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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

Structure complaints

48 reports
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6,000 miles · Jan 4, 2017
Power TrainService BrakesStructureCrash

THE HONDA CIVIC WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET WHEN IT WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. A FEW HOURS LATER THE CAR ALARM WAS GOING OFF AND WHEN I WENT TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON I DISCOVERED THAT THE CAR HAD ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE AND INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE POLICE IN MY JURISDICTION D…

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THE HONDA CIVIC WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET WHEN IT WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. A FEW HOURS LATER THE CAR ALARM WAS GOING OFF AND WHEN I WENT TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON I DISCOVERED THAT THE CAR HAD ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE AND INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE POLICE IN MY JURISDICTION DO NOT TAKE ACCIDENT REPORTS FOR ACCIDENTS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY THEREFORE A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. AFTER THE INCIDENT I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A ACTIVE RECALL INVOLVING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR ON OCTOBER 8, 2016 I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A "DO NOT SELL" NOTE IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM DUE TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD DO THE DOWNLOAD WHILE WE DID THE PAPERWORK. AFTER THIS INCIDENT INVOLVING THE WRECK THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO CHECKED THE DOWNLOAD AND CONFIRMED THAT THE DOWNLOAD WAS UP TO DATE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWO DAYS LATER TO HAVE THE BRAKE SYSTEM INSPECTED WHICH THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO CODES FOUND IN THE SYSTEM. THIS WAS DONE AT THE ADVICE OF HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACTED ME TODAY AND STATED THAT AT THIS TIME THEY RECOMMEND PROCEEDING WITH AN INSURANCE CLAIM. I STATED THAT I THOUGHT THAT SINCE THERE WAS AN ACTIVE RECALL AND THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL FAILED THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO TAKE THE CAR TO LOOK AT. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE DEALER REPORTS AND IF THEY FOUND SOMETHING THEY WOULD CONTACT ME BACK WHICH SEEMS DANGEROUS TO ME. WHAT'S TO SAY THE BRAKE WON'T FAIL AGAIN AND NEXT TIME THERE MAY BE SOMEONE BEHIND IT OR IN FRONT OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10939630

3,500 miles · Dec 19, 2016
Exterior LightingStructure

I FILED JUST MOMENTS AGO BUT ENTERED THE WRONG PHOTOS. THESE ARE MORE CLEAR. THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE ENTIRE TIME. THEY JUST DON'T SHOW.

NHTSA ODI #10936326

3,500 miles · Dec 19, 2016
Exterior LightingStructure

FOLLOWING MY WIFE AFTER A RECALL ON HER CAR, IT BEGAN TO RAIN LIGHTLY. KNOWING WE WERE ENTERING A 75MPH TURNPIKE, I PHONED HER TO ADVISE HER TO TURN ON HER LIGHTS. SHE DID. AT THE STOP LIGHT BEFORE GETTING ON THE TURNPIKE, ALL I COULD SEE WERE 2 TINY LED BULB TYPES ON BOTH SIDES. AS SHE BEGAN TO REACH SPEED, SHE GOT 10-15 CAR LE…

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FOLLOWING MY WIFE AFTER A RECALL ON HER CAR, IT BEGAN TO RAIN LIGHTLY. KNOWING WE WERE ENTERING A 75MPH TURNPIKE, I PHONED HER TO ADVISE HER TO TURN ON HER LIGHTS. SHE DID. AT THE STOP LIGHT BEFORE GETTING ON THE TURNPIKE, ALL I COULD SEE WERE 2 TINY LED BULB TYPES ON BOTH SIDES. AS SHE BEGAN TO REACH SPEED, SHE GOT 10-15 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF ME. WE KNEW THE FACTORY SPOILER CAUSES A VORTEX BEHIND HER CAR AS WE WIPE OFF BLACK POWDER THAT BUILDS ON THE BACK OF HER CAR EACH DAY WHEN SHE COMES HOME FROM WORK. I'VE NEVER DRIVEN BEHIND HER LET ALONE IN THE RAIN. WITH THE VORTEX CREATING A BOILING SPRAY, AND THE TINY LED BULBS, I COULD NOT SEE HER AT ALL. JUST A SPRAY. NO LIGHTS. AT OUR EXIT CLOSE TO HOME, AS SHE TOOK OFF, I COULD NOT SEE HER TAIL LIGHTS EVEN 5 CAR LENGTHS BACK. IT WAS DAY TIME I FORGOT TO MENTION BUT CLOUDY AND AS STATED, LIGHT RAIN. I COULD SEE HER BRAKE AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS USE A COMMON BULB. AGAIN, WITH THE LIGHTS IN THE ON POSITION, THE ONLY TIME I SAW HER TAIL LIGHT WAS IN THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS TWO ISSUES. THE SPOILERS CREATE A SPRAY OF WATER REDUCING VISIBILITY OF THE BACKBOF HER CAR IN THE RAIN OR FOG TO ZERO. HONDA EVEN SHOWS PHOTOS WITH THEIR LIGHTS ON. TINY ANGLED LED'S POINTING UP AND IN. AND NOT NEARLY BRIGHT ENOUGH TO BE SEEN IN RAIN. HEAVY RAIN OR DENSE FOG, COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. MY WIFE DRIVES I-40 & I-44 TO AND FROM WORK DAILY. 13 MILES. SHE'S HAD THE CAR JUST A FEW MONTHS. I AM CONCERNED EACH MORNING. SHE CURRENTLY LEAVES WHEN IT'S DARK. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE SPRING RAINS AND DAWNS EARLY LIGHT WHEATHER SHE WILL BE SEEN. AS STATED EARLIER, THE SPOILERS CAUSE THE TURBULENCE OR VORTEX BEHIND THE CAR. THE LIGHTS ARE TOO SMALL AND LUMENS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO BE SEEN. PHOTOS BELOW WILL SHOW ON CITY STREETS AND IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THE PHOTOS I TOOK FROM MY PHONE THE LAST FEW BLOCKS HOME AND INTO THE GARAGE. THIS IS BAD! SHE LOVES THIS CAR

NHTSA ODI #10936316

500 miles · Oct 3, 2016
StructureVisibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED A RED GLARE THAT IMPAIRED THE CONTACT'S VISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED A RED GLARE THAT IMPAIRED THE CONTACT'S VISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10911096

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2016
StructureUnknown Or Other

I LEASED THE HONDA CIVIC 2016 AT WOODLAND HILLS HONDA. IT WAS AFTER LEASING DATE, WITHIN 24-48 HOURS TIME, I RETURNED TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP TO EXPLAIN THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE HONDA CIVIC 2016 DID NOT COME WITH A CD PLAYER AND ONLY OFFERED AN AUXILIARY CORD OUTLET TO WORK THE ENTIRE SOUND SYSTEM BY MY CELL P…

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I LEASED THE HONDA CIVIC 2016 AT WOODLAND HILLS HONDA. IT WAS AFTER LEASING DATE, WITHIN 24-48 HOURS TIME, I RETURNED TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP TO EXPLAIN THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE HONDA CIVIC 2016 DID NOT COME WITH A CD PLAYER AND ONLY OFFERED AN AUXILIARY CORD OUTLET TO WORK THE ENTIRE SOUND SYSTEM BY MY CELL PHONE. THE CAR DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP ME WITH A NEW CAR UNLESS I WANTED TO PAY MORE MONEY BUT I COULD NOT GET A NEW CAR AT THE SAME PRICE. I ARGUED FOR MONTHS WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT BEING FORCED TO WORK THE AUDIO SYSTEM AND RUN MY MAPS FOR NAVIGATION THROUGH MY CELL PHONE POSED A SERIOUS THREAT OF DISTRACTED DRIVING. THE CAR IS BUILT IN SUCH A WAY, THAT THE DRIVER IS ONLY GIVEN AN OPTION TO USE THE CELL PHONE TO OPERATE AUDIO AND NAVIGATION. THE WAY THAT THE CAR IS BUILT, WITHOUT THE CD PLAYER, AND ONLY AN AUXILIARY CORD TO PLUG INTO MY PHONE TO WORK THE SOUND SYSTEM INTERFACE CONFLICTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA ANTI-TEXTING LAW VC 23123.5. BEING FORCED TO WORK MY SOUND SYSTEM AND MAPS FOR NAVIGATION ON MY CELL PHONE IS THE SAME SPIRIT AS TO WHAT AND WHY THIS IS AGAINST THE LAW. IT IS DISTRACTED DRIVING. SALESMEN ARE NOT CLEARLY EXPLAINING THAT YOU ARE BUYING A CAR WITH NO CD PLAYER AND YOU NEED TO WORK YOUR MUSIC FROM YOUR CELL PHONE. THERE IS ALSO MORE CONFUSION AT THE POINT OF SALE BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER CARS THAT COME WITH BOTH THE AUX CORD AND ALSO THE CD PLAYER SUCH AS THE HONDA ACCORD 2016 PILOT FOR EXAMPLE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I BELIEVED I WAS BUYING A CAR WITH BOTH THE AUX CORD AND THE CD PLAYER. LATER, IS WHEN I LEARNED, I LEASED THE VEHICLE WITH ONLY THE AUX CORD OPTION. I REQUESTED TO END MY CONTRACT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AS I BELIEVED THE CAR WAS A POLICE MAGNET. I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE A CAR THAT MAKES ME DO SOMETHING TO ATTRACT OFFICERS. THIS IS A SAFETY AND LEGAL CONCERN. TICKETED ON 8/31/16.

NHTSA ODI #10907453

3,000 miles · Sep 2, 2016
StructureVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE REARVIEW MIRROR HOLDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 10/07/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI #10903338

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2016
StructureVisibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE REAR INTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT COVER DETACHED AND OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COVER NEEDED TO BE RE-ATTACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE REAR INTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT COVER DETACHED AND OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COVER NEEDED TO BE RE-ATTACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10884597

57 miles · May 29, 2016
SeatsStructure

I PURCHASED A HONDA CIVIC LX ON 5-1-16, MY TEST DRIVE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LONG AND I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PAIN. MY DRIVE HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LONG. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED HOME MY ARMS AND LEGS WERE NUMB, I HAD PAIN IN MY SACRAL, LUMBAR, AND CERVICAL SPINE AREAS. I HAD JUST TRADED IN MY …

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I PURCHASED A HONDA CIVIC LX ON 5-1-16, MY TEST DRIVE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LONG AND I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PAIN. MY DRIVE HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LONG. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED HOME MY ARMS AND LEGS WERE NUMB, I HAD PAIN IN MY SACRAL, LUMBAR, AND CERVICAL SPINE AREAS. I HAD JUST TRADED IN MY 2016 HONDA FIT PURCHASED O 3-3-16 AT A $4,000.00 DOLLAR LOSS DUE TO SEVER BACK PAIN AND EXTREMITY NUMBNESS WHILE DRIVING THE SALESMAN TOLD ME THE REASON THE HONDA FIT 2016 SEATS WERE SO BAD WAS DO TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE MADE IN MEXICO. I AM 5'3" AND I WEIGH 122 LB. I DO YOGA ALMOST EVERY DAY AND CONSIDER MYSELF PHYSICALLY FIT. I HAVE NO HISTORY OF BACK PAIN. THE SEAT BOTTOM IS SO LOW AND SHORT THAT I HAVE NOTHING UNDER MY THIGHS FOR SUPPORT AND THE ANGLE OF THE SEAT FLOOR IS SO SEVER THAT MY KNEES ARE UP BY THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY BUTTOCKS IS WAY DOWN CLOSE TO THE FLOOR. MY KNEES ARE CONSTANTLY HITTING THE CENTER CONSOLE AND DRIVER DOOR WHEN TURNING OR HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL HONDA CAR OWNER FOR MANY YEARS AND AM SHOCKED BY THIS DANGEROUS GEOMETRICAL ERROR IN ERGONOMICS THAT HONDA IS MARKETING. MY RESPONSE TIME COULD BE SEVERELY HINDERED DO TO THE HAZAROUS INTERIOR SET UP OF THIS 2016 CIVIC LX.

NHTSA ODI #10871377

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.

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