2016 Honda Civic
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,081 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 26 Civic model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 36 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 16 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerMay 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.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 26V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 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.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V858000 on NHTSA.gov
Parking brakeOct 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.
If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V725000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingJul 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."
If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V526000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineFeb 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 16V074000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
119 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 20, 2023
All engine lights flashed while driving, check engine light remained on after all others went off, emission system warning keeps prompting attention, and car just slowed to only 8 mph as I was driving down the road. Available for inspection any day. I had my 7 month old child in the backseat and almost got slammed in the back while going down the road as my car slowed abruptly as I was driving. Nothing was wrong prior, and I took it to a service department when I went for my oil change, but it was going to be very costly to just hook up for diagnostic testing. Car ran at normal speed after this incident, but engine sounds louder and rougher and check engine light and warnings are still present.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 31, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the electronic braking system, steering, alternator, check engine, and TPMS warning lights illuminated. After shifting into drive(D), the vehicle lost power steering functionality and became difficult to turn. The braking system warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic and the contact was informed electronic power steering rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure was 46,000.
Electrical system, Air bags, Jun 16, 2022
UNKNOWN
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, Jun 9, 2022, crash
no one was hurt. just a finder binder to my car only. the other drivrr had a truck and it didnt do any damage to back bumper.
Electrical system, Engine, May 10, 2022
This vehicle is having electrical problems due to rodents and the oil smells like gasoline
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 31, 2022
The Electronic Power Steering is failing and causing the vehicle to swerve, get stuck in one direction, and sway into other lanes almost striking other vehicles. The vehicle is a huge safety concern on the road. I Myself have had to roughly pull my steering before crashing into another vehicle. At times, the vehicle looses traction while actively driving because of the steering becoming stiff and stuck. The vehicle has been brought into Honda, they confirmed the power steering rack is failing and will continue to diminish over time thus causing the vehicle to crash. Multiple other Hondas have been brought in for the same issue according to Honda and stated the steering rack part has no estimated time when the part would be in the shop. I was told it could take anywhere from a week to months before Honda receives the necessary part. There are no warning lights appearing but Honda did confirm the steering rack is failing more and more and there’s nothing they can do for it yet. I’m not sure how people are supposed to drive a car that is bound to crash into someone? The part itself is no where to be found easily, so do Honda owners pray they do not crash?
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 26, 2022
I’ve had this car for about 1 year now. On the 4th month of having the vehicle I got the battery replaced by the dealer for free. Now here we are a year later and my car is having the same issue. When I go to crank it, it stutters as if it doesn’t want to turn on than turns on. I went to autozone and they said battery needs to be changed again. Which makes no sense because never in my life have I had to change a battery 2x in year & it’s practically still a new vehicle. I started to investigate and when I go in my trunk That I barely use. I have a little bucket with things I keep in it. The bucket was filled with water as if it was leaking from the tail light area. So my trunk is soaked. I’ve noticed before a little moisture back there but I thought nothing of it. I wonder if others are having the same issue or they may not have noticed yet. The vehicle getting wet in the inside can become a very big electrical & rust issue. Which is very unsafe, can lead to things like a fire or even mildew which can get you sick breathing in it. I feel this matter should be addressed and investigated immediately! For not only the safety of my self but the other civic drivers !
Electrical system, Aug 16, 2021, crash
2016 Honda Civic sport- push start ignition can turn engine power off when parking without the operator knowing, or receiving sufficient warning that the automatic transmition is still in drive or neutral. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. Yesterday, my husband parked our 2016 Civic after a trip to the store. He was unaware that the had not placed the vehicle in park, as he was able to turn off engine and exit the car without sufficient safety warning. He took an item from the trunk, closed it, walked down the street and into the house. A few minutes later our neighbor got an alert on her security camera. Our unoccupied car is seen in the video rolling forward, down the hill, before crashing into shrubs and trees at bottom. When we got up to the car, my husband unlocked it and climbed in through passenger seat, to find it was still in drive, but was not running.This could have seriously injured or killed a child or anyone else if they had been standing in its path.Thankfully, it didn't roll into a child or one of our neighbors. No one was injured, though they certainly could have been. The car does have damage, but that can be fixed. We have not taken it to the dealer yet, but I am contacting them now. We have not contacted our insurance company yet. But we will be submitting the photos and videos with the claim. My husband said there was not a warning light on the dash and he did not observe any indication that the car was still in gear or he would not have gotten out of the car. The car gives a warning light if you leave your lights on, when you are approaching a service interval, low fuel or change in tire pressure, low battery life, and a dozen other things. He has had the car for more than five years so he is very familiar with it. It is serviced on time, and our mechanic does annual inspections every year. We will test it again tonight to see if we can duplicate it, but with a driver inside to apply the break if it rolls.
Electrical system, Equipment, Jun 22, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the air conditioner was distributing hot air through the vents. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was unknown. The contact was concerned about driving a vehicle without air conditioning in a hot climate state.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Mar 31, 2021
AC COMPRESSOR WENT OUT AFTER 37,000 MILES. WITHOUT THE AC, IT HURTS VISIBILITY (COULD NOT DEFOG THE CAR WINDOWS) WHEN RAINING OR LIVING IN A HIGH HUMIDITY AREA. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE IN HOTTER CLIMATES. ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH REAR BACKUP CAMERA NOT WORKING UPON STARTUP INTERMITTENTLY.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Mar 26, 2021
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES SINCE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE WITH BRAKE LIGHT BULBS REPEATEDLY BURNING OUT ALONG WITH EVERY SYSTEM ICON ON THE DASH FLASHING OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT WILL NOT START ALWAYS AND AT TIMES IT WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY OR THE REMOTE FOB ALL BEING TAKEN IN TO SHOPS FOR REPAIRS AND WITHIN WEEKS I CAN BE BACK TO THE SHOP WITH YET ANOTHER SO CALLED FIX THIS RECURRING PROBLEM IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE
Electrical system, Structure, Mar 20, 2021
WHEN THE FUEL DOOR ACTUATOR IS ACTIVATED (LOCKING THE DOORS ON REMOTE CONTROL), THE MOTOR MAKES A LOUD NOISE AS IT LOCKS THE FUEL DOOR. UNLOCKING DOES NOT MAKE A NOISE. ALSO, WHEN GETTING INTO CAR (UNLOCKING DOORS) AND THEN DRIVING AWAY, AS THE DOOR AUTO-LOCK THE ACTUATOR IS ENGAGED AND IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. SOUND ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ACTUATOR IS ENGAGED. SOUNDS LIKE THE INTERNAL MOTOR IS STRUGGLING TO CLOSE/LOCK THE FUEL DOOR. IT BEGAN 2 WEEKS AGO, AND THE SOUND IS GETTING WORSE AND ANNOYING.
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, Jan 26, 2021
PAINT PEELING ALONG UPPER EDGE OF ROOF ADJACENT TO REAR WINDOW. CONSOLE DISPLAY FOR BACKUP/RIGHT TURN CAMERA ONLY DISPLAYS COLORED LINES WHILE STATIONARY OR MOVING. MILEAGE 33,340, OCT. 2020
Electrical system, Sep 23, 2020
WENT TO START MY CAR AFTER 8 HOURS OF WORK AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD. CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS CHALKY CORROSION. I DON'T LIVE NEAR A BEACH FOR IT TO HAVE THIS MUCH CORROSION NOR DO I KNOW IF THAT'S WHY THE BATTERY IS ACTUALLY DYING. CAR HAS DONE THIS TO ME 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING IT BRAND NEW.
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 18, 2020
AT APPROX 36K MILES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXHIBITING A BEHAVIOR WHERE, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT. TO MAKE A MINOR STEERING ADJUSTMENT, THE AMOUNT OF FORCE REQUIRED TO INITIATE A STEERING CHANGE WOULD CAUSE STEERING TO BECOME UNSTUCK AND THEN OVER STEER. MINOR STEERING ADJUSTMENTS ARE NOT POSSIBLE AND THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND MAINTAIN WITHIN THE DRIVING LANE. THIS ISSUE INITIALLY WOULD OCCUR RANDOMLY BUT HAS PROGRESSED AND IS OCCURRING MORE OFTEN.
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 17, 2020
UPON STARTING VEHICLE, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. LIGHTS INDICATED BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUE, POWER STEERING ISSUE, HILL START ASSIST ISSUE, ABS SYSTEM ISSUE. POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
Electrical system, Sep 9, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLANK AND BECAME INOPERABLE. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS SPINNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARBONE HONDA OF YORKVILLE (5009 COMMERCIAL DR, YORKVILLE, NY 13495, WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Electrical system, Sep 8, 2020
PRIMARY DISPLAY FAILED, REMOVING ABILITY TO SEE BACKUP CAMERA AND RIGHT TURN OR RIGHT SIDE BLINDSPOT CAMERA. SECONDARY IMPACT TO CLIMATE CONTROL AND OTHER VEHICLE FUNCTIONS BUT SAFETY ISSUE WITH AN INABILITY TO SEE THE BACKUP CAMERA ON THE DISPLAY IS PRIMARY CONCERN. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED, BUT IT AFFECTS SAFE OPERATION WHEN BACKING OR MAKING RIGHT TURNS OR LANE CHANGES TO THE RIGHT.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 18, 2020
AC SYSTEM NEEDS A NEW CONDENSOR AND COMPRESSOR DUE TO LEAKING....CAR IS NOT EVEN 4 YEARS OLD...THIS ISSUE IS ONGOING AND HONDA HAS DONE NOTHING....NOT LIVING UP TO REPUTATION...THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST HONDA. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY IN THIS CAR LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND NOTHING WAS DRAINING IT....THIS HAS BEEN A PAIN IN THE BUTT EXPERIENCE....I'M GOING BACK TO TOYOYA. HONDA REFUSES TO DEAL WITH THIS AC ISSUE THAT MANY OF US ARE HAVING WHEN THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF IT.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 16, 2020
THIS VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN DYING AND HAVING ALL OF THE ERROR CODES POP UP WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. HOWEVER EVEN WHEN WE ARE DRIVING THE CAR THE CAR STARTS FREAKING OUT AND LOSING POWER. WE HAVE VERIFIED THAT NOTHING IS DRAINING THE BATTERY AND HAVE HAD THE BATTERY TESTED TWICE. THE BATTERY MUST NOT BE THE PROBLEM BUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS MESSING UP SO MUCH THAT WE ARE SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I'M HOPING BY VISITING THE DEALERSHIPS SO MANY TIMES THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO FILE A LEMON LAW VEHICLE AND RETURN THE VEHICLE THAT WAS ONLY PURCHASED A FEW MONTHS AGO.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 2, 2020
A/C UNIT AND ALL COMPONENTS OF AC HAS STOPPED WORKING, PREVIOUS OWNER REPLACED COMPONENTS AT DEALERSHIP, I HAD THE COMPONENTS REPLACED AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP! PARTS ARE FAULTY AND DON'T LAST!
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 30, 2020
TRIED TO START CAR (IN WALMART PARKING LOT) AFTER SHOPPING. WOULDN'T START. INSTEAD, ALL SYSTEMS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON: POWER STEERING, PARKING BRAKE, BRAKE FAILURE, TPMS, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, HILL ASSIST SYSTEM, ABS SYSTEM, ETC. ALL THESE WARNINGS KEPT CYCLING THROUGH ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN I TRIED TO START CAR. TOW COMPANY CAME AND JUMP STARTED BATTERY JUST TO SEE IF THAT WOULD START CAR. IT DID! BUT WARNINGS CONTINUED TO CYCLE THROUGH ALL PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED ITEMS WHILE I DROVE CAR TO MECHANIC. DID NOT TURN CAR OFF TILL I GOT THERE FOR FEAR IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. *TR
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Mar 31, 2020
1) THE AC ONLY HAVE COOL AIR BUT IT IS NOT COLD. IT IS NOT EVEN AS COLD AS THE OUTSIDE AIR. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER IS WORKING FINE, SO IT HAS TO BE THE SYSTEMS LEAKING AIR. 2) THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW IS OCCASIONALLY CANNOT ROLL DOWN BY BOTH BUTTONS FROM DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. IT HAS TO TAKE A WHILE AND AGGRESSIVELY PUSHED DOWN THE BUTTON FROM PASSENGER SIDE MULTIPLE TIKE TO BE ABLE TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN. 3) TOUCH SCREEN INTERMITTEN AUTOMATICALLY FLICKERING LIKE SOMEONE PRESSING ON IT.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 28, 2020
MY CAR AC IS BLOWING HOT AIR SINCE JANUARY 2019. MY CAR IS MAKING SOUND WHENEVER I TURN ON. FEBRUARY 28, 2020, MY CAR WAS SUDDENLY STOPPED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.
Electrical system, Feb 1, 2020
SYSTEM THROWS CODES NON STOP RECENTLY ELECTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT EMISSION LIGHT SAYING TRANS AND ECU AREN'T ON SAME PROGRAM. EVERY TIME I TAKE TO HONDA THEY WANNA BLAME THE OWNER. I GO THERE WITH TONS OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT HOW OTHERS HAVING SAME ISSUES BUT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, I'M TOLD I HAVE TO PAY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND THAT'S WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BWT. THEY WILL COME UP WITH EVERY EXCUSE NOT TO HELP YOU, HONDA IS PUTTING A LOT OF DRIVERS IN DANGER BY NOT FIXING THESE SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROBLEMS . I WORK FOR A HONDA DEALERSHIP I KNOW WHAT AND HOW MECHANICS ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO