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, May 30, 2019
WHEN TEMPERATURE SPIKES HIT THE AREA I LIVE IN THE STEERING SEEMS TO STICK SLIGHTLY WHEN DRIVING.
Engine, May 27, 2019
STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE ENGINE ALONG WITH THE OIL ABOVE THE FILL LINE AFTER CHECKING IT
Other or unspecified, May 27, 2019
A/C EVAPORATOR COIL HAD BAD WELD. $1600 REPAIR AFTER EVAPORATOR COIL REPLACEMENT, EVAC, AND REFILL OF FREON.
Engine, May 22, 2019
WHEN THE WARMER WEATHER STARTED, I NOTICED MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS ONLY GIVING OUT COLD AIR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT ASSESS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE CAR FOR THAT YEAR. I BROUGHT IT TO THE HONDA DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON MAY 20, 2019 WHERE THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW CONDENSER DUE TO A LEAK. THEY COULD NOT SAY WHAT CAUSED THE LEAK, BUT THE HONDA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STAYED THAT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE THAT YEAR, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A ROCK COULD HAVE EASILY PUNCTURED THE CONDENSER. THE TOTAL AMOUNT IN REPAIRS WAS $907 ON A THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLE. IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT SINCE THIS IS SUCH A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE, I COULD NOT FILE A CLAIM THROUGH MY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE.
Other or unspecified, May 17, 2019
THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE AC CONDENSER CAUSING THE NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT, AS WELL AS THE SENSOR. THE CORPORATE HONDA REPRESENTATIVE EVEN ADMITTED ON THE PHONE THAT THEIR DEALERSHIPS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE CONDENSERS ON THE CIVIC MODELS, INCLUDING UNITS DELIVERED FROM THE FACTOR THAT HAD ALREADY FAILED. A SIMPLE SEARCH OF CREDITED AUTOMOTIVE REVIEW SITES SHOWN MANY EXAMPLES FOR THIS MODEL YEAR, WHERE THE AC UNITS HAVE FAILED. AS THE CORPORATE OFFICE HAS FAILED TO ISSUES A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, I ASK THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS AND PROTECT THE CONSUMER. THANK YOU.
Other or unspecified, May 16, 2019
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. DEALER WANTS $2,382.15 TO REPLACE A/C COMPRESSOR W/ CLUTCH AND COIL ($1500.26), CONDENSER ($599.04), EVACUATE AND RECHARGE COMPLETE($159.95) FILTERS AND AIR CLEANERS ($122.90) , AIR VENTALATION SYSTEM CLEANING ($89.95). 2016 HONDA CIVIC EX 70,491 MILES. LAST YEAR I BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER AND THEY VACUUMED AND REFILLED THE SYSTEM ($159.95). THIS YEAR SAME PROBLEM, NO COLD AIR AND NOW BEING TOLD ENTIRE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. I CAN NOT PROPERLY CLEAR MY FRONT WINDSHIELD BECAUSE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A/C .
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 11, 2019
ESTOY TENIENDO PROBLEMAS CON MI CARRO CUANDO EL CARRO ESTA EN MODO PARKIN ESTA BIEN PERO NO MAS LO MUEVO A MODO DE MANEJO. EMPIESA A TEMBLAR CUANDO PARO EN UNA LUZ. LO RPM BAJAN Y EMPIESA A TEMBLAR LUGO LO MUEVO A PARKING OTRA VEZ Y SE PONE NORMAL. EL CARRO EST GASTANFO MUCHA GASOLINA CASI NO LO USO. APENAS TENGO NI UN MES QUE LO COMPRE
Engine, May 9, 2019
ENGINE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT SCANNED THE VEHICLE THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REFLASHED HONDA STATED NO RECALL BUT MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE ALSO ON HONDA MECHANIC WEBSITE STATES COMPUTER ISSUE
Service brakes, May 7, 2019
BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING, BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT, AND ERROR ON PANEL ELECTRIC PARKING BREAK FAILURE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECALL ON MOST 2016 MODELS
Steering, May 1, 2019
I HAVE A 2016 HONDA CIVIC EX, I WAS ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES IN MOTION DRIVING STRAIGHT WHEN THE STEERING BECAME HARD LIKE IT WAS STICKING. I GOT ON THE INTERSTATE AND ACCELERATED THE FASTER I GOT THE WORSE IT GOT.IT'S PULLS ME TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. I THEN LOWERED MY SPEED TO 50 BUT IT STILL CONTINUED TO DO THIS AND HAS NOW GOTTEN WORSE IT NEVER STOPS AND IS VERY HARD TO KEEP IN ONE LANE.KNOW THERHAS BEEN RECALLS ON THE 2017 HONDA CIVICS FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY LOCK UP AND HAS ALREADY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE ANYONE ANY INJURIES OR GOD FORBID SOMEONE LOSE THEIR LIFE. IT'S GETTING ALOT WORSE . WILL NOTIFY HONDA. IMMEDIATELY!
Air bags, Apr 27, 2019
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND HIT A POT HOLE ON A 2 LINE HIGHWAY, THEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ALL THE SIDE AIRBAGS AND STEERING WHEEL AIR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CAR DID NOT HIT ANYTHING ELSE NOR WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION ACCIDENT.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Engine, Apr 25, 2019
WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 HONDA EX-T DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED LIGHTING UP -EMMISION, EPS, BRAKE HOLD, ETC THE CAR IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO" LIMP MODE" WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM TOLD THIS CAUSED A TURBO PROBLEM AND THE TURBO WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WHILE RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND REOCCURRING PROBLEM THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. SINCE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IT SEEMS WITH OUT HONDA ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN WITH A NEW TURBO. I AM UNSURE IF THE MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS FOR PROBLEMS THAT DID NOT EXIST CAUSED THE TURBO PROBLEMS BUT IT SEEMS LIKELY. SINCE WHEN THESE LIGHTS COME ON THE CAR IS DESIGNED TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. LUCKILY I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND WAS ABLE TO HANDLE THE AUTOMATIC DRASTIC DECLINE WITH OUT BREAKING WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP. HAD THE HIGHWAY BEEN BUSY THIS CERTAINLY WOULD OF RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Apr 19, 2019
VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON DRIVEWAY, WHEN TURNED ON IT HAD BATTERY AND ELECTRIC ISSUES (BATTERY JUST REPLACED BY PROFESSIONAL) AC BLOWS OUT HOT AIR (AC FLUID JUST REFILLED AS WELL BY PROFESSIONAL) AND BACK DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE. CAR WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO AND ALREADY MALFUNCTIONING.
Steering, Apr 17, 2019
THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS CATCHING WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE. WHEN IT RELEASES, YOU HAVE TO CORRECT THE STEERING QUICKLY IN ORDER TO STAY IN THE LANE. THIS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO TIMES WHEN THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK ESPECIALLY WHEN ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AND THERE IS AN ONCOMING CAR IN THE OTHER LANE.
Steering, Apr 13, 2019, crash
WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO AN INTERVIEW & I WAS PROBABLY A BLOCK FROM HOME. I WAS AT A STOP & WHEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE & TURN LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED MID DRIVE & CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO A CURB.
Other or unspecified, Apr 12, 2019
RANDOMLY HEARD A POP, AND THE AC STOPPED WORKING. TOOK CAR TO A DEALERSHIP THAT TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE. AFTER LEAVING HONDA I CALLED BACK TO INQUIRE MORE INFORMATION, HONDA REFUSED TO SHOW ME THE ISSUE BUT TOLD ME THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $200 FOR A DIAGNOSIS FEE. SOMETHING SEEMED WRONG. CHECKED ONLINE AND SAW THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. CALLED HONDA CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT FOR A SECOND OPINION ELSEWHERE. THEY KNEW ABOUT THE AC ISSUES AND SAID IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EXCEPT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE OF HIGH MILEAGE. WITHOUT THE AC THE DEFOGGER DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE IN CERTAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS. NOT SURE HOW TO GET HONDA TO RECALL THIS BUT IT SEEMS THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF AC UNITS NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN CARS. IF SOMEONE DIES ON THE ROADWAY BECAUSE OF A VISIBILITY ISSUE, HONDA WILL HAVE A MAJOR LAWSUIT AHEAD OF THEM. HELP US HONDA OWNERS GET THE RECALL WE DESERVE SO WE CAN SAFELY DRIVE THE CARS WE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON. THIS IS UNSAFE AND NOT OKAY!
Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2019
IN THE SUMMER OF 2018, WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ON, IT WAS BLOWING WARM AIR ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE DISCHARGING COLD AIR. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED US THERE WAS A LEAK. A DYE WAS ADDED TO THE RECHARGED REFRIGERANT. EARLY THIS MONTH, APRIL, THE AC WASN'T PROVIDED ANY COOLING. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR ALONG WITH REFRIGERANT PIPING WAS LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Electrical system, Apr 8, 2019
THE REAR FACING CAMERA FAILS TO DISPLAY ON THE SCREEN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5-6 TIMES SINCE 01/01/2019. THIS HAS ONLY BEEN OBSERVED AFTER INITIAL STARTUP.
Structure, Apr 1, 2019
TRUNK OPENS BY ITSELF, SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, LOCAL STREET, OTHERS WHEN PARKED.
Steering, Mar 31, 2019
THE STEERING STARTED 'STICKING' IN PLACE AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A CATCH IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN YOU TRY TO MAINTAIN A LANE AND YOU HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND THEN LEFT TO STAY IN A LANE. YOU HAVE TO FORCEFULLY OVERCOME THIS STICKING RESISTANCE WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO VEER TOWARD THE OTHER LANE AND THIS PROCESS IS CONTINUALLY REPEATED AS YOU DRIVE. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO WANT TO PUSH ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON 2 LANE ROADS. SURPRISED THERE IS NO RECALL BECAUSE I SEE MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON NHTSB AND IN ONLINE HONDA FORUMS, THE COMMON RESOLUTION SEEMS TO BE REPLACEMENT OF FACTORY DEFECTIVE EPS HARDWARE.
Steering, Mar 26, 2019
AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, STEERING BECOMES ERRATIC. WHEEL TAKES FORCE TO TURN INITIALLY, CAUSING OVER-CORRECTION WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. THIS PROBLEM IS CONSISTENTLY REPRODUCIBLE. CAR IS WITH DEALER NOW TO FIX.
Steering, Mar 24, 2019
WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TODAY AROUND 60 MPH IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING WAS STICKING ON ME. WHEN I WOULD TRY TO CORRECT MY STEERING LEFT OR RIGHT IT WOULD FEEL STUCK FOR A SECOND THEN IT WOULD GO. SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Mar 12, 2019
WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY LAST NIGHT AFTER WORK, MY CAR DASH LIT UP WITH ALERTS, ONE AFTER ANOTHER. I TRIED TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, AND THE LIGHTS DID NOT GO AWAY. THEY ARE STILL ON TODAY. THEY WERE EMISSIONS SYSTEM PROBLEM, BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM, BRAKE HOLD SYSTEM PROBLEM, POWER STEERING SYSTEM (EPS) PROBLEM, VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) PROBLEM, AND HILL START ASSIST PROBLEM. I TOOK A VIDEO OF THE ALERTS. I WILL TRY TO UPLOAD A PICTURE.
Steering, Feb 28, 2019
AFTER DRIVING FOR 30+ MINUTES, I NOTICE MY STEERING WHEEL STICKING IN PLACE, WHEN I NEED TO SLIGHTLY MOVE OR TURN THE WHEEL I HAVE TO APPLY FORCE AND IT ALMOST CAUSES ME TO OVER CORRECT AND VEER INTO ANOTHER LANE. IF GETS WORSE TO LONGER I DRIVE AND WITH THE WEIGHT OF PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE READ THE SAME ISSUE FROM OTHERS AND THEY HAVE SAID THIS IS POSSIBLY A POWER STEERING ISSUE.
Service brakes, Feb 28, 2019
THE REAR BRAKES ARE SHOWING GROOVED ROTORS. ALSO THE BACK BRAKES ARE WEARING QUICKER THAT THE FRONTS . 7MMF . 5MMR. THE MILEAGE IS 32000. I HAVE A SECOND CAR EXACTLY THE SAME EXCEPT COLOR. IT HAS 16000 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS STARTING ON IT ALSO. I BELIEVE HONDA IS COVERING THIS UP. THEY WOULDN'T INVESTIGATE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE AN RO NUMBER. I BROUGHT IT BACK IN TO BE CHECKED AND THEY WOULDN'T PUT "CHECK REAR BRAKES" ON THE RO. THEY SAID THEY ALWAYS CHECK THE REAR BRAKES AND IF THERE IS NO NOISE THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I WAS A LICENSED INSPECTOR YEARS AGO. I WOULD NEVER HAVE PASSED A CAR WITH THESE ROTORS. SEE PICS. PERHAPS IT IS FROM THE PARKING BRAKE RECALL? THE ROTORS MUST HAVE LOST THEIR TEMPER FROM THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED BY THE PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM.