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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
66,000 miles · May 27, 2019
Engine

STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE ENGINE ALONG WITH THE OIL ABOVE THE FILL LINE AFTER CHECKING IT

NHTSA ODI #11210191

42,167 miles · May 27, 2019
Unknown Or Other

A/C EVAPORATOR COIL HAD BAD WELD. $1600 REPAIR AFTER EVAPORATOR COIL REPLACEMENT, EVAC, AND REFILL OF FREON.

NHTSA ODI #11210135

37,099 miles · May 22, 2019
Engine

WHEN THE WARMER WEATHER STARTED, I NOTICED MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS ONLY GIVING OUT COLD AIR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT ASSESS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE CAR FOR THAT YEAR. I BROUGHT IT TO THE HONDA DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON MAY 20, 2019 WH…

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WHEN THE WARMER WEATHER STARTED, I NOTICED MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS ONLY GIVING OUT COLD AIR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT ASSESS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE CAR FOR THAT YEAR. I BROUGHT IT TO THE HONDA DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON MAY 20, 2019 WHERE THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW CONDENSER DUE TO A LEAK. THEY COULD NOT SAY WHAT CAUSED THE LEAK, BUT THE HONDA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STAYED THAT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE THAT YEAR, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A ROCK COULD HAVE EASILY PUNCTURED THE CONDENSER. THE TOTAL AMOUNT IN REPAIRS WAS $907 ON A THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLE. IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT SINCE THIS IS SUCH A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE, I COULD NOT FILE A CLAIM THROUGH MY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE.

NHTSA ODI #11209333

55,000 miles · May 17, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE AC CONDENSER CAUSING THE NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT, AS WELL AS THE SENSOR. THE CORPORATE HONDA REPRESENTATIVE EVEN ADMITTED ON THE PHONE THAT THEIR DEALERSHIPS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE CONDENSERS ON THE CIVIC MODELS, INCLUDING UNITS DELIVERED FROM THE FACTOR THAT HAD ALREADY FAILED. A…

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THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE AC CONDENSER CAUSING THE NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT, AS WELL AS THE SENSOR. THE CORPORATE HONDA REPRESENTATIVE EVEN ADMITTED ON THE PHONE THAT THEIR DEALERSHIPS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE CONDENSERS ON THE CIVIC MODELS, INCLUDING UNITS DELIVERED FROM THE FACTOR THAT HAD ALREADY FAILED. A SIMPLE SEARCH OF CREDITED AUTOMOTIVE REVIEW SITES SHOWN MANY EXAMPLES FOR THIS MODEL YEAR, WHERE THE AC UNITS HAVE FAILED. AS THE CORPORATE OFFICE HAS FAILED TO ISSUES A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, I ASK THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS AND PROTECT THE CONSUMER. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11208305

70,491 miles · May 16, 2019
Unknown Or Other

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. DEALER WANTS $2,382.15 TO REPLACE A/C COMPRESSOR W/ CLUTCH AND COIL ($1500.26), CONDENSER ($599.04), EVACUATE AND RECHARGE COMPLETE($159.95) FILTERS AND AIR CLEANERS ($122.90) , AIR VENTALATION SYSTEM CLEANING ($89.95). 2016 HONDA CIVIC EX 70,491 MILES. LAST YEAR I BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEA…

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AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. DEALER WANTS $2,382.15 TO REPLACE A/C COMPRESSOR W/ CLUTCH AND COIL ($1500.26), CONDENSER ($599.04), EVACUATE AND RECHARGE COMPLETE($159.95) FILTERS AND AIR CLEANERS ($122.90) , AIR VENTALATION SYSTEM CLEANING ($89.95). 2016 HONDA CIVIC EX 70,491 MILES. LAST YEAR I BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER AND THEY VACUUMED AND REFILLED THE SYSTEM ($159.95). THIS YEAR SAME PROBLEM, NO COLD AIR AND NOW BEING TOLD ENTIRE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. I CAN NOT PROPERLY CLEAR MY FRONT WINDSHIELD BECAUSE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A/C .

NHTSA ODI #11208084

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

ESTOY TENIENDO PROBLEMAS CON MI CARRO CUANDO EL CARRO ESTA EN MODO PARKIN ESTA BIEN PERO NO MAS LO MUEVO A MODO DE MANEJO. EMPIESA A TEMBLAR CUANDO PARO EN UNA LUZ. LO RPM BAJAN Y EMPIESA A TEMBLAR LUGO LO MUEVO A PARKING OTRA VEZ Y SE PONE NORMAL. EL CARRO EST GASTANFO MUCHA GASOLINA CASI NO LO USO. APENAS TENGO NI UN MES QUE …

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ESTOY TENIENDO PROBLEMAS CON MI CARRO CUANDO EL CARRO ESTA EN MODO PARKIN ESTA BIEN PERO NO MAS LO MUEVO A MODO DE MANEJO. EMPIESA A TEMBLAR CUANDO PARO EN UNA LUZ. LO RPM BAJAN Y EMPIESA A TEMBLAR LUGO LO MUEVO A PARKING OTRA VEZ Y SE PONE NORMAL. EL CARRO EST GASTANFO MUCHA GASOLINA CASI NO LO USO. APENAS TENGO NI UN MES QUE LO COMPRE

NHTSA ODI #11207019

15,000 miles · May 9, 2019
Engine

ENGINE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT SCANNED THE VEHICLE THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REFLASHED HONDA STATED NO RECALL BUT MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE ALSO ON HONDA MECHANIC WEBSITE STATES COMPUTER ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11206487

23,026 miles · May 7, 2019
Service Brakes

BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING, BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT, AND ERROR ON PANEL ELECTRIC PARKING BREAK FAILURE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECALL ON MOST 2016 MODELS

NHTSA ODI #11206059

19,000 miles · May 1, 2019
Steering

I HAVE A 2016 HONDA CIVIC EX, I WAS ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES IN MOTION DRIVING STRAIGHT WHEN THE STEERING BECAME HARD LIKE IT WAS STICKING. I GOT ON THE INTERSTATE AND ACCELERATED THE FASTER I GOT THE WORSE IT GOT.IT'S PULLS ME TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. I THEN LOWERED MY SPEED TO 50 BUT IT STILL CONTINUED TO D…

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I HAVE A 2016 HONDA CIVIC EX, I WAS ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES IN MOTION DRIVING STRAIGHT WHEN THE STEERING BECAME HARD LIKE IT WAS STICKING. I GOT ON THE INTERSTATE AND ACCELERATED THE FASTER I GOT THE WORSE IT GOT.IT'S PULLS ME TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. I THEN LOWERED MY SPEED TO 50 BUT IT STILL CONTINUED TO DO THIS AND HAS NOW GOTTEN WORSE IT NEVER STOPS AND IS VERY HARD TO KEEP IN ONE LANE.KNOW THERHAS BEEN RECALLS ON THE 2017 HONDA CIVICS FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY LOCK UP AND HAS ALREADY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE ANYONE ANY INJURIES OR GOD FORBID SOMEONE LOSE THEIR LIFE. IT'S GETTING ALOT WORSE . WILL NOTIFY HONDA. IMMEDIATELY!

NHTSA ODI #11205110

34,000 miles · Apr 27, 2019
Air Bags

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND HIT A POT HOLE ON A 2 LINE HIGHWAY, THEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ALL THE SIDE AIRBAGS AND STEERING WHEEL AIR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CAR DID NOT HIT ANYTHING ELSE NOR WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11204073

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