← New search

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 · Jun 27, 2022
Service Brakes

BRAKES they stop too slow and I need to push fes time to made it stop, that made me very insecure and unsafe. AC stop working is only hot air what is coming out, since is to hot is impossible ti drive like that.

NHTSA ODI #11471155

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2022
Steering

At high speeds, sometimes my steering wheel has a tendency to “catch” at the center line when I attempt to keep the car straight. To overcome this resistance, I have to apply extra pressure, which often leads to over-steering. This feels very dangerous, and I do not let anyone drive my car for fear that they will overcompensate…

Read full complaint

At high speeds, sometimes my steering wheel has a tendency to “catch” at the center line when I attempt to keep the car straight. To overcome this resistance, I have to apply extra pressure, which often leads to over-steering. This feels very dangerous, and I do not let anyone drive my car for fear that they will overcompensate and swerve into other lanes or oncoming traffic. There are over a hundred complains with this exact issue, and needs to be addressed.

NHTSA ODI #11471038

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2022
Steering

At highway speeds the steering on the vehicle stiffens and requires the driver to steer right or left to break the resistance on the steering wheel. Steering continues to stiffen and the wheel does not loosen to maintain straight driving conditions unless driver breaks resistance continuously while driving. The force needed to b…

Read full complaint

At highway speeds the steering on the vehicle stiffens and requires the driver to steer right or left to break the resistance on the steering wheel. Steering continues to stiffen and the wheel does not loosen to maintain straight driving conditions unless driver breaks resistance continuously while driving. The force needed to break the resistance on the steering wheel could cause an accident from the car steering left or right out of the lane. Honda does not acknowledge this issue but will charge thousands to diagnose and replace parts that may or may not fix the issue. The steering wheel resistance is a safety hazard due to it feeling stiff and locking in place requiring the driver to move the wheel in the opposite direction to loosen the steering to give the driver control while at speed.

NHTSA ODI #11470491

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2022
Steering

Steering wheel has some extra resistance (sticking) when making small corrections at highway speeds, resulting in extra pressure being applied to break the resistance, resulting in sharp (hard) correction changes.

NHTSA ODI #11470408

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2022
Steering

The EPS Electronic Power Steering system is STICKING, while driving. It wants to hold the steering wheel, which is terrifying. When you muscle the steering wheel out of its “hold” it brings heightened risk of over-compensating and losing control of the vehicle. No dash indicator/fault lights turned on. I will be having…

Read full complaint

The EPS Electronic Power Steering system is STICKING, while driving. It wants to hold the steering wheel, which is terrifying. When you muscle the steering wheel out of its “hold” it brings heightened risk of over-compensating and losing control of the vehicle. No dash indicator/fault lights turned on. I will be having the vehicle inspected at a local Honda dealer. My son confirms the same driving conditions as I have explained above, and he is a foreign car mechanic of 20+ years experience.

NHTSA ODI #11470331

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2022
Steering

Most noticeable when trying to stay straight in a lane on highway or interstate going 60-80 mph. When trying to make minor adjustments left or right, the steering wheel will stick, causing it to jerk more in the direction I’m trying to steer, which causes slight over steering and having to correct back the other direction. I hav…

Read full complaint

Most noticeable when trying to stay straight in a lane on highway or interstate going 60-80 mph. When trying to make minor adjustments left or right, the steering wheel will stick, causing it to jerk more in the direction I’m trying to steer, which causes slight over steering and having to correct back the other direction. I have to keep a death grip on the steering wheel with both hands so as not to overcorrect when I try to slightly adjust to the left or right. It’s definitely a safety issue and has the potential to cause an accident.

NHTSA ODI #11470267

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2022
Steering

2016 Honda Civic LX with 47K miles. With engine warm and driving at highway speed, steering wheel gets stuck/sticky at the 12 oclock position and requires too much force to correct, or 'unlock' (it's jerky). Requires near constant correction. Feels unsafe. Numerous reports of what appear to be exactly the same problem are des…

Read full complaint

2016 Honda Civic LX with 47K miles. With engine warm and driving at highway speed, steering wheel gets stuck/sticky at the 12 oclock position and requires too much force to correct, or 'unlock' (it's jerky). Requires near constant correction. Feels unsafe. Numerous reports of what appear to be exactly the same problem are described in on-line forums such as carcomplaints.com or carproblemzoo.com - appears to be electronic power steering system problem.

NHTSA ODI #11469920

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2022
Air BagsElectrical SystemInjury

UNKNOWN

NHTSA ODI #11469506

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2022
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructureCrash

no one was hurt. just a finder binder to my car only. the other drivrr had a truck and it didnt do any damage to back bumper.

NHTSA ODI #11468398

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2022
Steering

There is no EPS indicator light lit but there is a "sticking" of the steering when driving at highway speeds. When the steering wheel is in the 12 o'clock position you can feel unusual tension while just lane controlling and then the tension will give when you apply greater than normal force required to stay in lanes during norm…

Read full complaint

There is no EPS indicator light lit but there is a "sticking" of the steering when driving at highway speeds. When the steering wheel is in the 12 o'clock position you can feel unusual tension while just lane controlling and then the tension will give when you apply greater than normal force required to stay in lanes during normal travel. It nearly is to the point of having to over-correct in order to release the tension created. There are numerous other accounts and owners in Honda online forums that have reported this issue and every report has been a result of and caused by the electronic power steering rack assembly. If this component goes or forces the driver to over-correct as a result of the sticking problem this can lead to an accident.

NHTSA ODI #11467884

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