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
1,081 reports, newest first.
Steering, Feb 4, 2024
When driving freeway speeds, steering is very loose and difficult to control. When driving more than 30 minutes or more, the steering locks up and have to give it a jerk to gain control of steering. Mileage on 2016 Honda Civic is 58272 as of inspection by Honda on 1/17/24. Honda verified issue is Steering Rack which thousands of 2016 Honda Civic owners are reporting same issue. Original issue began in 2019 and reported to Honda at that time. Please review complaint. Thank you.
Steering, Feb 4, 2024
When driving at highway speeds, the power steering seems to stick when the wheel has not been turned for a few seconds (as in driving on a straight away). When minor corrections are needed, the steering wheel sticks, which results in a slight over correction. The conditions under which this happens is: warm air temperature, driving time over 15 minutes, and driving at highway speed.
Other or unspecified, Lane departure, Jan 17, 2024
UNKNOWN
Structure, Jan 10, 2024
The front windshield glue holding it on the car has failed. The windshield can be pushed out completely with only a pinky finger. This should not happen and is very dangerous. This windshield could of came off easily from sudden stopping or collisions and caused serious bodily injury to the driver. Safelite auto glass came out to inspect and replace the window due to this defect. They stated it is a factory installed front windshield and they had never seen anything like it. The windshield started coming off less than a week ago. There were no warnings. We knew there was a problem when we heard wind sound coming in while driving. I have tried to upload a PDF documentation, but the website will not let me upload it.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 2, 2024
I bought my 2016 Honda Civic and never had issues with it besides the AC unit not working which was resolved because of the recalls and was repaired by my local dealership. Now I am having issues when it comes to accelerating. There is an accelerating delay/ stall when completing a stop and there’s a delay to get the car to move after pressing on the gas pedal or when reversing when getting out of th driveway. The most dangerous event is when I’m driving and i come to a stop to make a right turn and right after ensuring there is no upcoming traffic to make the right turn my car does not accelerate and it’s very scary because I can get hit by another car. There’s times where I’m driving and the car can turn off. I feel like my life and other drivers life’s are at risk. Honda has recalls for fuel pumps for other year/models but not for mine. I just want to make sure if this is something that can be recalled. Thank you
Steering, Dec 2, 2023
My steering wheel sticks when the engine has been warmed up, requiring extra force to begin turning it. This can make small adjustments on the road difficult, and means I have to overcorrect all the time and have trouble staying in my lane. It happens after driving ~20 minutes on warm days (above 70 degrees). The vehicle has been inspected by an independent mechanic, and I was told the only solution is replacing the entire steering rack. No warning lights have come on. This is NOT an isolated incident-- it happens every time the vehicle is driven for 20+ minutes on a warm day, and gets worse the longer it's driven.
Engine and engine cooling, Other or unspecified, Nov 28, 2023, fire
The contact owned a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended, it caught fire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. There were no reported injuries. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 16V074000 (Engine and Engine Cooling).
Steering, Nov 17, 2023
As others have stated, steering becomes very sticky at highway speeds, especially on sweeping curves. When trying to straighten car back out, the steering sticks and requires extra pressure to get the steering wheel to turn. Once it comes free it causes the car to veer in the other direction. It is at times very difficult to put minor corrections into the steering to maintain the car in my lane. Honda dealer says it is the “torque sensor magnet” sticking and would require a steering rack replacement in the neighborhood of $4000. I have been back and forth with Honda corporate and they have denied any extended warranty or customer good will on this issue.
Steering, Nov 10, 2023
My 18 year old daughter's 2016 Honda Civic has been having problems with her steering wheel where while driving on the highway or driving straight for a while, the steering wheel gets stuck and in order to stop it from sticking, she would have to jerk the car a little bit which causes her to swerve and it is a big problem if it happens while there are other cars around her. I have read numerous articles about this same problem with the same year, make and model of the car.
Other or unspecified, Nov 8, 2023
My infotainment system has been malfunctioning for roughly 4 year now. I bought my 2016 Honda Civic Touring in 2019 from Hagerstown Kia in Hagerstown Maryland. Several months after I purchased the car, my infotainment randomly does things on its own like back out of navigation apps and return to Home Screen or randomly turn on the blind spot camera. This is a major safety concern for me and other drivers because I have to fool with the infotainment system for several minutes so that I can go back to my navigation screen and know where to go and also be able to control the car’s temperature. This malfunction is very distracting therefore causing potential harm to me or other drivers. I see that there is an ongoing class lawsuit for this exact issue “Constance Chiulli v. American Honda Motor Co. Inc., et al., Case No. [XXX] in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.” Next time this malfunction occurs, I will take a video and I can provide that as proof to validate my case. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Service brakes, Nov 3, 2023
Honda knew of an issue with their Electronic Parking Brake system which required a software update per service bulletin 17-007 since January 17, 2017. Honda claims that the issue was not associated with my 2016 Civic Coupe EXL VIN however on Oct 29, 2023 my Civic threw this error which then cost me $112 for the service center to diagnose and an additional $150 for the software update to be installed. Total cost of $262 for an item that Honda knew was an issue and never addressed on my vehicle. This issue creates a dangerous and possibly life threatening situation which Honda is fully aware and should be held liable. American Honda states that my vehicle was not effected however I disagree as the photos and failure occurred. I was expecting more fro Honda.
Steering, Oct 26, 2023
The steering wheel 'sticks' at highway speeds and makes it difficult to make minor adjustments. Have to apply more than normal force to turn the wheel and causes the car to overcompensate and jolt. Could be quite dangerous.
Other or unspecified, Oct 16, 2023
After numerous statements regarding issues with the A/C units, it appears there’s an additional item that should be added to the list of recall/extended warranty issues for Honda. The evaporator is now an additional item that is an issue amongst numerous consumers. I’ve had an issue with the evaporator and have been charged a hefty amount for labor by the dealership stating this was the issue. I was not allowed to replace my compressor/condenser, which is strange that those work just fine even with a recall, but suddenly an entirely different part was not working that’s not under warranty. I left the dealership extremely frustrated to be sold a car with faulty equipment that is being called out online and Honda does not show any proactive measures.
Steering, Oct 16, 2023
Steering rack is faulty. Known issue on thousands of 2016 honda civics. Honda told me my battery dying and the sticky steering wheel is from a faulty steering rack and quoted me $4000 to fix it. This car does not even have 80,000 miles on it and it 7 years old. This issue has caused multiple accidents and I have 2 children. I am scared to drive this vehicle. If this is a known faulty steering rack issue why am I subjected to pay out of pocket?
Steering, Oct 13, 2023
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering wheel sticking at highway speeds when on a curved road or when changing lanes. Might be a loss of power steering. Occurs once or twice in 100 highway miles. Only temporary solution is to jerk the wheel with enough force to unstick it and regain control, which is not safe or ideal. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Loss of control of the vehicle. Departing own lane without intention. Possibility of collision with an adjacent vehicle. Possibility of overcorrection and complete loss of control without ability to regain control, resulting in a single vehicle crash. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, the local Honda dealer wants to charge $150.00 to inspect the issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, none.
Steering, Oct 11, 2023
When driving for a while on the freeway, my steering wheel gets sticky causing me to oversteer to compensate. Which causes my car to swerve on the road.
Other or unspecified, Sep 19, 2023
My 2016 Honda civic has been having air conditioning issues and this should be repaired by the manufacturer. The issue is with Evaporator Core and the condenser. The Honda dealership inspected the car and made the determination; however, he says that there have not been any recalls issued by Honda for the Evaporator Core. We live in Arizona and it is dangerous to drive a car without a working air conditioner. Please help fix this as I am sure there are a lot more other owners who are having similar A/C issues!
Steering, Sep 17, 2023, crash
Steering starts sticking every few seconds after about a 20 minute drive, and veering sideways. I lost a sideview mirror due to this and its very dangerous to drive. Probably has killed peapel already!! This happens every single time I drive this!
Steering, Sep 15, 2023
At 63k miles the Honda Civic steering wheel started sticking /jerking when changing lanes on the interstate. The steering rack EPS needs to be replaced. Only happens when you are driving for over an hour. This is not something you will notice commuting for 10-15 minutes to work. No warning on the dash. Warranty can't help us since we are second owners. We purchased it for our teenager 60 days ago and it's not safe for her to drive.
Steering, Service brakes, Sep 12, 2023
Both steering and brake system warning lights came on and steering wheel locked in to place with no prior warning indications of power steering rack failure.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 12, 2023
My car has an emergency parking brake malfunction where the brake delays once parked.
Steering, Aug 28, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became firm, and was sticking while turning in either direction. The contact stated that the failure was more noticeable while driving at highway speeds, and caused the vehicle to drift to either side, causing the driver to make addition steering wheel adjustments to keep the vehicle driving straight. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Steering, Aug 25, 2023
I have a 2016 Honda civic around 48,000-50,000.00 miles I have noticed that the steering in my vehicle gets sticky/stuck while driving. This usually occurs on the highway while I’m driving at higher speeds and when I’ve been on the road for about 30 minutes. While driving on the highway the steering wheel gets “stuck” towards the left and I have to pull it to correct this position. It has made me fearful while driving especially at high speeds and I feel like the entire drive I have to white knuckle the wheel. If I do not continue to make the correction then the car would veer off into another lane. This is extremely dangerous and unsafe. It has also happened while I’ve slowed down to a traffic light and when I pulled the steering wheel back out of the sticky position I heard an adamant click. I started researching and saw there are hundred if not thousands of these reports. I did send Honda a message to open a case which they sent a standard message back just saying to bring it to the dealer and closed the case. This needs to be fixed or rectified by Honda. I saw that there were some lawsuits but that they didn’t include 2016. It seems that the problem with all of these is the EPS Rack Assembly which is a fault with the manufacturer.
Steering, Aug 24, 2023
Our vehicle has just over 60,000 miles and has developed a significant "sticking" in the steering. This starts at around 50 miles per hour and gets progressively worse as speed increases. It doesn't completely seize but requires significant pressure to break the sticking. This could easily result in an overcompensation that leads to a loss of control. Once over 50 miles per hour, this issue requires constant attention by the driver. It is not an intermittent issue. We took this vehicle to a Honda dealer for repairs in July, but it still hasn't been repaired yet due to a shortage of the parts needed to repair this issue that is apparently well known by the Honda service technicians. Insult to injury is that once this is repaired, it will cost me over $3,000 as Honda has rejected our request to cover this repair.
Steering, Aug 17, 2023
Steering wheel sticks and you are not able to change direction without using excessive force. This happens when driving at highway speeds and seems to be worse (more force needed to turn wheel) at higher temperatures, 80+. The sticking steering causes you to oversteer and may cause you to lose control of the vehicle and crash.