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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 1,081

Of the 2016 reports, 36 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 16 people were injured.

Primary concernSteering445 reports · 41% of complaints
Owner complaints1,081Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Steering445
  2. Other or unspecified253
  3. Electrical system119
  4. Engine95
  5. Service brakes95
  6. Structure48
  7. Visibility/wiper47
  8. Power train36

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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.

  1. Engine, Feb 8, 2016

    THE 2016 CIVICS WITH 2.0 LITER MOTORS HAVE AND BEEN PUT ON A "STOP SALE" ARE GOING TO BE RECALLED DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE FAILURE, DAMAGE, AND EVEN POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO POSSIBLY HAVING FAULTY PISTON SNAP RINGS. I BOUGHT ONE A WEEK BEFORE THIS "STOP SALE" AND I AM APPARENTLY GOING TO BE FORCED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT MAY HAVE A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DEFECT UNTIL THEY FIX IT WHICH WILL NOT BE UNTIL THIS SUMMER ACCORDING TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WAS GIVEN A CLAIM NUMBER AND I HAVE REQUESTED A RENTAL FROM HONDA SO THAT I CAN STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL THEY MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE. "ENGINE FAILURE" ON ANY ROADS MUCH LESS A BUSY HIGHWAY IS DANGEROUS AND AN OBVIOUS MAJOR PROBLEM, AND I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO MY TODDLER IF MY BRAND NEW HONDA CIVIC DIES ON ME OR CATCHES FIRE. WILL SOMEONE REAR END ME? WILL I BE STUCK IN TRAFFIC? WHO KNOWS. I JUST HOPE HONDA DOES SOMETHING FOR THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, CONSIDERING IT'S SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT IT CAN NOT BE CURRENTLY SOLD BY DEALERSHIPS UNTIL FIXED. .

  2. Engine, Feb 4, 2016

    I WAS SOLD A BRAND NEW 2016 HONDA CIVIC THE DAY AFTER A RECALL AND STOP OF SALE WAS ISSUED. NOW 5 DAYS LATER I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR. I CONTACTED AMERICA OF HONDA AND THEY CONFIRMED MY CAR DOES HAVE A RECALL AND I PROVIDED ME WITH A CASE NUMBER. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHO INDEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH?

  3. Engine, Feb 1, 2016

    PISTON CLIP RING RECALL FROM HONDA WITH NO FIX UNTIL MID-MARCH AS TOLD BY HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. RECALL NOT PUBLICLY RELEASED BY HONDA AT THIS TIME. THE RESULT OF THIS PART FAILURE IS ENGINE FAILURE, AND/OR STALLING. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOOMING AND UNRESOLVED ISSUES.

  4. Other or unspecified, Jan 8, 2016

    AUDIO SYSTEM IS NOT PROPERLY INITIALIZING ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME YOU START THE CAR. WHILE MUCH OF THIS IS SIMPLY INCONVENIENT (NO SOUND FOR THE RADIO) IT AFFECTS SAFETY AS THERE IS NO SOUND FOR THE BUILT IN GPS FORCING YOU TO LOOK AT THE GPS FOR NAVIGATIONAL PROMPTS VERSUS AUDIO PROMPTS AND THE BLUETOOTH SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION SO DURING INCOMING OR OUTCOMING CALLS INSTEAD OF USING BLUETOOTH HANDS FREE YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR PHONE WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS ILLEGAL IN MANY STATES AND SWITCH FROM THE CAR MODE TO THE HANDSET MODE AND THEN USE ONE HAND TO HOLD THE PHONE TO TALK, FURTHER DISTRACTING FROM SAFE DRIVING. THIS APPEARS TO AFFECT THE TOURING MODEL ONLY, HONDA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. HAPPENS IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS BUT IS RANDOM (ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME AUDIO DOES NOT WORK). HONDA CASE #04338617 WAS OPENED. THEY SAID TO JUST WAIT FOR A FIX, HAVE OWNED CAR FOR 30 DAYS NOW (NEW PURCHASE). DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION EITHER.

  5. 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.

  6. Other or unspecified, Dec 10, 2015

    THE TRUNK AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT DO NOT LOCK...THEIR IS NO WAY TO SAFELY VALET PARK THE VEHICLE AND LEAVE ANYTHING IN THE TRUNK OR THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THIS MAY NOT BE A DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE NON THE LESS. HONDA MUST HAVE LOST THEIR MINDS WHEN THEY REDESIGNED THE VEHICLE. IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE NOT BE ABLE TO LOCK THE TRUNK.