VIN REPORT
JHMSR5339BS0183741981 HONDA CivicGL ,LX
Risk Score
20
MODERATE RISK
out of 100
Safety Recalls
Clear
No active recalls
NHTSA Complaints
1
Reported to NHTSA
Safety Rating
Not Tested
See iihs.org/ratings
Vehicle Age
45 yrs
Made in JAPAN
Safety Grade
B-
Score: 80/100
Verdict & Risk Assessment
📄
Executive Summary
1981 HONDA Civic was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 1 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
- ▸Complaints describe critical safety events (fire, fatality, loss of control) — language severity is in the highest tier
20/100
Moderate Risk
1 moderate risk signal detected. Negotiate accordingly and verify service history.
LOWMODERATEHIGHCRITICAL
Contributing Risk Factors — 1 detected
Critical deferred maintenance — safety-critical components overdue
+20
Critical Alerts
Title Brand CheckMined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
Vehicle
Vehicle SpecificationsDecoded from NHTSA vPIC database
- Make
- HONDA
- Model
- Civic
- Year
- 1981
- Trim / Series
- GL ,LX
- Body Style
- Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
- Vehicle Type
- PASSENGER CAR
- Engine
- 1.488000L
- Transmission
- Manual/Standard
- Doors
- 3
- Manufacturer
- HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
- Assembly
- SUZUKA, MIE, JAPAN
- GVWR
- Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Assembly Plant QualityPlant: SUZUKA, MIE
CQuality55/100
Standard📍 SUZUKA, MIE
No specific quality data available for this plant. No documented recall or complaint concentrations on record.
Safety
Safety IntelligenceComposite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data
Overall Safety Grade
B-
Score: 80/100
Crash Test Rating20/40
Recall Safety30/30
Complaint History30/30
Recall Risk Score
0/100Clear
✓ No high-risk recall components found
Modern Safety Index
0/100
Basic
0 of 20 safety features detected
Missing: Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian AEB, Forward Collision Warning, Electronic Stability Control
Fire Risk Assessment
Low- ▸1 complaint(s) involved a fire
Recalls
Deferred Failure RiskComponents and defects approaching or past their known service milestones
82/100
Critical Deferred Risk
Critical deferred failure risk — 5 safety-critical or high-cost components are past their service interval. Without immediate attention, repair costs will compound significantly.
⚠No odometer data on record. Mileage is estimated at ~540,000 mi based on average annual driving. Items marked EST. OVERDUE may already be due — verify service history with the seller. Items marked OVERDUE are confirmed past-due based on vehicle age alone.
EST. OVERDUECriticalTiming Belt
Service interval: 7 yr · Vehicle age: 45 yr · Past due by age
Service Timing Belt immediately — already past the 90,000 mi / 7 yr interval
A snapped timing belt causes immediate, catastrophic engine damage — bent valves, destroyed pistons. No warning. Replace before the interval, not after.
EST. OVERDUECriticalTiming Chain Tensioner
Service interval: 10 yr · Vehicle age: 45 yr · Past due by age
Service Timing Chain Tensioner immediately — already past the 120,000 mi / 10 yr interval
Worn chain tensioners cause timing chain skip or snap — common on GM 5.3L/6.2L, Ford EcoBoost, VW/Audi EA888, BMW N47/N63. Listen for cold-start rattles.
EST. OVERDUECriticalWater Pump
Service interval: 8 yr · Vehicle age: 45 yr · Past due by age
Service Water Pump immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 8 yr interval
Water pump failure causes rapid overheating. If the engine overheats even once, head gasket damage is likely — turning a $400 part into a $3,000+ repair.
EST. OVERDUEHighTransmission Fluid / Service
Service interval: 5 yr · Vehicle age: 45 yr · Past due by age
Service Transmission Fluid / Service immediately — already past the 60,000 mi / 5 yr interval
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
EST. OVERDUEHighCoolant Flush
Service interval: 5 yr · Vehicle age: 45 yr · Past due by age
Service Coolant Flush immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 5 yr interval
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
EST. OVERDUEModerateSpark Plugs (iridium/platinum)
Service interval: 8 yr · Vehicle age: 45 yr · Past due by age
Service Spark Plugs (iridium/platinum) immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 8 yr interval
Worn spark plugs cause misfires that can foul and crack catalytic converters. A $150 tune-up can prevent a $1,200 catalytic converter replacement.
EST. OVERDUEModerateFuel Injectors
Service interval: 10 yr · Vehicle age: 45 yr · Past due by age
Service Fuel Injectors immediately — already past the 120,000 mi / 10 yr interval
Dirty or failing injectors cause rough idle, reduced fuel economy, and increased emissions. Cleaning costs $100–$200; replacement $800–$1,600.
NHTSA Safety Recalls
0CLEAR
✓
No Recall Campaigns Found
NHTSA has no active or historical recalls for this 1981 HONDA.
Complaints
Complaint Intelligence1 complaints analyzed across 1 system categories
By System / Component
Engine/Powertrain
1
Reported Failure Modes
Fire/smoke1
Owner Complaints1 safety complaint filed with NHTSA
1
1
Fire
Complaint Severity AnalysisNLP analysis of complaint language — not all complaints are equal
60/100
Critical Severity
1 of 1 complaints use high-severity language
1 of 1 complaints describe critical safety events (fire, fatality, loss of control) — language severity is in the top tier.
Details & Analysis
Legal & Regulatory ActionsKnown class action lawsuits, settlements, and manufacturer extended warranty programs
Financial
5-Year Total Cost of OwnershipEstimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation
$48,614
~$810/mo over 5 yrs
$0.1/mi
cost per mile
Fuel
$10,000
Insurance (est.)
$7,500
Maintenance
$23,000
Repair Risk Buffer
$3,000
Depreciation
$5,114
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $48,614 (~$810/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Negotiation AmmunitionUse these data-backed findings to negotiate the price down
Critical-severity owner complaints (fire, fatality, loss of control)−$1,500
Total recommended deduction−$1,500
Pre-Purchase Inspection ChecklistTailored for the 1981 HONDA Civic — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic
For any used vehicle with a risk score above Low, a $100–$150 independent inspection is always worth it.
MEDIUM
Run a VIN check on NHTSA.gov to confirm all recalls are closed
Free at nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/recalls — enter the VIN and confirm all campaigns show as completed.
MEDIUM
Verify title is clean and check for salvage/rebuilt brands at your state DMV
Title washing across state lines is common — confirm with your state DMV before finalizing purchase.
Recall Probability ForecastEstimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals
5%
18-month
10%
2-year
Low Probability
Cumulative 2-year risk: 10%
5% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.
Maintenance ScheduleOEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle
Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.
Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.
History & Auctions
Insurance Cost EstimateEstimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings
Full Coverage
$1,270–$1,620/yr
~$106–$135/mo
Liability Only
$560–$710/yr
~$47–$59/mo
Category: Standard Vehicle
▼ 45-year-old vehicle: −28% (lower ACV reduces comprehensive/collision cost)
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
Manufacturer NHTSA Penalty HistoryFederal fines issued for recall delays and safety violations
HONDA has been fined $93M+ by NHTSA. Most recently in 2016: Additional penalties related to Takata airbag recall management.
2015$70MFailure to report deaths and injuries linked to Takata airbag defect
2016$23MAdditional penalties related to Takata airbag recall management
State-Specific Legal ProtectionsWhat consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Complete Data TableAll decoded fields in a single flattened view
Vehicle Identity
| VIN | JHMSR5339BS018374 |
| Model Year | 1981 |
| Make | HONDA |
| Model | Civic |
| Trim | GL ,LX |
| Vehicle Type | PASSENGER CAR |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Doors | 3 |
| Transmission | Manual/Standard |
Engine
| Displacement (L) | 1.488000 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
| Assembly City | SUZUKA |
| Assembly Country | JAPAN |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | JHM |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | 9 |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | B |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | S |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | 018374 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 0 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 1 |
VIN Structure DecodeISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number
J
1
H
2
M
3
S
4
R
5
5
6
3
7
3
8
9
9
B
10
S
11
0
12
1
13
8
14
3
15
7
16
4
17
WMI (1–3)
VDS (4–8)
Check Digit (9)
Model Year (10)
Serial (11–17)
J
World Manufacturer
Country & region of manufacture
Position 1
H
Manufacturer
Specific manufacturer identifier
Position 2
M
Vehicle Type
Division or vehicle type
Position 3
SR533
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Body style, engine type, restraint system
Position 4–8
9
Check Digit
Mathematical validation character
Position 9
B
Model Year
Year of manufacture
Position 10
S
Assembly Plant
Where the vehicle was assembled
Position 11
018374
Production Sequence
Unique serial number for this vehicle
Position 12–17
Country of Manufacture
Japan
From VIN position 1 (J)
Model Year Character
"B" → 1981
Could also be 2011
Check Digit (Pos 9)
✓ Valid
ISO 3779 weighted-sum algorithm
Research This Model
Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 4/21/2026, 8:15:10 AM.