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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

30 reports
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700 miles · Aug 25, 2016
Exterior LightingUnknown Or Other

THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ON MY NEW CIVIC HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED TWICE AND IT WILL NOT STAY COVERING THE BRAKE LIGHT , POSES A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING AS IT HANGS DOWN AND AT NIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT SHINES THRU THE WINDSHIELD WILL BE TAKING BACK TO DEALER FOR THIRD TIME TO TRY AND RECTIFY.

NHTSA ODI #10898660

20 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT CAME CAME LOOSE SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING THE CAR OFF THE DEALER LOT AND PERSISTED AFTER ATTEMPTING A FIX. DEALER REPLACED THE ADHESIVE AND IT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING LOOSE SEVERELY AFFECTS VISIBILITY THROUGH REAR WINDSHIELD. BRAKING AT NIGHT ILLUMINATES THE ENTIRE REAR WINDSHIELD AND SEVER…

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THIRD BRAKE LIGHT CAME CAME LOOSE SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING THE CAR OFF THE DEALER LOT AND PERSISTED AFTER ATTEMPTING A FIX. DEALER REPLACED THE ADHESIVE AND IT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING LOOSE SEVERELY AFFECTS VISIBILITY THROUGH REAR WINDSHIELD. BRAKING AT NIGHT ILLUMINATES THE ENTIRE REAR WINDSHIELD AND SEVERELY OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW. DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE THAT REQUIRES A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10897278

44 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Exterior Lighting

THE COVER ON THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AT THE TOP CENTER OF THE REAR WINDOW ON THE COUPE VERSION OF THIS CAR DOES NOT STAY ADHERED TO THE WINDOW. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUE IN VISIBILITY IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. BESIDES REDUCING VISUAL SIGHT AREA, AT NIGHT THE RED LIGHT UPON BRAKE APPLICATION IS BOTH DISTRACTING AND OBLITERATES ANY …

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THE COVER ON THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AT THE TOP CENTER OF THE REAR WINDOW ON THE COUPE VERSION OF THIS CAR DOES NOT STAY ADHERED TO THE WINDOW. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUE IN VISIBILITY IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. BESIDES REDUCING VISUAL SIGHT AREA, AT NIGHT THE RED LIGHT UPON BRAKE APPLICATION IS BOTH DISTRACTING AND OBLITERATES ANY OTHER VIEWING OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. DEALER ATTEMPT TO FIX WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. PART NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED FOR A BETTER INSTALLATION METHOD THAN DOUBLE SIDED TAPE ON THE EDGE OF THE PART. MANY OTHER COUPE OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10897155

4,500 miles · Aug 17, 2016
Exterior Lighting

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT COVER WILL NOT STAY AFFIXED TO WINDOW CAUSING LIGHT TO FLOOD THE BACK GLASS WHEN BRAKING.

NHTSA ODI #10896781

6,500 miles · Aug 16, 2016
Exterior Lighting

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING CAME UNDONE. I'VE RESEARCHED SEVERAL HONDA CIVIC FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. ONE COMPLAINT EVEN READ THAT WHEN THEY CONTACTED THEIR DEALER THEY SAID THAT EVERY SINGLE 2016 CIVIC COUPE THEY HAD IN THE LOT IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. MIND YOU THOSE VEHICLES HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN DRIVEN YET. W…

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THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING CAME UNDONE. I'VE RESEARCHED SEVERAL HONDA CIVIC FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. ONE COMPLAINT EVEN READ THAT WHEN THEY CONTACTED THEIR DEALER THEY SAID THAT EVERY SINGLE 2016 CIVIC COUPE THEY HAD IN THE LOT IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. MIND YOU THOSE VEHICLES HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN DRIVEN YET. WHILE FOR ME THIS IS MILDLY ANNOYING I CAN SEE HOW THIS CAN CAUSE REAL VISIBILITY ISSUES. SO FAR THERE ARE NO PERMANENT FIXES BY HONDA FOR THIS. I FULLY EXPECT A RECALL ONCE A PERMANENT FIX IS MADE BY HONDA AND THERE SHOULD BE ONE. NOT ONLY IS THIS ANNOYING BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10896461

75 miles · Aug 16, 2016
Exterior Lighting

WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASING MY CAR IN JULY THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT COVER HAS FALLEN DOWN. WHEN IT IS DARK THE RED LIGHT FROM THE BRAKE LIGHT REFLECTS ON THE REAR WINDOW MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE FAULT WAS INITIALLY NOTICED. HONDA HAS NOT COME UP WITH ANY FIX TO THIS PROBLE…

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WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASING MY CAR IN JULY THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT COVER HAS FALLEN DOWN. WHEN IT IS DARK THE RED LIGHT FROM THE BRAKE LIGHT REFLECTS ON THE REAR WINDOW MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE FAULT WAS INITIALLY NOTICED. HONDA HAS NOT COME UP WITH ANY FIX TO THIS PROBLEM. THE ADHESIVE USED FOR THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT COVER IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO WITH STAND THE HEAT ABSORBED BY THE BACK WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #10896450

17 miles · Aug 16, 2016
Exterior Lighting

3RD LIGHT BRAKE COVER ON COUPE FALLS OFF. FELL OFF WITH 17 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED. RESULT REAR WINDOW FLOODS WITH RED LIGHT AT NIGHT CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE *BLINDING*. NO KNOWN RECALLS OR FIX ATTEMPTS BY HONDA HAVE REPAIRED ISSUE. UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT!!! SERIOUS SAFETY ISSU…

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3RD LIGHT BRAKE COVER ON COUPE FALLS OFF. FELL OFF WITH 17 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED. RESULT REAR WINDOW FLOODS WITH RED LIGHT AT NIGHT CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE *BLINDING*. NO KNOWN RECALLS OR FIX ATTEMPTS BY HONDA HAVE REPAIRED ISSUE. UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT!!! SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND DESIGN FLAW

NHTSA ODI #10896257

75 miles · Jul 29, 2016
Exterior Lighting

HIGH BRAKELIGHT COVER WILL NOT REMAIN ATTACHED TO REAR WINDOW AND HANGS DOWN. THE VELCRO ATTACHING STRIPS PULL AWAY FROM THE GLASS IN HOT WEATHER. THE RESULT IS THAT REARWARD VISION IS REDUCED, AND AT NIGHT, APPLYING THE BRAKES WILL LIGHT UP THE ENTIRE REAR GLASS OBSTRUCTING OUTWARD VISION WHETHER VEHICLE IS MOVING OR NOT. PASS…

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HIGH BRAKELIGHT COVER WILL NOT REMAIN ATTACHED TO REAR WINDOW AND HANGS DOWN. THE VELCRO ATTACHING STRIPS PULL AWAY FROM THE GLASS IN HOT WEATHER. THE RESULT IS THAT REARWARD VISION IS REDUCED, AND AT NIGHT, APPLYING THE BRAKES WILL LIGHT UP THE ENTIRE REAR GLASS OBSTRUCTING OUTWARD VISION WHETHER VEHICLE IS MOVING OR NOT. PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEAT WILL HAVE THE PLASTIC COVER HIT THEIR HEADS.

NHTSA ODI #10891726

2,000 miles · Jul 15, 2016
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

THIRD BRAKE COVER OFF, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NOW CAN NOT BE PERMANENTLY REPAIRED, WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE BRAKE ENTIRE GLASS IS RED . WIPERS CAN NOT CLEAN THE WINDSCREEN .

NHTSA ODI #10885110

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

CERTAIN HONDA CIVIC'S HAVE APPLE'S CARPLAY INSTALLED, THROUGH THE IOS IPHONE MOBILE PHONE PLATFORM. WHEN ENABLED, OR PLUGGED INTO THE CAR, NAVIGATION SUPPORT PROVIDED BY APPLE'S MAPS APPLICATION GOES INTO 'DAY MODE' WHILE AT NIGHT. THIS CREATES A HUGE AMOUNT OF BRIGHTNESS IN THE CAR AND BLINDS THE DRIVER WITH BRIGHTNESS. THERE I…

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CERTAIN HONDA CIVIC'S HAVE APPLE'S CARPLAY INSTALLED, THROUGH THE IOS IPHONE MOBILE PHONE PLATFORM. WHEN ENABLED, OR PLUGGED INTO THE CAR, NAVIGATION SUPPORT PROVIDED BY APPLE'S MAPS APPLICATION GOES INTO 'DAY MODE' WHILE AT NIGHT. THIS CREATES A HUGE AMOUNT OF BRIGHTNESS IN THE CAR AND BLINDS THE DRIVER WITH BRIGHTNESS. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM AND I CAN EASILY SEE HOW ACCIDENTS CAN BE TRIGGERED DUE TO BLINDING INTERIOR LIGHT DUE TO THE APPLE MAPS (THROUGH CARPLAY) NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ERROR, OR POOR DESIGN BY APPLE/HONDA. I BELIEVE THAT CARPLAY'S NAVIGATION FUNCTION IS A DANGER TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC BECAUSE HAVING HUGE AMOUNTS OF SUDDEN BRIGHTNESS CAUSES DISTRACTION AND MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH VISION.

NHTSA ODI #10884184

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