IllustrationENGINE OIL LEVEL ABOVE MAXIMUM LEVEL, AND THE ENGINE OIL SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Civic years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
2120–25K
16225–50K
8050–75K
2575–100K
9100–150K
6150K+
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 reportsTAKATA RECALL. I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YRS. THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT, WHEN I COME TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING IT DOESN'T WANNA TAKE OFF. IT HESITATES FOR ABOUT 30 SEC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT ITS DANGEROUS WHEN I TURN LEFT IT STAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ST AND I CAN GET HIT. AT ONE POINT I HAD TO PUT IT IN EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND TURN IT…
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TAKATA RECALL. I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YRS. THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT, WHEN I COME TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING IT DOESN'T WANNA TAKE OFF. IT HESITATES FOR ABOUT 30 SEC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT ITS DANGEROUS WHEN I TURN LEFT IT STAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ST AND I CAN GET HIT. AT ONE POINT I HAD TO PUT IT IN EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND TURN IT OFF AND ON. THEN IT WORKED. ITS BEEN DOING IT FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY. IT STARTED IN ABOUT APRIL. AT FIRST IT WASN'T THAT OFTEN THEN IT STARTED EVERYDAY. IT HAPPENS ANYWHERE, ST HIGHWAY, FWY, CITY EVEN WHEN I WANNA REVERSE. IM NOT SURE WHY ITS DOING IT I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC ABOUT 4 TIMES. I DO ALL OIL CHANGES EVERYTHING , TIRE CHANGES, ROTATIONS, THE MECHANIC CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. HE EVEN CHANGED A SENSOR AND IT STILL DOES IT.
NO COLD AIR COMING OUT WITH AC ON. NEEDED TO REPLACE A LEAKING AC COMPRESSOR AT 45,000 MILES.
MY AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND LEAKING THE NEW VERY FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANT R1234YF GAS OUT FROM THE COMPRESSOR ITSELF. THE SHAFT SEAL SEEMS TO BE WHERE IT IS LEAKING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO REPLACE ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE COMPRESSORS THEY INSTALLED IN THEIR CARS.
STEERING ISSUE- ONCE WARMED UP AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS (NOTICED ON HIGHWAY) CAR PULL LEFT AND RIGHT. MUST USE FORCE TO CORRECT MERGING OF THE CAR. RESPONSE TIME IS LOW WHEN YOU TRY TO CORRECT THE CAR BACK INTO YOUR LANE. ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE WHEEL IS STICKING. CAR ONLY HAS 34K MILES- NO REPORTED ACCIDENTS. NO DAMAGE TO STEERING TH…
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STEERING ISSUE- ONCE WARMED UP AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS (NOTICED ON HIGHWAY) CAR PULL LEFT AND RIGHT. MUST USE FORCE TO CORRECT MERGING OF THE CAR. RESPONSE TIME IS LOW WHEN YOU TRY TO CORRECT THE CAR BACK INTO YOUR LANE. ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE WHEEL IS STICKING. CAR ONLY HAS 34K MILES- NO REPORTED ACCIDENTS. NO DAMAGE TO STEERING THAT I CAN SEE. MANY SITES HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT WERE FOUND BY A SEARCH
THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT OF MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN FAILED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AFTER HAVING WORKED PROFITABLY AT THE START OF THIS SUMMER SEASON. REPLACING THE FUSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER'S FUNCTION DID NOT YIELD IN A CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE. AFTER HAVING TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, IT WAS …
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THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT OF MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN FAILED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AFTER HAVING WORKED PROFITABLY AT THE START OF THIS SUMMER SEASON. REPLACING THE FUSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER'S FUNCTION DID NOT YIELD IN A CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE. AFTER HAVING TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CONDENSER OF THE CIVIC WAS FAULTY. NEITHER TRAUMA NOR DAMAGE WAS FOUND BY THE SERVICE PERSONNEL. FURTHERMORE, THEY HAD INDICATED THAT THIS IS QUITE A COMMON COMPLAINT OF THIS YEAR'S MODEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS MANUFACTURING ISSUE.
2016 HONDA CIVIC, AIR CONDITIONING QUIT WORKING CAUSING THE DEFROSTER NOT TO WORK CREATING A DANGEROUS VISIBILITY BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD REMAINED FOGGY.
STEERING BECOMES VERY RESISTANT TO INPUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60MPH +) REQUIRING CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO OVERCOME OFTEN RESULTING IN OVER CORRECTION. HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITANTLY SINCE PASSING THE 50000 MILE MARKER.
POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN TRYING TO AUTO CLOSE (WIND UP FEATURE) IT GOES HALF WAY AND THEN AUTO OPENS (GOES BACK DOWN). NOTICED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN STATIONARY (BOTH IN PARK, NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE).
EPS SUB HARNESS IS MADE FROM A SOY BASED PRODUCT THAT ATTRACTS RODENTS AND A COMMON CAUSE FOR WIRES BEING CHEWED AND DESTROYED. AS SOON AS WE PRESENTED THE PROBLEMS WITH HONDA MECHANIC HE IMMEDIATELY AND SUSPICIOUSLY ASKED IF WE PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE. UPON HIS INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE HE ONLY LOOKED AT WIRES WITH PREDETERMINATI…
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EPS SUB HARNESS IS MADE FROM A SOY BASED PRODUCT THAT ATTRACTS RODENTS AND A COMMON CAUSE FOR WIRES BEING CHEWED AND DESTROYED. AS SOON AS WE PRESENTED THE PROBLEMS WITH HONDA MECHANIC HE IMMEDIATELY AND SUSPICIOUSLY ASKED IF WE PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE. UPON HIS INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE HE ONLY LOOKED AT WIRES WITH PREDETERMINATION THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUES WAS WIRING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON COMPLIANT AMONG THE HONDA COMMUNITY AND LAW SUITS HAVE BEEN FILED, ONLY TO BE DISMISSED DUE TO TECHNICALITIES OF PROBABLE CAUSE. THE DAMAGE ENDANGERS THE CONSUMER DRIVING BECAUSE THE CAR STALLS AND THE DRIVER LOSES THE ABILITY TO STEER BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND FUNCTION. BECAUSE THESE ARE SHORTS OCCURRING IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THEY TEND TO CLEAR UP IN BETWEEN DRIVES MAKING THE DRIVER BELIEVE THE CAR IS FUNCTIONAL, BUT THIS ONLY RISES THE RISK TO INJURY BY ACCIDENT AND OR EVEN DEATH.
Official recalls
526V332000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.