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: steering
445 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Apr 5, 2021
STEERING STICKS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT ON THE FREEWAY FORCING YOU TO ZIG ZAG CONTINUOUSLY IN A LANE. PROBLEM IS MOST NOTABLE AT SPEEDS OVER 40MPH. PROBLEM STARTED WAS FIRST NOTED IN SUMMER OF 2017 (WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY) AND CONTINUES TO TODAY.
Steering, Mar 29, 2021
STEERING WHEEL STICKS OR CATCHES WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 40 MPH. STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE WITHOUT EXTRA FORCE FROM DRIVER. DRIVER HAS TO YANK ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. STEERING IS NOT FLUID AS IT SHOULD BE AND CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO OVERCORRECT IF ISSUE IS NOT FIXED. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
Steering, Mar 23, 2021
STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES CAUSES DRIVER TO OVERCORRECT. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD LEAD TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING TO MANY CIVIC OWNERS AND FOR SOME REASON ISN'T BEING RECALLED. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MONTHS, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.
Steering, Mar 19, 2021
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING STICKS WHEN MAKING MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO STAY IN LANE, IN OTHER WORDS, THE STEERING STICKS HARD AND THE VEHICLE STAYS IN THE TURN. BECAUSE THE STEERING CAN'T RETURN TO CENTER WITHOUT ADDITIONAL OPPOSITE FORCE, BREAKING THE STEERING FREE OFTEN CAUSES AN OVERCORRECT. BOTH SCENARIOS (STUCK IN THE TURN, AND OVERCORRECTING) REPRESENT A SERIOUS HAZARD TO DRIVERS AND ROAD USERS. THESE ARE NOT ROAD CROWN OR ALIGNMENT ISSUES: THESE ARE PHYSICALLY STUCK STEERING ISSUES RELATED TO HONDA EPS RACK 53650-TBC-A01/02. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. THERE ARE OVER 115 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE ON THE NHTSA DATABASE FOR THE 2016 CIVIC ALONE, THAT'S WITHOUT THE THOUSANDS THAT ALMOST CERTAINLY GO UNREPORTED.
Steering, Mar 19, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN BOTH DIRECTION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RETURN TO CENTER, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NORM REEVES HONDA SUPERSTORE PORT CHARLOTTE (1252 TAMIAMI TRAIL, PORT CHARLOTTE, FL 33953) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A STICKY STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Steering, Mar 2, 2021
AFTER BEING ON THE ROAD FOR 30-40 MINUTES THE STEERING BECOMES JERKY AND STICKY. FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS TRYING TO OVER CORRECT WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. I HAVE MY CAR IN THE DEALER SINCE LAST WEEK WHERE THE SERVICE GUYS DROVE MY CAR AND AND FELT THE PROBLEM, THEY SUBMITTED A CLAIM UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND NOW THE WARRANTY GUY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND DENIED MY CLAIM. THIS IS REALLY UNPROFESSIONAL ON HONDA'S PART FOR NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE THAT WE ARE ALL HAVING. I SWEAR I USED TO LOVE DRIVING MY CAR, NOW I'M SO SCARED TO DRIVE IT THAT I CAN'T ENJOY IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS BECAUSE IT IS REALLY UNSAFE. I THINK THEY WANT US TO CRASH OUR CARS RATHER FIXING A SIMPLE ISSUE AND CHANGE THE EPS RACK AND PINION.
Steering, Feb 23, 2021
STEERING STICKS AFTER DRIVING FOR 20-30MINS. USUALLY WHEELS FORWARD/STRAIGHT. TENDS TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN ON HIGHWAYS, LESS OFTEN ON CURVY ROADS. WHEN MAKING SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS TO MAINTAIN LANE POSITION, IT TAKES AN UNUSUAL AND UNCOMFORTABLE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO GET IT OUT OF ITS STUCK POSITION. ONCE IT BREAKS FREE, IT IS A SLIGHT OVER ADJUSTMENT. DOES NOT SEEM TO STICK WHILE IN TURNS. I HAVE REPLACED FACTORY TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT, STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. VEHICLE HAS NO AFTERMARKET PARTS. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO COME AND GO, AND I HAVE NOT NOTICED A SPECIFIC PATTERN.
Steering, Feb 9, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN CHANGING LANES VERY DANGEROUS ALSO BECAUSE I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THE COST WAS NOT $3,000 OR MORE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL
Steering, Feb 1, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND JERKY AND DID NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER RUSSELL HONDA LOCATED AT 6100 LANDERS RD, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR 72117 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Steering, Dec 31, 2020
OUR CIVIC'S STEERING BECAME VERY 'STICKY' AROUND 6 MONTHS AGO AND THE PROBLEM DEVELOPS AT SPEED. THE STEERING GETS JERKY AND MOMENTARILY GETS LOCKED IN A POSITION THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT AGAINST. WE HAD A SERVICE SCHEDULED AT HONDA AND ASKED THEM TO INSPECT THE ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY. THEY ARE DEFLECTING AND ARE SUGGESTING IT COULD BE CAUSED BY US RUNNING OVER SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE DAMAGED THE STEERING SETUP. THERE IS NO ALIGNMENT ISSUE AND THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 16K MILES IN 4.5 YEARS (IT'S OUR SECOND CAR).
Steering, Nov 21, 2020
THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN OVER 40MPH. THE CAR PULLS TO ONE SIDE AND HAPPENS OVER 40MPH. THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS
Steering, Nov 8, 2020
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS SO WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED WITHIN YOUR LANE YOU END UP OVER CORRECTING. WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCES IT SEEMS TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT I MEED TO SPEND $3800 FOR A NEW STEERING RACK BUT CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND HONDA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS MISTAKE.
Steering, Oct 12, 2020
THE STEERING IS STICKY. WHEN I TRY TO MAKE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO DIRECTION, IT STICKS. WHEN IT FINALLY LET'S GO, THE CAR OVERCORRECTS CAUSING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.
Steering, Sep 18, 2020
STEARING WHEEL IS STICKING AFTER IT IS HELD IN ONE POSITION. THE STICKING CAN BE NOTICED AT ALL SPEEDS EVEN WHEN STOPPED. WHEN THESTEARING STICKS IT CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVER COMPENSATE WHEN TRYING TO MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
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.
Steering, Sep 15, 2020
DURING A RECENT ROAD TRIP WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. DURING THIS TIME, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THIS CAR HAS LANE KEEP ASSIST AND OTHER SAFETY MECHANISMS, BUT THOSE WERE TURNED OFF. HOWEVER, IT IS AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO STEER FOR ME, BUT IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. FOR EXAMPLE DURING A TURN, IT WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL - IT WOULDN'T CLICK, BUT IT WOULD OFFER STRONG RESISTANCE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS JUST STOPPING WORKING IN ONE DIRECTION? IN GENERAL IT BECOMES OVERLY DIFFICULT TO STEER AS IF IT IS "FIGHTING" AGAINST THE DRIVER. THE STEERING BECOMES "STICKY" PARTICULARLY ON TURNS. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS IN DIFFERENT CAR FORUMS AND IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. IT IS GENERALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS INTERMITTENT, AND IT IS USUALLY AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A WHILE. BECAUSE IT IS MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STAY IN THE PROPER LANE THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 44K MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. DURING A RECENT INSPECTION FOR THIS PROBLEM AT THE DEALER THEY FOUND NOTHING OBVIOUS BUT WE COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED REPLACING THE POWER STEERING RACK HAS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN IT OCCURS.
Steering, Sep 12, 2020
OVER 40 MPH AND ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY JERKY. A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO JERK IN THE HANDS RIGHT OR LEFT DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY IT IS BEING TURNED. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS STUCK AND BREAKING LOOSE.
Steering, Sep 3, 2020
WHEN I STEER ON THE HIGHWAY GOING OVER 40 MPH THE CARS STEERING WHEEL WOULD FEEL STUCK AND WHEN I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE IT JERKS THE WHOLE CAR.
Steering, Aug 26, 2020
THERE'S A "CATCH" IN THE STEERING. WHILE DRIVING, IF SLIGHT TURN, CAN FEEL A CATCH AND SLIGHT "TICK" NOT VERY LOUD.
Steering, Aug 25, 2020
WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS 40MPH+ THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS STUCK. MAKING MINOR ADJUSTMENTS WHEN THE WHEEL IS CENTERED WILL HAVE A RESISTANCE TO THEM AND SOMETIMES MAKES A CLICKING SOUND LIKE THE STEERING IS CATCHING ON SOMETHING.
Steering, Aug 17, 2020
AT SPEEDS OVER ABOUT 45MPH THE STEERING STICKS BRIEFLY AND CORRECTION CAUSES A SUDDEN JERK IN THE NEEDED DIRECTION. THIS IS CONSTANT AND ALWAYS OCCURS. IT SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME WORSE WITH TIME AND IS ANNOYING AND DISCONCERTING, ESPECIALLY TO PASSENGERS AND ANYONE WHO DRIVES THE CAR RARELY OR HAS NOT DRIVEN THE CAR BEFORE.
Steering, Aug 14, 2020
LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, MY 2016 CIVIC HAS THE STICKY STEERING PROBLEM. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKS" AND DOES NOT ALLOW SMALL STEERING ADJUSTMENTS. TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR A LITTLE LEFT OR RIGHT, TO CHANGE LANES FOR EXAMPLE, IS DANGEROUS -- APPLYING ENOUGH PRESSURE TO GET THE WHEEL TO MOVE MAKES THE CAR JERK. I SEE STORIES IN FORUMS ABOUT THIS GETTING COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SEEMS UNFAIR I HAVE TO PAY $3K TO FIX A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT.
Steering, Aug 11, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVER STEER. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOLLER HONDA DEALER LOCATED AT 2211 N SEMORAN BLVD, ORLANDO, FL 32807, WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WOULD BE CONTACTED WITH THE RESULT OF THE TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V663000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,239.
Steering, Aug 10, 2020
WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND IT'S HOT OUT THE STEERING BEGINS TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND GETS STUCK AND NEEDS TO BE RECENTERED OFTEN CAUSING AN OVER CORRECTION AND JERK TO THE OTHER SIDE. THIS IS CONSTANT. DOES NOT OCCUR AS MUCH AT LOWER SPEEDS BUT ALWAYS AT OVER 50 MPH.