MY SEAT-BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS WEARING AWAY FROM IT ROTTING AWAY, I PUT SOME WOOD GLUE O
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. MY HAS 140,000 MILES AND RUNS LIKE A PEACH. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT. NOTHING HAPPEDED TO MAKE THE LIGHT COMEON. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
1995 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER REQUESTS TSB INFORMATION THAT RELATES TO LEAKING OR DETERIORATING RADIATOR AND OIL PAN GASKET LEAKS. *SMD UPDATED 01/24/17.*JB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I WAS ACCELERATING WHILE DRIVING AND MY CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. I ONLY HAD POWER TO MY RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS. I HAD TO SWITCH ON MY HAZARDS, PUT MY CAR IN PARK. I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP- BUT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. THE FAILURE CAUSED
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I WAS STOPPED DUE TO A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN I NOTICED SMOKED COMING OUT BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL, AT THE SAME TIME THE DASH LIGHTS WERE ALSO FLICKERING/ FLUCTUATING. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER QUICKLY TO A PARKING LOT AND
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 1995 Honda Civic. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND A
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN E SPEED RACING COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIA
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: E SPEED RACING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT E SPEED RACING 909-923-3636.
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPME
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
| Reliability | 55 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 83 | excellent |
| Performance | 39 | below average |
| Efficiency | 61 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 244 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 81 of them (33%). There are 12 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 55/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.