Faults:

All 4 power windows failed from 250,000 miles until the last one failed at 290,000 miles.

A/C developed some blockage, working only intermittently around 280,000 miles. Not pleasant when you couldn't get the windows down!

Stock radio volume control developed a mind of its own, either refusing to go up or down, or in some cases hurting your ears.

The parking brake button started receding into the handle after replacing rear brakes, requiring the use of a double "A" battery to release the parking brake!

Minor overheating problems around 270k miles.

General Comments:

One hell of a reliable vehicle, and if you can find a used one with low miles (ha!), grab it!

Our Civic was donated by a fellow employee in our non-profit for use as an office car for pickups and deliveries, which I mostly drove. After 320,000 miles, we were not able to get it smogged, and used a California buy back program to get rid of it before any significant mechanical problems happened. This thing drove my friends and I all over the state of California, and it wasn't until it reached 300k that noises in the transmission started to get worry some, although that might be because I never put any fluid in it!

Beyond normal wear and tear (brake pads, 1 alternator, 1 belt and 2 clutches) I can't recall any major problems with the mechanics. The dash kept its look, and the seats kept their firmness. Even with the advanced miles we put on it, the performance never changed at all. This thing ran pretty peppy, which was very crucial when I had to get places in emergencies. Gas mileage was excellent throughout its life.

I just wish the office would have had the money to perform the work on stuff like the windows and the A/C, but that's the breaks in the wild world of non-profits. But considering the other models that the office has used, mostly American models, this has been the most trouble free car and the Honda engineers should be very proud of their accomplishment.

Faults:

CV joint broke twice, each time on a different side of the front axle, in 2002, after 75,000 miles or so.

Muffler fell off in 2001, after about 65,000 miles.

Drivers side sags slightly.

Over time, the shock absorbers have become less effective and the ride is a little bumpy.

Thermostat broke in 2004, engine would overheat.

General Comments:

Despite the problems, I love the car, it has been great value for money.

This version of the civic handles well and because it is so light, it has great pick-up.

My 96 Civic is very fuel efficient. Filling the tank has generally cost from $16 to $26 or so (depending on oil prices between 2001 and 2007, and I would drive the car a good 240-300 miles on that

I wonder if this car does best with a lot of highway driving - this is how I have run it, for my daily commute.

Faults:

The radiator developed a needle-punch hole and started to show a wet spot, so I decided to replace the radiator altogether.

The rear right-hand window motor died recently, but I don't need it much, so I don't worry about it for now.

Otherwise, nothing wrong - just regular maintenance, which is very low-cost.

And a lot of care on my part, for she deserves every bit of it.

General Comments:

I love my Civic unconditionally. So far, she's been like a good wife to me - very beautiful, very sexy, very devoted, very economical, very reliable, very easygoing, and overall very comfortable to live with.

Will not trade it for anything. Hope she feels the same way about me.