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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2024
Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

I have noticed for a while now. When the light turns green or I'm at a stop and I have enough time to take off the car does not move when I apply the gas. It stalls and that scares me. I have noticed my cruise control shut off the other day when driving on the freeway. And I could not turn it back on. Now when I try to apply …

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I have noticed for a while now. When the light turns green or I'm at a stop and I have enough time to take off the car does not move when I apply the gas. It stalls and that scares me. I have noticed my cruise control shut off the other day when driving on the freeway. And I could not turn it back on. Now when I try to apply the parking bake when I'm parked the parking brake does not turn on nor the brake hold. The lights keep flashing than turn odd My headlight in the front and back passenger don't work. I've switched out the bulbs and it's an electrical problem. I see recalls on some of these matters but honda won't do nothing because it's not on their system when I bought this car in 2016.

NHTSA ODI #11580073

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceVehicle Speed Control

While driving on the freeway at 70-80mph the car begins to lose acceleration, stutters and faults all fault codes on the car. Car then begins to brake itself to a stop all while on a freeway at a high rate of speed. I have to pull over to the side of the freeway, crossing up to 5 lanes of high speed traffic all while my car is b…

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While driving on the freeway at 70-80mph the car begins to lose acceleration, stutters and faults all fault codes on the car. Car then begins to brake itself to a stop all while on a freeway at a high rate of speed. I have to pull over to the side of the freeway, crossing up to 5 lanes of high speed traffic all while my car is braking itself to a stop. I have narrowly missed 5 accidents in the 7 times this has occurred. Each time while in the left or carpool lanes of traffic while passing other vehicles at a high rate of speed. I have to bring the car to a complete stop on the side of the road, turn the car off to disengage the braking system, turn the car on, all fault codes remain, car stays in limp mode or safe mode, I limp to the dealer and drop it off. 2 Honda dealers in 2 different states can’t figure out what’s wrong with it. Replaced multiple replays and other components and I am now about $3800 in repairs and the car is not fixed. This has been happening since March when the first occurrence happened. Second and 3rd in Washington while visiting family in June and as of today, the 7th time occurred this morning while taking the car back to the dealer to have it looked at because it faulted on Saturday evening. Codes cleared when I started the car this morning and happened again as I was driving to the dealer. Each time the dealers have the car for a week. Say this fixed it, test drive it have no issues return it to me to have it happen within days of being returned. I’m terrified to drive the car at high speed even when I do get it back as “fix”🤞🏻. I feel like my issues and security is being constantly over looked by Honda. Arrowhead Honda in Arizona currently has the car for yet again more “repairs”.

NHTSA ODI #11535497

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2023
Vehicle Speed Control

Each time I drove my car the tire pressure light would flash before the ABS, brake system, power steering and traction lights would come on and the dealership could not find the problem although my car would not accelerate and the speed sensor has already been changed because only one went bad prior. 3 times to the dealership a…

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Each time I drove my car the tire pressure light would flash before the ABS, brake system, power steering and traction lights would come on and the dealership could not find the problem although my car would not accelerate and the speed sensor has already been changed because only one went bad prior. 3 times to the dealership and no codes could be found and they couldn’t never duplicate the problem once the vehicle was turned off. This time the car jerked at take off and would not accelerate. They stated that it was the VBS Module that had to replaced this final time.

NHTSA ODI #11531152

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2022
Forward Collision AvoidanceVehicle Speed Control

My 2016 Honda Civic Touring is equipped with automatic emergency braking. In more than one instance, my Civic has applied the brakes unnecessarily when there was no apparent danger. Traveling on the highway at 65 mph, I have been 'cut-off' by a driver and the brakes were applied hard. There was no way to override the braking and…

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My 2016 Honda Civic Touring is equipped with automatic emergency braking. In more than one instance, my Civic has applied the brakes unnecessarily when there was no apparent danger. Traveling on the highway at 65 mph, I have been 'cut-off' by a driver and the brakes were applied hard. There was no way to override the braking and the car commanded itself to a complete stop. The drivers immediately behind me had to brake hard and if they hadn't maintained control there would have been a pile-up. This took place in Cobb County, GA during rush hour on 75S in the 'Northwest Corridor' area. This is a high traffic density area.

NHTSA ODI #11455415

1 miles · Nov 3, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

ON 10-31-19, DRIVING MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC 1.5 TURBO ENGINE TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL. CAR WAS DRIVING WELL, UNTIL A REACH ABOUT 1 MILE, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE CAR LOSS POWER AND CAN ONLY DRIVE UP TO 15 MPH. I HAVE TO DRIVE MY CAR BACK HOME AND GET MY OTHER CAR. THE HONDA NEVER REGAINS NORMAL POWER. THE SAME DATE IN THE EVENI…

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ON 10-31-19, DRIVING MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC 1.5 TURBO ENGINE TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL. CAR WAS DRIVING WELL, UNTIL A REACH ABOUT 1 MILE, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE CAR LOSS POWER AND CAN ONLY DRIVE UP TO 15 MPH. I HAVE TO DRIVE MY CAR BACK HOME AND GET MY OTHER CAR. THE HONDA NEVER REGAINS NORMAL POWER. THE SAME DATE IN THE EVENING, I DROVE THE HONDA FOR ABOUT 3 MILES AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEVER LOSS POWER. THE FOLLOWING DATE, I DROVE THE CAR AND SUDDENLY AGAIN LOSS POWER WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN A BLOCK AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. DROVE BACK MY HONDA BACK TO MY HOUSE WITH THE CAR NEVER REGAINING NORMAL POWER. THE HONDA CIVIC ONLY DRIVES WELL FOR LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE AND THEN SUDDENLY LOSS POWER, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN THE CAR LOSS POWER IT ONLY DRIVES UP TO 15 MPH (WHICH TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO REACH 15 MPH) AND NEVER REGAIN NORMAL POWER. THIS LOSS OF POWER STARTED ON 10-31-19, WHICH WAS A VERY COOL DAY ABOUT 24-DEGREE FAHRENHEIT. MY CAR IS NOT DRIVER ABLE ANY LONGER. NOW THAT THIS HAPPEN, I RESEARCH PROBLEMS WITH 2016 CIVIC AND FOUND OUT THAT HONDA HAD AN ISSUE WITH 1.5 TURBO ENGINE SINCE 2017. ONE MONTH AND HALF PRIOR TO THIS HAPPEN, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE HONDA DEALER SERVICES TWICE AND ONLY WANT TO CHARGE ME WITH THINGS THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER AND COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. HONDA DEALER SHOULD HAD KNOWN THE PROBLEMS MY CAR HAS ARE RELATE TO OIL DILUTION IN THE ENGINE, BUT DECIDED NOT TO ADDRESS IT. NOW, I HAVE A CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVER ABLE AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HONDA PLACE MY FAMILY LIFE IN DANGER, SUCH THAT THE STREET AROUND OUR CITY, CARS DRIVES BETWEEN 55 TO 70 MPH. THIS EASILY COULD CAUSE A CAR TO RE-END OR T-BONE THE CAR WHILE MAKING A TURN ON A BUSY TRAFFIC STREET.

NHTSA ODI #11277822

15,000 miles · Oct 28, 2019
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THE CAR WILL MOMENTARILY APPLY THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY RATHER HARD FOR A PERIOD OF A SECOND OR LESS. THIS OCCURS WHEN ON A HIGHWAY AND DRIVING WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND WHEN PASSING A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN ONLY UNDER CERTAIN SITUATIONS SUCH AS S…

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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THE CAR WILL MOMENTARILY APPLY THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY RATHER HARD FOR A PERIOD OF A SECOND OR LESS. THIS OCCURS WHEN ON A HIGHWAY AND DRIVING WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND WHEN PASSING A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN ONLY UNDER CERTAIN SITUATIONS SUCH AS SUNLIGHT ANGLE AND THE COLOR OR REFLECTION FROM THE TRUCK ARE INTERFERING WITH THE CARS SENSING BRAKES CAN ALSO BE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED RATHER HARD WHEN EXITING A HIGHWAY RAMP WITHOUT USING A TURN SIGNAL. THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL APPLIED SO I SUSPECT IT IS RELATED TO THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE FEATURE. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NEW AND THESE EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED MORE THEN A DOZEN TIMES. ON A TRIP DRIVING FROM FLORIDA TO PENNSYLVANIA ON RT 95 IT HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES. VERY FRIGHTENING TO HAVE THE BRAKES APPLIED SPONTANEOUSLY AT 70 MILES/HR WHEN PASSING A TRUCK. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS DURING SERVICE AT A HONDA DEALER AND THEY REPORTED EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #11271558

1 miles · Jul 12, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

TAKATA RECALL. I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YRS. THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT, WHEN I COME TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING IT DOESN'T WANNA TAKE OFF. IT HESITATES FOR ABOUT 30 SEC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT ITS DANGEROUS WHEN I TURN LEFT IT STAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ST AND I CAN GET HIT. AT ONE POINT I HAD TO PUT IT IN EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND TURN IT…

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TAKATA RECALL. I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YRS. THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT, WHEN I COME TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING IT DOESN'T WANNA TAKE OFF. IT HESITATES FOR ABOUT 30 SEC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT ITS DANGEROUS WHEN I TURN LEFT IT STAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ST AND I CAN GET HIT. AT ONE POINT I HAD TO PUT IT IN EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND TURN IT OFF AND ON. THEN IT WORKED. ITS BEEN DOING IT FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY. IT STARTED IN ABOUT APRIL. AT FIRST IT WASN'T THAT OFTEN THEN IT STARTED EVERYDAY. IT HAPPENS ANYWHERE, ST HIGHWAY, FWY, CITY EVEN WHEN I WANNA REVERSE. IM NOT SURE WHY ITS DOING IT I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC ABOUT 4 TIMES. I DO ALL OIL CHANGES EVERYTHING , TIRE CHANGES, ROTATIONS, THE MECHANIC CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. HE EVEN CHANGED A SENSOR AND IT STILL DOES IT.

NHTSA ODI #11231200

15,206 miles · Nov 9, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL PICKS UP SPEED WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS A BASE MODEL AND DOES NOT HAVE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, THEREFORE, ACCORDING TO THEM, IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE "DESIGN" HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW AS THE DRIVER MUST CONSTANTLY BE AWARE OF THE TERRAIN AND SPEED OF …

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THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL PICKS UP SPEED WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS A BASE MODEL AND DOES NOT HAVE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, THEREFORE, ACCORDING TO THEM, IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE "DESIGN" HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW AS THE DRIVER MUST CONSTANTLY BE AWARE OF THE TERRAIN AND SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WHICH SEEMS TO NEGATE THE USE OF A CRUISE CONTROL. I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FRIGHTENING SITUATIONS WHILE ON A ROAD TRIP FROM YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK TO SEATTLE THIS SUMMER. THE CAR WAS GAINING AS MUCH AS 20-30 MPH ON STEEP, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN RESULTING IN DANGEROUS SPEEDS. I DISCONTINUED USE THINKING THAT THIS "FEATURE" WAS MALFUNCTIONING. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE DEALER'S RESPONSE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED IS IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY OR THE TRUTH. I WAS LEFT WITH NO OTHER RECOURSE BUT TO FILE THIS REPORT.

NHTSA ODI #11150327

14,000 miles · Aug 28, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT BREAK CAR WHEN CAR AHEAD SLOWS. SYSTEM THROWS 'COLLISION BRAKING MITIGATION SYSTEM', 'LANE KEEPING ASSIST', AND 'ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL' WARNINGS. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR WITHOUT SUCCESS.

NHTSA ODI #11020103

2,675 miles · May 21, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

THE CAR INCREASE AND DECREASE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF THAT IS DAGEROU. THAT HAPPENED EVERY DAY WHEN I DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10990779

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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