Honda Civic 2016–2021 problems by year and mileage
10th generation · FC (sedan) / FK (hatchback, Type R FK8)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20263,265 complaints, 1,117 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2016 Honda Civic
Close- Median failure report
- 30,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,081
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2016
- Steering444 reports · median 39,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise253 reports · median 34,000 mi
- Electrical system119 reports · median 27,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2016: Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Parking brake. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Honda Civic
Close- Median failure report
- 23,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 598
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2017
- Steering171 reports · median 46,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise165 reports · median 32,000 mi
- Electrical system101 reports · median 19,000 mi
6 recall campaigns name the 2017: Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Equipment — other. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Honda Civic
Close- Median failure report
- 33,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 750
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2018 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2018
- Steering312 reports · median 51,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise127 reports
- Fuel system98 reports · median 64,000 mi
6 recall campaigns name the 2018: Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Equipment — other. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2019 Honda Civic
Close- Median failure report
- 20,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 447
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2019 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2019
- Steering111 reports
- Fuel and propulsion system73 reports
- Fuel system71 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2019: Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2020 Honda Civic
Close- Median failure report
- 16,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 231
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2020
- Electrical system37 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise36 reports
- Transmission and driveline32 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2020: Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2021 Honda Civic
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 158
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2021
- Steering66 reports
- Forward collision avoidance33 reports
- Electrical system21 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2021: Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2018 reports latest and the 2020 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2018 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage. 1 of these years carries fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and shows no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2016–2021 Honda Civic reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 28,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 78,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,117
- Recalls
- 14
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported
- Steering34.7% of complaints · median 42,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise20.0% of complaints · median 31,000 mi
- Electrical system11.5% of complaints · median 19,000 mi
Documented problems
- Engine (1.5L Turbo)2016–2018
- Fuel Pump2019–2020
- Air Conditioning2016–2018
- Electrical2016–2018
Owners filed 3,265 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016–2021 Honda Civic; the steering leads with 34.7% of them, and half of the 1,117 that record an odometer reading came by 28,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
33% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 9.1 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2016–2021 Honda Civic last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2016–2021 Honda Civic, half of the 1,117 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 28,000 miles and 90% by 78,000 miles.
20 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 7 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Civic reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Honda Civic 2016–2021 · 1,117 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 312 complaints.
- First 12,000 miles — 33% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 7 complaints (0.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 1,000
- 25%
- 7,860
- Median
- 28,000
- 75%
- 50,818
- 90%
- 78,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 312 | 27.9% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 148 | 13.2% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 116 | 10.4% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 129 | 11.5% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 114 | 10.2% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 88 | 7.9% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 65 | 5.8% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 34 | 3.0% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 27 | 2.4% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 21 | 1.9% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 20 | 1.8% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 5 | 0.4% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 3 | 0.3% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 9 | 0.8% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 3 | 0.3% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 3 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 4 | 0.4% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 7 | 0.6% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Civic problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Honda Civic 2016–2021
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system244 reports14,0002,500–30,000Fuel and propulsion system: 244 reports, median 14,000 miles, middle half 2,500 to 30,000 miles.
- Brakes208 reports15,0005,500–40,000Brakes: 208 reports, median 15,000 miles, middle half 5,500 to 40,000 miles.
- Electrical system375 reports19,0005,000–41,000Electrical system: 375 reports, median 19,000 miles, middle half 5,000 to 41,000 miles.
- Engine274 reports20,0006,500–44,000Engine: 274 reports, median 20,000 miles, middle half 6,500 to 44,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise653 reports31,0007,500–48,000Problems owners could not categorise: 653 reports, median 31,000 miles, middle half 7,500 to 48,000 miles.
- Steering1,133 reports42,00024,000–60,000Steering: 1,133 reports, median 42,000 miles, middle half 24,000 to 60,000 miles.
- Fuel system182 reports60,00037,000–95,000Fuel system: 182 reports, median 60,000 miles, middle half 37,000 to 95,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1,133 | 34.7% | 42,000 | 24,000–60,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 653 | 20.0% | 31,000 | 7,500–48,000 |
| Electrical system | 375 | 11.5% | 19,000 | 5,000–41,000 |
| Engine | 274 | 8.4% | 20,000 | 6,500–44,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 244 | 7.5% | 14,000 | 2,500–30,000 |
| Brakes | 208 | 6.4% | 15,000 | 5,500–40,000 |
| Fuel system | 182 | 5.6% | 60,000 | 37,000–95,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 132 | 4.0% | 16,000 | 5,500–46,000 |
| Airbag system | 130 | 4.0% | 16,000 | 6,500–45,000 |
| Body structure | 124 | 3.8% | 13,000 | 5,500–30,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 28,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 34.7% of complaints (1,133 reports, 261 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 42,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,000 and 60,000 miles.
A single system taking 34.7% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 20.0% of complaints (653 reports, 217 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 31,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,500 and 48,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 11.5% of complaints (375 reports, 165 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 19,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,000 and 41,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 8.4% of complaints (274 reports, 140 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 20,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,500 and 44,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 7.5% of complaints (244 reports, 46 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 14,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,500 and 30,000 miles.
The brakes account for 6.4% of complaints (208 reports, 120 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 15,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,500 and 40,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2016–2021 Civic
Engine (1.5L Turbo) 2016–2018
Fuel dilution of engine oil - unburned gasoline accumulates in the crankcase on short trips in cold weather, raising oil level, thinning viscosity and producing a fuel smell. Honda extended powertrain warranty coverage to 6 years with no mileage limit on affected cars and issued software and HVAC calibration updates.
Fuel Pump 2019–2020
Denso low-pressure fuel pump impeller can crack and deform, causing the pump to fail and the engine to stall without warning; NHTSA recall covering 2019-2020 vehicles.
Air Conditioning 2016–2018
A/C condenser leaks causing loss of cooling; subject of extended warranty coverage and litigation.
Electrical 2016–2018
Parasitic 12V battery drain producing repeat no-start conditions, addressed through software updates.
Before you buy a 2016–2021 Civic: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,117 mileage-tagged complaints, 14 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 14 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Ask for visibility/wiper repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 12,000 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Check engine (1.5L turbo) on 2016–2018 (1.5L turbo) cars. Fuel dilution of engine oil - unburned gasoline accumulates in the crankcase on short trips in cold weather, raising oil level, thinning viscosity and producing a fuel smell. Honda extended powertrain warranty coverage…
- Check fuel pump on 2019–2020 cars. Denso low-pressure fuel pump impeller can crack and deform, causing the pump to fail and the engine to stall without warning; NHTSA recall covering 2019-2020 vehicles.
- Check air conditioning on 2016–2018 cars. A/C condenser leaks causing loss of cooling; subject of extended warranty coverage and litigation.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 33% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the steering and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 31,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Civic problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi81% below | At 90k mi92% below | At 120k mi97% below | At 150k mi98% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 24,000–60,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 7,500–48,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 5,000–41,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 6,500–44,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 2,500–30,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Brakes | 5,500–40,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel system | 37,000–95,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Honda Civic 2016–2021 · 1,117 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 81% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 92% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.6% of reports (7) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2016–2021 Honda Civic recalls (14)
NHTSA records 14 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the fuel system (3), the airbag system (2), equipment (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
May 2026 · 2016–2021 · Air BagsAir bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V…
What can happen. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for…
Feb 2024 · 2020–2021 · Air BagsAn air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020…
What can happen. An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Dec 2023 · 2016–2021 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda…
What can happen. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall…
Jun 2023 · 2020–2021 · Service Brakes, HydraulicBrake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been…
What can happen. Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Mar 2021 · 2019–2020 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit…
What can happen. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note…
May 2020 · 2018–2019 · Fuel System, GasolineIf the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the…
What can happen. If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Nov 2018 · 2017–2018 · EquipmentIf the information is missing or improper, it can increase the risk of injury or a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic Hatchback and Civic Type R vehicles. The owners guide in these vehicles may not have been included or if included, the owner's guide may not have been properly provided required…
What can happen. If the information is missing or improper, it can increase the risk of injury or a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the owners information kit, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's…
Sep 2018 · 2017–2018 · SteeringThe unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become…
What can happen. The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.…
Jun 2018 · 2018 · EquipmentIf the owner is not able to verify if their vehicle is involved in safety recall, it can increase the risk of…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Civic vehicles. The manufacturing date area of the certification labels may have random characters which can affect the owner's ability to determine if a safety recall includes their vehicle.
What can happen. If the owner is not able to verify if their vehicle is involved in safety recall, it can increase the risk of injury or crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's…
Apr 2018 · 2017 · SeatsIf the seat-mounted air bags cannot not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, there would be an increased…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback and Civic Type R vehicles. Driver and front passenger seatback pads sold as replacement service parts were made without slit openings for the seat-mounted side air bags. In the…
What can happen. If the seat-mounted air bags cannot not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seatback pads, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number…
Nov 2017 · 2017 · Power TrainThe improper heat treatment can result in the halfshaft breaking, preventing the engine from moving the…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe vehicles. The right halfshaft may have been improperly heat treated, reducing its strength.
What can happen. The improper heat treatment can result in the halfshaft breaking, preventing the engine from moving the vehicle, and can allow a possible roll away situation if the parking brake is not engaged. This…
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the halfshaft's serial number, replacing it as necessary and aligning the front wheels, free of charge. The recall began December 8, 2017. Owners…
Oct 2016 · 2016 · Parking BrakeIf the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Civic two door and four door 1.5L turbo and 2.0L vehicles. The electric parking brake (EPB) may not engage if it is applied immediately after turning the ignition off.
What can happen. If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to allow the EPB to engage immediately after the ignition is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2016.…
Jul 2016 · 2016 · Exterior LightingIf a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing…
The defect. American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic 2-Door vehicles manufactured February 23, 2016, through May 20, 2016. The affected vehicles may have a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly…
What can happen. If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect both the taillight assemblies, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer…
Feb 2016 · 2016 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic vehicles manufactured September 22, 2015, to February 3, 2016 and equipped with 2.0L engines. The affected vehicles have engines with piston assemblies that may have been manufactured…
What can happen. If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash…
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in the Summer of…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 3,265 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 134 (4.1%)
- Fires
- 19
- Injury reports
- 70
- Fatality reports
- 1
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Civic problems by model year
The 2016 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,081, most of them about the steering, and the 2021 the fewest, 158. A typical year drew about 522.
That makes the 2016 stand out at roughly 2.1 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,081 | 495 | 30,000† | Steering (444) | 5 |
| 2017 | 598 | 217 | 23,000† | Steering (171) | 6 |
| 2018 | 750 | 209 | 33,000† | Steering (312) | 6 |
| 2019 | 447 | 123 | 20,000† | Steering (111) | 4 |
| 2020 | 231 | 55 | 16,000 | Electrical system (37) | 5 |
| 2021 | 158 | 18 | under 30 reports | Steering (66) | 4 |
What Civic owners reported
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving and making turns on several occasions, the vehicle overcorrected. The contact stated that the steering wheel needed to be yanked while turning to steer the vehicle correctly and avoid driving off the road. The vehicle was steered to the side of…
2018 · 117,000 miles · Steering
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Civic. The contact stated that after her daughter had shifted from reverse(R) to drive (D), the front passenger’s side air bag unexpectedly deployed without impact while the contact's boyfriend was in the front passenger’s seat. The failure caused the front driver’s side window to…
2019 · 176,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel jerked, and the steering wheel was sticking. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall associated…
2016 · 1,000 miles · Steering
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact experienced an intermittent failure, and the steering wheel became very firm and became difficult to turn. During the failure, the power steering became inoperable, causing several malfunctions, and several…
2021 · 58,000 miles · Steering
Built from 1,117 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Civic generations
- Civic 1996–2000 504 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Civic 2001–2005 2,109 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Civic 2006–2011 3,503 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Civic 2012–2015 924 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Civic 2022–2025 118 reports with mileage, most about the steering