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2016 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Civic years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Honda Civic are substantially higher than the model-year median of 183.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

494 reports with mileage · 586 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 444 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

36 crash reports4 fire reports13 injury reports

Power Train complaints

36 reports
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46,000 miles · Sep 17, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

FIRST, THE NEW "NO FUEL CAP" FUEL PUMP SUCKS.. IT ALWAYS GET STUCKED WHEN I'M PUMPING GAS AT ANY GAS STATION. OIL WILL SPILL OUT. BTW (THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM) SECOND, AC PARTS! YES, I KNOW THAT HONDA HAD A LAWSUIT FOR THEIR AC AND DID A RECALL ON THEIR AC CONDENSER. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PARTS THAT HAVE DESIGN ERRORS BUT H…

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FIRST, THE NEW "NO FUEL CAP" FUEL PUMP SUCKS.. IT ALWAYS GET STUCKED WHEN I'M PUMPING GAS AT ANY GAS STATION. OIL WILL SPILL OUT. BTW (THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM) SECOND, AC PARTS! YES, I KNOW THAT HONDA HAD A LAWSUIT FOR THEIR AC AND DID A RECALL ON THEIR AC CONDENSER. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PARTS THAT HAVE DESIGN ERRORS BUT HONDA REFUSED TO ACKNOWLDEGGED THEIR MISTAKES. FOR EXAMPLE, AC EVAPORTATOR? AC COMPRESSOR? PLEASE HELP ALL THE HONDA CIVIC BUYERS! THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!

NHTSA ODI #11355667

94,600 miles · Sep 8, 2020
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION FILL PLUG CAME OUT AND LEAKED FLUID ALL OVER MY TRANSMISSION. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED AT MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ONLY NOTICED WHILE I WAS CHANGING MY OIL ON 9/6/2020. I HAVE NO IDEA TO WHEN THE PLUG CAME OUT AND STARTED LEAKING. I LOOKED IT UP IN ONLINE FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. …

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TRANSMISSION FILL PLUG CAME OUT AND LEAKED FLUID ALL OVER MY TRANSMISSION. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED AT MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ONLY NOTICED WHILE I WAS CHANGING MY OIL ON 9/6/2020. I HAVE NO IDEA TO WHEN THE PLUG CAME OUT AND STARTED LEAKING. I LOOKED IT UP IN ONLINE FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID IT WILL GET DIRT OR OTHER MATERIALS IN MY TRANSMISSION AND MESS IT UP. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO IT BY TAKING THE AIR-INTAKE OFF AND PUTTING THE PLUG BACK IN PLACE. WILL BE REPORTING THIS TO MY DEALERSHIP AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11353883

80,000 miles · Jul 7, 2020
EnginePower Train

A COUPLE OF TIMES WHILE IM STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT MY CAR STALLS, I TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALER BUT THEY DIDNT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I'M WORRIED THAT I GET IN TO A CAR ACCIDENT IF MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPS WHILE IM DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11338095

95,000 miles · Jun 15, 2020
EnginePower Train

OVER THE LAST YEAR MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG UNTIL IT DID IT WHEN MY HUSBAND DROVE IT. A FEW WEEKS AGO I GOT AN OIL CHANGE AND 2 DAYS LATER I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START IT FINALLY DID AND I MADE IT HOME. LATER THAT…

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OVER THE LAST YEAR MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG UNTIL IT DID IT WHEN MY HUSBAND DROVE IT. A FEW WEEKS AGO I GOT AN OIL CHANGE AND 2 DAYS LATER I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START IT FINALLY DID AND I MADE IT HOME. LATER THAT AFTERNOON I STARTED MY CAR AND MY CABIN FILLED WITH THE WORSE SMELL OF GAS AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER GAGGED. MY DIPSTICK FOR OIL SMELT I F GAS TOO. I GOOGLED THIS AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS AN OIL DILUTION PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG BASICALLY BECAUSE IT DID NOT THROW A CODE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON. HONDA HAS NOT RECALLED THUS BUT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY ARE OFFERING A UPDATE BUT ONLY TO OWNERS BACK EAST IN COKD WEATHER STATES. WELL I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG AND MY DEALER SAID I CANT GET UPDATE UNLESS THEY SEE THAT CODE. I CAN'T CONTACT HONDA DIRECTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE UNAVAILABLE I MAY LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BUT I LIVE IN T HE MOUNTAINS AND ITS COLD AND SNOWY HERE 6 TO 8 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR SO I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THIS UPGRADE ALSO. BUT LOCAL DEALER CAN'T DO ANYTHING SO NOW I DRIVE IT AND CAUSE MORE HARM TO MY ENGINE I AM AWARE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON HONDA FIR THUS OIL DILUTION ISSUE AND B THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL. I WANT MY CAR FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11329000

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

MY CAR AC IS BLOWING HOT AIR SINCE JANUARY 2019. MY CAR IS MAKING SOUND WHENEVER I TURN ON. FEBRUARY 28, 2020, MY CAR WAS SUDDENLY STOPPED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11312187

6,000 miles · Nov 6, 2018
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY SWITCH INTO REVERSE. ONCE IN THE REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO ROLL WHILE THE SHIFTER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. ON SEVERAL OCCASION…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY SWITCH INTO REVERSE. ONCE IN THE REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO ROLL WHILE THE SHIFTER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (BRANDON HONDA, 9209 E. ADAMO DR, TAMPA FL). THE DEALER UPDATED THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION MODULE, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ODI #11149634

41,480 miles · Sep 27, 2018
Power TrainCrashInjury

MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC ROLLED OUT OF MY GARAGE WHILE IT WAS IN PARK. MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME. SHE INITIALLY TURNED THE CAR OFF IN DRIVE. SHE REALIZED THAT IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND SHIFTED TO PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE WHILE STILL IN PARK. MY DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE CAR, WAS KNO…

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MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC ROLLED OUT OF MY GARAGE WHILE IT WAS IN PARK. MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME. SHE INITIALLY TURNED THE CAR OFF IN DRIVE. SHE REALIZED THAT IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND SHIFTED TO PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE WHILE STILL IN PARK. MY DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE CAR, WAS KNOCKED DOWN AND RAN OVER BY THE RUNAWAY VEHICLE. SHE WAS INJURED BY THIS ACCIDENT. THE CAR HIT A TREE ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE. I FOUND A SPRING IN THE GARAGE FLOOR THAT I THOUGHT BELONG TO THE CAR. I CONTACTED AMERICA HONDA AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS INCIDENT. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE 2016 TO 2018 HONDA CIVIC. I MADE HONDA AWARE THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. THE ROLLING BACK IN PARK ISSUE HAD HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE TO ME.

NHTSA ODI #11131914

13,000 miles · Aug 28, 2018
Power Train

CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR CONDITIONER SUDDENLY ONLY BLOWS HOT AIR. HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO A CAR BUT APPARENTLY FAULTY COMPRESSORS ARE AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE (SO MUCH SO THAT THERE IS A LONG WAIT JUST TO GET THE PART TO FIX IT) WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT HONDA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO - CLEARLY A WIDESPREAD …

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CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR CONDITIONER SUDDENLY ONLY BLOWS HOT AIR. HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO A CAR BUT APPARENTLY FAULTY COMPRESSORS ARE AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE (SO MUCH SO THAT THERE IS A LONG WAIT JUST TO GET THE PART TO FIX IT) WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT HONDA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO - CLEARLY A WIDESPREAD MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. HONDA OWNERS ARE BEING CHEATED.

NHTSA ODI #11122886

24,000 miles · Aug 11, 2018
Power Train

MANUAL TRANSMISSION CIVIC LX BASE MODEL. WHILE I WAS SITTING IN DRIVER SEAT WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND THE AC ON. CAR SHIFT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND CAR WAS IDLING NORMALLY WITH ENGINE SOUNDING NORMAL. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN THAT MORNING AND IT WAS THE THIRD TIME I HAD TURNED THE ENGINE ON AND OFF FOR THE DAY.. CAR WAS IDLING NORMALLY…

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MANUAL TRANSMISSION CIVIC LX BASE MODEL. WHILE I WAS SITTING IN DRIVER SEAT WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND THE AC ON. CAR SHIFT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND CAR WAS IDLING NORMALLY WITH ENGINE SOUNDING NORMAL. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN THAT MORNING AND IT WAS THE THIRD TIME I HAD TURNED THE ENGINE ON AND OFF FOR THE DAY.. CAR WAS IDLING NORMALLY FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES. THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY SLIPPED FROM NEUTRAL INTO FIRST GEAR WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE GEAR SHIFT NOR ENGAGING THE CLUTCH. SINCE I WAS SITTING BEHIND THE WHEEL WHEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND SITTING ON A LEVEL PARKING LOT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED.....I INSTINCTIVELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE FORWARD MOTION STOPPED. CAR ACTED LIKE I HAD POPPED THE CLUTCH WHILE IT WAS IN FIRST GEAR. I ASSUMED IT HAD STALLED OUT SO I TURNED THE KEY TO RE-START THE CAR. BUT THE CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND IDLING NORMALLY. THIS INCIDENT ONLY OCCURRED ONCE ON THE DATE OF 8-10-18 WITH 24,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. .NO ONE EXCEPT ME WITNESSED WHAT HAPPENING. I HAVE NOT YET INQUIRED ABOUT IT WITH THE DEALER. CAR IS 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS OLD AND I PURCHASED IT NEW FROM A HONDA DEALER IN SOUTH FLORIDA. INCIDENT OCCURRED IN SOUTH FLORIDA. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE AND I'VE DRIVEN IT FOR 50 MILES SINCE AND STARTED AND STOPPED THE ENGINE 3XS SINCE WITH NOTHING UNUSUAL HAPPENING. I DID NOTICE THE SHIFT STICK WAS UNCHARACTERISTICALLY MORE DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO FIRST GEAR FOR 2 OR 3 TIMES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT. BUT THE EASE OF SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL. CAR WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT OCCURRED. UNKNOWN FAILURE IN TRANSMISSION AND I FIND IT REALLY ODD CONSIDERING THIS CAR HAS MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11119323

30,473 miles · Apr 9, 2018
Power TrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN AN INCLINE INTO A PARKING LOT, AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN AN INCLINE INTO A PARKING LOT, AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (GERMAIN HONDA OF ANN ARBOR, 2601 S STATE ST, ANN ARBOR, MI 48104) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,473.

NHTSA ODI #11083989

Official recalls

5

26V332000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger

May 21, 2026

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, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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 this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Dec 18, 2023

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 CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

16V725000 · Parking Brake

Oct 11, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KC6.

16V526000 · Exterior Lighting

Jul 11, 2016

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, making the marker light inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KB8.

16V074000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Feb 9, 2016

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 without a piston wrist pin circlip or with an incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 or a fire.

Remedy: 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 2016. Owners were mailed an interim notification beginning March 31, 2016, and will be mailed a second notice when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JX9.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Honda Civic problems