AI Damage1991 Honda CRX: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Honda CRX filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and latches, locks, linkages. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 29% of all complaints
- 2 Latches, locks, linkages 29% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 29% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My car has had a problem for awhile regarding the seat belt warning would sometimes go off when the passenger side was unhooked when it hadn't been connected since starting the car. I would have to leave it hooked up. About a two months ago I noticed an occasional burning smell.
1991 honda crx , traveling westbound when the hood latch failed. The hood came open and struck the windshield. (ohio traffic crash report # 10-0519-90)
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60 mph on the highway, the front hood flew up and slammed into the windshield without warning. The contact managed to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road without further incident.
Main relay- poor solder joints on the circuit board cause hot starting problems. This has been clearly documented @ the following website http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howto/electrical/main-relay/main-relay.htm this is a blatant factory flaw which should have been dealt with via recall years ago.
While exiting freeway at 30 mph temperature gauge went to hot, and vehicle started smoking and died. Vehicle was purchased used, and on the same day it died. Please provide any further information.
Hatch back door assembly broke, causing door to be released from upright position. The hydrolics on the hatchback fail to keep the door open in an upright position. The owner of the vehicle states that the hatch back door is to heavy for the hydrolics.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CRX has 5 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 7, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Honda CRX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, latches, locks, linkages, structure. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (29%), seat belts (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Honda CRX?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1991 Honda CRX from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1991 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.