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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

1,080 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2025
Steering

The steering sticks in the middle when driving on the expressway in warmer weather. When trying to make slight adjustments when driving, the steering wheel sticks around the 12 o'clock position. I have not noticed this problem unless the weather is warmer (55 degrees and up).

NHTSA ODI #11656058

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2025
Steering

Just within the last month the steering has been sticking when trying to maintain a straight line. When trying to stay straight there is resistance in the steering and suddenly the resistance stops, causing driver to over correct. Also if the car hits a bump or road irregularity while the steering is resisting movement, then th…

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Just within the last month the steering has been sticking when trying to maintain a straight line. When trying to stay straight there is resistance in the steering and suddenly the resistance stops, causing driver to over correct. Also if the car hits a bump or road irregularity while the steering is resisting movement, then the car wanders even further in lane. This repeats itself constantly and car is wandering back and forth in the lane. The lower ball joints have been replaced and condition continues.

NHTSA ODI #11654557

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2025
Steering

There is steering problem especially in high way. The steering is stiff and a little stuck. The car can not go in straight, either left or right, it will over correct. I have to hold the steering wheel to overcome the stuck force to keep in a straight line, then it will over turn. I have to do it again from the other side. And i…

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There is steering problem especially in high way. The steering is stiff and a little stuck. The car can not go in straight, either left or right, it will over correct. I have to hold the steering wheel to overcome the stuck force to keep in a straight line, then it will over turn. I have to do it again from the other side. And it keeps left to right, right to left.

NHTSA ODI #11654532

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2025
Steering

Steering becomes sticky in the middle specifically when it is warm out or after the engine has been on for a while .this was not an issue in the winter. This becomes a safety issue due to trying to keep the car going straight on the interstate you end up having to overcorrect going back and forth left and right. Reading online f…

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Steering becomes sticky in the middle specifically when it is warm out or after the engine has been on for a while .this was not an issue in the winter. This becomes a safety issue due to trying to keep the car going straight on the interstate you end up having to overcorrect going back and forth left and right. Reading online forms this is an issue with this generation not sure why there's no Recall yet. It can lead to going into another Lane trying to overcorrect this is definitely a safety issue. This issue has been going on since I bought the car last year.

NHTSA ODI #11654264

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2025
Steering

When driving straight at interstate speeds, there seems to be a catch in the steering. It is as if the steering does not want to turn and additional force has to be used to turn. This someone results in over correction of the steering.

NHTSA ODI #11652938

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2025
Steering

Honda - In 2016 I purchased a new Honda Civic Tour model from a dealership and currently have 23000 miles (23K) recently the steering became a problem. I took it to the dealer where I purchased the vehicle and was advised that there was an issue known as "notching" where a gear component became defective. It was dangerous to dri…

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Honda - In 2016 I purchased a new Honda Civic Tour model from a dealership and currently have 23000 miles (23K) recently the steering became a problem. I took it to the dealer where I purchased the vehicle and was advised that there was an issue known as "notching" where a gear component became defective. It was dangerous to drive and there was no options but to have it repaired. The repair cost nearly $4000.00 and I was shocked. There was no recall according to the service manager but it was known as a common problem. My wife and I are in our [XXX] and [XXX] so the cost was a large burden financially. I was told that Honda-America had a "Goodwill" program that will review a case and possibly offer some financial relief. I complied with the info Honda solicited and submitted the case for consideration. In the meantime, I had the car repaired at the dealership and paid in full. I didn't ask for any specific amount but told Honda I would be appreciative for any financial assistance. Obviously we seldom drive the car usually to doctor appointments and needed errands. The customer service rep called and said my claim was denied because of the age (9 yrs.) even in spite of only have less that 23K miles. The original tires are on the car and it still has the "new car" smell. My wife and I are very disappointed with Honda's lack of compassion, we even purchased an extended warranty from the dealership when we bought the vehicle but we never used it. Honda could have helped us but the service rep made the decision to deny the claim. The customer service that I thought Honda was known for is not the case anymore. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11652490

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2025
Steering

When driving down the highway the steering sometimes sticks or locks slightly. This is mainly when driving straight and doing a slight turn or correction. Alignment and balance are fine on the car. There are no warning lights. This is an intermittent problem and only occurs occasionally. I cant always duplicate. It has not been …

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When driving down the highway the steering sometimes sticks or locks slightly. This is mainly when driving straight and doing a slight turn or correction. Alignment and balance are fine on the car. There are no warning lights. This is an intermittent problem and only occurs occasionally. I cant always duplicate. It has not been diagnosed by a mechanic yet as it is intermittent and it only occurs occasionally. Initially started around May of 2022 and has continued off and on since, most recently occurring on March 27th, 2025.

NHTSA ODI #11652082

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2025
Steering

One year after buying my car I noticed the steering would stick in place when trying to turn it causing overcorrections in driving. At first this was occurring just occasionally. It got to the point where the sticking of the wheel was everytime I drove the car, making it dangerous to drive, especially on the highway. There were …

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One year after buying my car I noticed the steering would stick in place when trying to turn it causing overcorrections in driving. At first this was occurring just occasionally. It got to the point where the sticking of the wheel was everytime I drove the car, making it dangerous to drive, especially on the highway. There were no warnings the car gave off in this situation. I had brought it in twice to a Honda dealership regarding this issue. They drove it around independently and did not find the wheel to stick. They did give me a few ideas of what it could possibly be but with no definitive diagnosis. I also had an independent mechanic assess the car and they did not know what the problem was. I have contacted the Honda manufacturer twice regarding this issue, especially since finding multiple forums regarding the same complaint for their Honda civics. They just tell me there’s nothing they can do and tell me to go back to the same dealership to get another possible diagnosis of the issue. My car is available for inspection if requested.

NHTSA ODI #11649866

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2025
Steering

The steering feels like it's sticking slightly to the left of center, and I've been noticing it more as the weather gets warmer. It primarily occurs at slower speeds but becomes more pronounced at higher speeds. When making small adjustments while driving, the steering wheel doesn’t move smoothly and seems to stick. Once it pass…

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The steering feels like it's sticking slightly to the left of center, and I've been noticing it more as the weather gets warmer. It primarily occurs at slower speeds but becomes more pronounced at higher speeds. When making small adjustments while driving, the steering wheel doesn’t move smoothly and seems to stick. Once it passes the sticking point, it causes oversteer, forcing me to overcorrect in the opposite direction. This makes driving, especially at higher speeds, feel very unsafe. Through my research, I’ve found that this is a common issue, and there are recalls for this exact problem in my vehicle’s model year. However, after checking my VIN, it appears my car is not included in the recall. I'm deeply concerned that this steering defect could lead to an accident. Given the numerous reports of the same issue in vehicles not currently covered by the recall, I hope the recall will be expanded to include all affected cars.

NHTSA ODI #11648993

82,379 miles · Mar 13, 2025
Fuel System, Gasoline

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor around the exterior of the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed a strong fuel od…

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The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor around the exterior of the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor on the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump assembly and filter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was unclear if the failure was due to a fuel leak. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,379.

NHTSA ODI #11648194

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