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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
17,100 miles · Oct 9, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

WE WERE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT THE OUTER CITY STREET SIGNALING TO MAKE A LEFT AND A CAR HIT US FROM BEHIND WITHOUT BREAKING AT 60 -70 SPEED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IS SMASHED IN AND NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF. THERE WERE TWO ADULTS (DRIVER & PASSENGER) AND TWO CHILDREN (BACKSEAT).

NHTSA ODI #11139291

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2018
Unknown Or Other

AIR CONDITIONING A/C HAS BEEN NOT WORKING FOR THE LAST MONTH OR TWO. IT STARTED OFF BLOWING WARM AIR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND COOL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT'S WARM ON BOTH SIDES NOW. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OTHER CIVIC OWNERS I KNOW. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY HONDA. I'VE HAD HONDA VEHICLES FOR PLENTY…

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AIR CONDITIONING A/C HAS BEEN NOT WORKING FOR THE LAST MONTH OR TWO. IT STARTED OFF BLOWING WARM AIR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND COOL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT'S WARM ON BOTH SIDES NOW. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OTHER CIVIC OWNERS I KNOW. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY HONDA. I'VE HAD HONDA VEHICLES FOR PLENTY OF YEARS. ACCORDS, CRV AND OTHER YEAR CIVICS. I'M READY TO GIVE IT UP, SO MUCH FOR RELIABILITY.

NHTSA ODI #11138807

30,000 miles · Oct 5, 2018
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A "BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION HONDA THORNTON ROAD (LOCATED AT 1979 THORNTON RD, LITHIA SPRINGS, GA 3…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A "BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION HONDA THORNTON ROAD (LOCATED AT 1979 THORNTON RD, LITHIA SPRINGS, GA 30122, (770) 674-6078) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #11133469

32,000 miles · Sep 28, 2018
Steering

THE STEERING STICKS WHEN DRIVING. WHEN DRIVING, EVEN JUST ON A STRAIGHT PATH, YOU HAVE MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE. THE STEERING WILL STICK AND WHEN IT "BREAKS LOOSE,", THE CAR OVERCOMPENSATES AND JERKS. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE AND ON THE ROAD. ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON AN I…

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THE STEERING STICKS WHEN DRIVING. WHEN DRIVING, EVEN JUST ON A STRAIGHT PATH, YOU HAVE MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE. THE STEERING WILL STICK AND WHEN IT "BREAKS LOOSE,", THE CAR OVERCOMPENSATES AND JERKS. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE AND ON THE ROAD. ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE REQUIRING HIGHER RATES OF SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. HOWEVER, TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO "REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. I MADE THEM AWARE OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE STEERING AND WAS TOLD HONDA WILL NOT ALLOW REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING RACK WITHOUT REPLICATION OF THE ISSUE FIRST. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI #11132057

41,480 miles · Sep 27, 2018
Power TrainCrashInjury

MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC ROLLED OUT OF MY GARAGE WHILE IT WAS IN PARK. MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME. SHE INITIALLY TURNED THE CAR OFF IN DRIVE. SHE REALIZED THAT IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND SHIFTED TO PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE WHILE STILL IN PARK. MY DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE CAR, WAS KNO…

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MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC ROLLED OUT OF MY GARAGE WHILE IT WAS IN PARK. MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME. SHE INITIALLY TURNED THE CAR OFF IN DRIVE. SHE REALIZED THAT IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND SHIFTED TO PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE WHILE STILL IN PARK. MY DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE CAR, WAS KNOCKED DOWN AND RAN OVER BY THE RUNAWAY VEHICLE. SHE WAS INJURED BY THIS ACCIDENT. THE CAR HIT A TREE ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE. I FOUND A SPRING IN THE GARAGE FLOOR THAT I THOUGHT BELONG TO THE CAR. I CONTACTED AMERICA HONDA AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS INCIDENT. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE 2016 TO 2018 HONDA CIVIC. I MADE HONDA AWARE THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. THE ROLLING BACK IN PARK ISSUE HAD HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE TO ME.

NHTSA ODI #11131914

40,000 miles · Sep 7, 2018
Service Brakes

MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND ON THE DASHBOARD UNDER THE MPH IT SAID ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM. AFTER PLAYING AROUND WITH THE PARKING BRAKE A BIT, THE CAR EVENTUALLY STARTED. UPON LOOKING UP MY VIN IT SHOWS I DO NOT HAVE A RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THE KC6 RECALL, BUT MY CAR SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #11128108

29,775 miles · Aug 29, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

STATIONARY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, WOULD NOT START, BATTERY CHECK OK, COULD NOT TAKE OUT OF PARK, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO SHOP AND HAVE TCM REPLACED AND SOFTWARE UPDATED- IN MOTION -STEERING WHEEL SLIPS AND SHAKES AS WELL - VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HONDA.

NHTSA ODI #11123273

13,000 miles · Aug 28, 2018
Power Train

CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR CONDITIONER SUDDENLY ONLY BLOWS HOT AIR. HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO A CAR BUT APPARENTLY FAULTY COMPRESSORS ARE AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE (SO MUCH SO THAT THERE IS A LONG WAIT JUST TO GET THE PART TO FIX IT) WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT HONDA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO - CLEARLY A WIDESPREAD …

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CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR CONDITIONER SUDDENLY ONLY BLOWS HOT AIR. HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO A CAR BUT APPARENTLY FAULTY COMPRESSORS ARE AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE (SO MUCH SO THAT THERE IS A LONG WAIT JUST TO GET THE PART TO FIX IT) WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT HONDA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO - CLEARLY A WIDESPREAD MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. HONDA OWNERS ARE BEING CHEATED.

NHTSA ODI #11122886

13,000 miles · Aug 27, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringWheels

FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL OTHER MECHANICS AND THEY SAY ITS THROWING CODES FOR ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND THE ELECTRIC PARKING BREAK BUT 3 DEALERSHIPS SAY THE VEHICLE IS FINE

NHTSA ODI #11122685

25,282 miles · Aug 25, 2018
Service Brakes

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT MY CAR DOESN'T START DUE TO AN ELECTRIC BRAKE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS AT HOME, AND PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO START THE CAR, IT IMMEDIATELY SHOWED THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC BRAKE PROBLEM ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WHEN WE AR…

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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT MY CAR DOESN'T START DUE TO AN ELECTRIC BRAKE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS AT HOME, AND PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO START THE CAR, IT IMMEDIATELY SHOWED THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC BRAKE PROBLEM ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WHEN WE ARRIVED THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. THEY DISMISSED IT AND SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM. TODAY I STARTED THE CAR, DROVE TO A STORE AND WHEN I WAS READY TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS TIME EVERYTHING FLICKERED, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY STIFF MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO PRESS DOWN ON IT, AND THE SAME MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD "ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM." I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED ONCE AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN THEY WERE INSPECTING IT THE CAR WAS FUNCTIONING ONCE AGAIN. NO ERROR MESSAGE AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO START IT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. NOW MY CONCERN IS OBVIOUSLY SAFETY SINCE THE ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWS IT IS A BRAKE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11122352

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