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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 · Jan 2, 2020
Unknown Or Other

FAULTY AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM THAT HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING THE COMPRESSOR AND REFRIGERANT LEAKS.

NHTSA ODI #11296712

36,000 miles · Jan 1, 2020
Steering

MY VEHICLE, HONDA CIVIC 2016, WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. IN THE MORNING WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT GAVE ME ERRORS IN ALL SYSTEMS: BRAKE SYSTEM ERROR, POWER STEERING ERROR, TIRE PRESSURE ERROR, ETC. I COULD SHIFT THE GEAR, BUT STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. I TOWED A CAR TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME AN ELECTRIC …

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MY VEHICLE, HONDA CIVIC 2016, WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. IN THE MORNING WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT GAVE ME ERRORS IN ALL SYSTEMS: BRAKE SYSTEM ERROR, POWER STEERING ERROR, TIRE PRESSURE ERROR, ETC. I COULD SHIFT THE GEAR, BUT STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. I TOWED A CAR TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS 3.5 YEARS OLD, 36000 MILES, THE WARRANTY ENDED ONLY 6 MONTH AGO. HONDA PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF $1500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN A FEW DAYS WHEN I WAS SUPPOSE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, HONDA CALLED ME SAYING THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOW THEY NEED TO REPLACE A POWER STEERING RACK AND POWER STEERING MOTOR AND IT WOULD COST $3000. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE, IT'S A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AFTER ONLY 36000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11292500

25,000 miles · Dec 30, 2019
Steering

STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE STRAIGHT CAUSING THE CAR TO EITHER DRIVE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES OR SO AND ESPECIALLY HAS AN EFFECT ON THE VEHICLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. MULTIPLE FORUMS AND OVER 60+ COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND NO RECALL YET?

NHTSA ODI #11292155

55,000 miles · Dec 30, 2019
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN I-20, THE ONLY CAR CLOSE TO ME WAS BEHIND ME AND IN THE OTHER LANE. THERE WERE NO OVERPASSES OR POTHOLES. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE LIKE A CAR BACKFIRE OR GUNSHOT, AND I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE BLOWN A TIRE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED MY MOONROOF HAD SHATTERED - LUCKILY THE SHIELD H…

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I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN I-20, THE ONLY CAR CLOSE TO ME WAS BEHIND ME AND IN THE OTHER LANE. THERE WERE NO OVERPASSES OR POTHOLES. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE LIKE A CAR BACKFIRE OR GUNSHOT, AND I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE BLOWN A TIRE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED MY MOONROOF HAD SHATTERED - LUCKILY THE SHIELD HAD BEEN CLOSED. HONDA REFUSED TO CONSIDER THAT IT MIGHT BE A DEFECT AND SAID THAT EVEN IF IT WAS, IT DIDN'T MATTER AS MY CAR WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO A MANAGER SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS REFUSED.

NHTSA ODI #11292005

24,800 miles · Dec 26, 2019
Unknown Or Other

MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC ONLY HAS LESS THAN 25000 MILES, THE AC HAD NOT WORKING SINCE THIS SUMMER, AFTER I TOOK THE CAR TO SCHAUMBURG HONDA IN ILLIONIS, THEY SAID THE CONDENSER IS FIND BUT COMPRESSOR HAS A LEAK WHICH WILL COST OVER $1000 TO BE FIXED. I DECIDED NOT REPAIR BUT STILL WAS CHARGED $140 FOR THE INSPECTION. TOTALLY NOT ACCE…

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MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC ONLY HAS LESS THAN 25000 MILES, THE AC HAD NOT WORKING SINCE THIS SUMMER, AFTER I TOOK THE CAR TO SCHAUMBURG HONDA IN ILLIONIS, THEY SAID THE CONDENSER IS FIND BUT COMPRESSOR HAS A LEAK WHICH WILL COST OVER $1000 TO BE FIXED. I DECIDED NOT REPAIR BUT STILL WAS CHARGED $140 FOR THE INSPECTION. TOTALLY NOT ACCEPTABLE!

NHTSA ODI #11291404

50 miles · Dec 26, 2019
Exterior LightingUnknown Or Other

I BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC 2016. I NOTICE THAT MY FRONT LED LIGHT MAKER DOES NOT WORK ONLY LEFT SIDE WORK AND IT IS ABOUT TO GO OUT TOO. SOMETIME IT GOES ON AS ITS PLEASE. AND AIR CONDITION DOES NOT BLOW COLD AIR . I HOPE THEY RECALL ALL THESE PROBLEMS..

NHTSA ODI #11291313

6,000 miles · Dec 22, 2019
Steering

STEERING AT 40 PLUS MPH GETS STIFF MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STAY IN LANE

NHTSA ODI #11290750

66,000 miles · Dec 20, 2019
Unknown Or Other

AIR CONDITIONING NOT BLOWING COLD AFTER 3 MONTHS OF FILLING UP FREON.

NHTSA ODI #11290425

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2019
Steering

I HAVE A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. AFTER 20 MINUTES DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENS UP A LOT AND THE CAR STARTS DRIFTING LEFT OR RIGHT. THEREFORE, I HAVE TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IT IS DRIFTING IN. THIS OCCURS EVERY COUPLE MINUTES. I HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY DRIVE IN A ZI…

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I HAVE A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. AFTER 20 MINUTES DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENS UP A LOT AND THE CAR STARTS DRIFTING LEFT OR RIGHT. THEREFORE, I HAVE TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IT IS DRIFTING IN. THIS OCCURS EVERY COUPLE MINUTES. I HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY DRIVE IN A ZIG ZAG FORMATION TO STAY IN THE SAME LANE. AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO LOCAL ROADS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS ON LOCAL ROADS BUT IS LESS FREQUENT THAN ON THE HIGHWAY. HAVING THIS MUCH DIFFICULTLY STEERING THE CAR IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND CAN LEAD TO CAR ACCIDENTS. AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THE CAR HAS ALREADY PASSED, THEY QUOTED ME OVER $3,000. THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL BY HONDA ON THE 2017 AND 2018 CIVICS FOR THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM (EPS). BUT, THE EPS IN THE 2016 MODEL GETS OVERLOOKED. 2016 CIVIC DRIVERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SHELL OUT SO MUCH MONEY TO GET A CAR WITH A PROPERLY FUNCTION EPS.

NHTSA ODI #11290214

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2019
EngineUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

I PURCHASED A 2016 HONDA CIVIC FOR MY SON IN 2016. I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT AC PROBLEMS THIS YEAR. I CONTACTED MY SON AND ASKED HIM IF HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C. HE REPORTED THAT IT DOESN'T BLOW VERY MUCH AIR AND THE AIR NEVER GETS COLD. SO I HAD HIM TAKE TO DEALERSHIP. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL FOR A/C AFFECTED ONLY ON…

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I PURCHASED A 2016 HONDA CIVIC FOR MY SON IN 2016. I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT AC PROBLEMS THIS YEAR. I CONTACTED MY SON AND ASKED HIM IF HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C. HE REPORTED THAT IT DOESN'T BLOW VERY MUCH AIR AND THE AIR NEVER GETS COLD. SO I HAD HIM TAKE TO DEALERSHIP. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL FOR A/C AFFECTED ONLY ONE PART OF THE UNIT WHICH THEY COULD FIX UNDER NO COST...BUT THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE IN THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND THIS WAS NOT COVERED. THEY QUOTED OVER $2,000 TO REPLACE AIR COMPRESSOR. I FOUND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AND RESEARCHED TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES A HOLE IN THE COMPRESSOR THAT MAKES IT BEYOND REPAIR AND THE ONLY INFORMATION I COULD FIND WERE OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2016 HONDA CIVIC FAULTY AIR COMPRESSORS. AGAIN WHEN I TESTED IT MYSELF, IT WAS NOT BLOWING COLD AIR AND SOMETIMES NOT BLOWING AIR AT ALL. SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE, IT SEEMS LIKE SYSTEM WAS NOT FULLY CAPABLE OF DEFROSTING WINDOWS IN FRONT AND BACK AND FIGURED THE DESIGN WAS BAD.

NHTSA ODI #11290209

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