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, Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Nov 16, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND HESITATED. OCCASIONALLY, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, MULTIPLE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING FAILURES WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, STEERING, AND STABILITY CONTROL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (APPLE HONDA 1, 801 WHITEFORD RD, YORK, PA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Steering, Sep 28, 2018
THE STEERING STICKS WHEN DRIVING. WHEN DRIVING, EVEN JUST ON A STRAIGHT PATH, YOU HAVE MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE. THE STEERING WILL STICK AND WHEN IT "BREAKS LOOSE,", THE CAR OVERCOMPENSATES AND JERKS. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE AND ON THE ROAD. ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE REQUIRING HIGHER RATES OF SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. HOWEVER, TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO "REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. I MADE THEM AWARE OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE STEERING AND WAS TOLD HONDA WILL NOT ALLOW REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING RACK WITHOUT REPLICATION OF THE ISSUE FIRST. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE!
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 29, 2018
STATIONARY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, WOULD NOT START, BATTERY CHECK OK, COULD NOT TAKE OUT OF PARK, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO SHOP AND HAVE TCM REPLACED AND SOFTWARE UPDATED- IN MOTION -STEERING WHEEL SLIPS AND SHAKES AS WELL - VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HONDA.
Steering, Wheels, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 27, 2018
FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL OTHER MECHANICS AND THEY SAY ITS THROWING CODES FOR ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND THE ELECTRIC PARKING BREAK BUT 3 DEALERSHIPS SAY THE VEHICLE IS FINE
Steering, Aug 15, 2018
THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS STICKING OR NOTCHING CAN BE FELT WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING AND IN PARK. THIS PROBLEM IS CONTINUOUS.
Steering, Jul 31, 2018
CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW. STEERING HAS STARTED STICKING. WHEN I AM DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A CATCH IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN YOU TRY TO MAINTAIN LANE AND HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THROUGH THE "CATCH" FEEL WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO JERK. IT HASN'T GOTTEN TO WHERE IT IS CONTINUOUSLY HAPPENING. ON MORE CURVING ROADS THE STEERING SEEMS TO CATCH, AND STICK, WHICH CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING AND GET THE WHEEL THROUGH THE "CATCH" IN ORDER TO STAY ON THE ROAD WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO JERK EVERY TIME. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE SMOOTH STEERING AND FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING AT THE EXTENT IT IS NOW WHICH IS CAUSING A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IS VERY DISTURBING. AFTER REVIEWING OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE I AM NOT SURE WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS.
Steering, Jul 6, 2018
AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 5+ MINUTES, THE STEERING HAS A CATCH IN IT. EVEN GOING AROUND TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL STICK IN THE POSITION (I CAN TAKE MY HANDS OFF THE WHEEL AND IT STAYS IN THE SAME TURNING POSITION IT'S IN) MAKING ME USE SMALL FORCE TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION WHEN IT SHOULD TURN BACK NATURALLY. IT DOES THE SAME THING ON STRAIGHT ROADS LIKE AN INTERSTATE. IT MAKES KEEPING LANE CONTROL DIFFICULT WHEN THE VEHICLE MAY VEAR TO A CERTAIN SIDE. CAUSING THE CAR TO BE 'JERKY'
Steering, Jun 29, 2018
I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD START BEING STICKY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. . THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE BUT FOR SUBTLE MOVEMENTS, IT WOULD CAUSE RESISTANCE. THIS WAS MOST FREQUENT WHEN DRIVING OVER AN HOUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOTICE THAT THE WHEEL TENDS TO STICK AFTER IT'S BEEN STRAIGHT FOR A COUPLE SECONDS AND I NEED TO APPLY MORE FORCE TO MAKE A SMALL ADJUSTMENT ON THE HIGHWAY. I DO NOT HAVE THE LKAS. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 19, 2018, crash
STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING OVER COMPENSATION, HAS CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD; DRIVING STRAIGHT, 60MPH, INTERSTATE CAR FAILS TO START AFTER DRIVING MORE THAN AN HOUR AND A HALF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BEENCTO DEALER FOR BOTH OF THESE ISSUES AND HAVE HAD NO RESOLUTION.
Steering, Jan 24, 2018
STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I ADJUST THE WHEEL TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT PATH OR TAKING A CURVE, THE WHEEL STICKS CAUSING ME TO USE MORE FORCE THAN USUAL TO TURN THE WHEEL. BY USING MORE FORCE TO BREAK THE 'WHEEL STICK', THE CAR TENDS TO OVER COMPENSATE. YOU ARE FORCED TO ALWAYS HAVE BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND IT MAKES THIS CAR A VERY UNENJOYABLE AND UNSAFE EXPERIENCE TO DRIVE.
Steering, Sep 19, 2017
STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I ADJUST THE WHEEL TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT PATH OR TAKING A CURVE, THE WHEEL STICKS CAUSING ME TO USE MORE FORCE THAN USUAL TO TURN THE WHEEL. BY USING MORE FORCE TO BREAK THE 'WHEEL STICK', THE CAR TENDS TO OVER COMPENSATE. YOU ARE FORCED TO ALWAYS HAVE BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND IT MAKES THIS CAR A VERY UNENJOYABLE AND UNSAFE EXPERIENCE TO DRIVE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE IT. WILL BRING THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP, IF THEY CANNOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE, WILL TRADE CAR IN IMMEDIATELY (CAR HAS LESS THAN 10K MILES ON IT). I WILL NOT CONTINUE TO HAVE MY FAMILY DRIVE IN THIS CAR IF PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED.
Steering, Equipment, Jul 26, 2017
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN KING ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2016 HONDA CIVIC DEFECTIVE CAR. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BLUETOOTH WOULD FREEZE DURING AN INCOMING CALL. THIS CAN ONLY BE CORRECTED BY SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD BLOW HOT AIR. THE STEERING WHEEL MELTED BLACK PARTICLES ONTO THE DRIVERS HANDS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPLACED. *JS
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jul 26, 2017
ENGINE EATEN BY RATS 2 TIMES; ENGINE HARNESS DESTROYED FIRST TIME; CAR HASN'T BEEN THE SAME SINCE THIS; FOUND MORE RAT DROPPINGS IN THE ENGINE; CAR SHAKES SO BAD THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS HARD TO SEE OUT OF CAR IS NOT STABLE ON ANY ROAD; ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN DONE 4 TIMES ON VEHICLE STILL NOT ALIGNED; HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES THEY TELL ME ITS THE ROAD; CAR DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY; WHEN TURN ON CAR IT SHAKES FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES UNTIL WARMED UP. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE.
Steering, Jul 21, 2017
MY STEERING WHEEL STICKS. WHEN I AM DRIVING STRAIGHT WHILE MAINTIANING A STRAIGHT PATH YOU HAVE TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS. IT STICK AND THEN CAUSES ME TO OVER COMPENSATE. WHEN DRIVING AROUND A CURVE I CAN LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT HOLD THE CURVE AND DOESN'T ROLL BACK TOT HE CENTER POSITION LIKE IT SHOULD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CANT RECREATE IT SO NOTHING GETS FIX. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF THE TIME. IT HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 21, 2017
ON TWO OCCASIONS, MY CIVIC HAS "LOCKED UP". UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE AND THE CAR WON'T GO INTO GEAR. I WAS STUCK WHERE I WAS AND HAD TO GET THE CAR MOVING SO I FORCEFULLY ENGAGED THE VEHICLE BY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE SHIFT KNOB AREA. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE STILL ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO MANEUVER, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK WELL, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I EVENTUALLY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND "RESET" THE COMPUTER THAT WAY. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN CAME BACK AGAIN SAME EXACT WAY. THE NEXT TIME, I DID THE SAME THING, DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND IT RESET. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TRANSMISSION, BRAKING, OR WHATEVER. ALL I KNOW IS IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AFTER I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. ONE OTHER POINT TO MAKE, I ALREADY HAD THE "PARKING BRAKE RECALL" SOFTWARE UPDATE COMPLETED BY HONDA. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND ALL THEY COULD DO WOULD BE RESTART THE CAR UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. I DID NO THINK THIS WAS A GOOD USE OF TIME (THEIRS OR MINE) SO I AM HOPING FOR A RECALL SOON!
Steering, May 8, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING MOVED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Steering, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Feb 17, 2017
THERE ARE THREE ISSUES WITH THIS 2016 HONDA CIVIC. HOWEVER ONE OF THESE ISSUES MUST BE ADDRESSED "IMMEDIATELY". WHEN YOU GO TO PARK YOUR CAR,(HAVING IT IN A STATIONARY POSITION) YOU PUSH THE PUSH BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF. HOWEVER IF YOUR VEHICLE IS STILL IN DRIVE WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF, IT "TURNS OFF" AND GIVES YOU A WARNING TONE. BUT!!!! IF YOUR HARD OF HEARING, AND YOU DON'T HEAR THIS TONE, YOU GO TO GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE AND IT EITHER ROLLS BACKWARDS (KNOCKING YOU DOWN WITH THE DOOR) AS IT ROLLS AWAY FROM YOU (AND HOPEFULLY NOT OVER YOU), "OR" IT ROLLS FORWARD, RUNNING COMPLETELY AWAY FROM YOU. THERE IS NO SAFETY FEATURE, SUCH AS THE ACURA. THE ACURA AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS YOUR CARS POSITION SO IT DOESN'T ROLL AWAY FROM YOU OR OVER YOU... MY BOYFRIEND HAS BEEN HURT TWICE DUE TO THIS UNSAFE FEATURE. AND I MYSELF HAVE BEEN SURPRISED BY IT ONCE. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 5,000 MILES ON IT. QUESTION IS? HOW MANY MORE MILES WILL IT BE ABLE TO ACCUMULATE BEFORE KILLING ONE OF US, OR SOMEONE ELSE? IF THERE WAS A WAY FOR ME TO SEND YOU A VIDEO OF THIS I WOULD. BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD FROM MY PHONE.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 20, 2016
UPON STARTUP VSA, TPMS, CMBS, BRAKE WARNING ILLUMINATED AT 4400 MILES. POWER STEERING FAILED. DELIVERED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Sep 6, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND VOLUNTARILY DRIFTED INTO THE OTHER LANES. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE FORCE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE LANE DEPARTURE AND STEERING REQUIRED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A THREE SECOND DELAY FOR THE ACCELERATION AND ABS. AFTER THE DELAY, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITH POWER AND ACCELERATED AT A RAPID SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Dec 25, 2015
WHEN THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) AND THE VEHICLE LANE KEEPING ASSIST SYSTEM (LKAS) ARE ENGAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE VEHICLE WILL REACT UNPREDICTABLY UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE MAY BRAKE SUDDENLY, RAPIDLY DECELERATE, AND QUICKLY DEPART THE HIGHWAY WHEN APPROACHING EXIT RAMPS. THE SITUATION OCCURS DURING DAYLIGHT AND NIGHTTIME HOURS WITH CLEAN CAMERAS AND RADAR WINDOW. DRIVER RESPONSE TIME IS TOO SLOW TO COUNTERACT THE EVENT. THE VEHICLE MAY SLOW BY 10-15 MPH AND DEPART THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE DRIVER IS ABLE TO RESUME CONTROL. DURING 300 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE VEHICLE DID THIS TWICE. A REAR END COLLISION WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED IN ONE CASE.