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, Apr 26, 2025
At highway speeds the steering wheel feels difficult to adjust at times, sticks, driving becomes a constant back and forth to overcome the sticky steering.
Steering, Apr 22, 2025
The steering sticks in the middle when driving on the expressway in warmer weather. When trying to make slight adjustments when driving, the steering wheel sticks around the 12 o'clock position. I have not noticed this problem unless the weather is warmer (55 degrees and up).
Steering, Apr 14, 2025
Just within the last month the steering has been sticking when trying to maintain a straight line. When trying to stay straight there is resistance in the steering and suddenly the resistance stops, causing driver to over correct. Also if the car hits a bump or road irregularity while the steering is resisting movement, then the car wanders even further in lane. This repeats itself constantly and car is wandering back and forth in the lane. The lower ball joints have been replaced and condition continues.
Steering, Apr 14, 2025
There is steering problem especially in high way. The steering is stiff and a little stuck. The car can not go in straight, either left or right, it will over correct. I have to hold the steering wheel to overcome the stuck force to keep in a straight line, then it will over turn. I have to do it again from the other side. And it keeps left to right, right to left.
Steering, Apr 12, 2025
Steering becomes sticky in the middle specifically when it is warm out or after the engine has been on for a while .this was not an issue in the winter. This becomes a safety issue due to trying to keep the car going straight on the interstate you end up having to overcorrect going back and forth left and right. Reading online forms this is an issue with this generation not sure why there's no Recall yet. It can lead to going into another Lane trying to overcorrect this is definitely a safety issue. This issue has been going on since I bought the car last year.
Steering, Apr 5, 2025
When driving straight at interstate speeds, there seems to be a catch in the steering. It is as if the steering does not want to turn and additional force has to be used to turn. This someone results in over correction of the steering.
Steering, Apr 3, 2025
Honda - In 2016 I purchased a new Honda Civic Tour model from a dealership and currently have 23000 miles (23K) recently the steering became a problem. I took it to the dealer where I purchased the vehicle and was advised that there was an issue known as "notching" where a gear component became defective. It was dangerous to drive and there was no options but to have it repaired. The repair cost nearly $4000.00 and I was shocked. There was no recall according to the service manager but it was known as a common problem. My wife and I are in our [XXX] and [XXX] so the cost was a large burden financially. I was told that Honda-America had a "Goodwill" program that will review a case and possibly offer some financial relief. I complied with the info Honda solicited and submitted the case for consideration. In the meantime, I had the car repaired at the dealership and paid in full. I didn't ask for any specific amount but told Honda I would be appreciative for any financial assistance. Obviously we seldom drive the car usually to doctor appointments and needed errands. The customer service rep called and said my claim was denied because of the age (9 yrs.) even in spite of only have less that 23K miles. The original tires are on the car and it still has the "new car" smell. My wife and I are very disappointed with Honda's lack of compassion, we even purchased an extended warranty from the dealership when we bought the vehicle but we never used it. Honda could have helped us but the service rep made the decision to deny the claim. The customer service that I thought Honda was known for is not the case anymore. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, Apr 1, 2025
When driving down the highway the steering sometimes sticks or locks slightly. This is mainly when driving straight and doing a slight turn or correction. Alignment and balance are fine on the car. There are no warning lights. This is an intermittent problem and only occurs occasionally. I cant always duplicate. It has not been diagnosed by a mechanic yet as it is intermittent and it only occurs occasionally. Initially started around May of 2022 and has continued off and on since, most recently occurring on March 27th, 2025.
Steering, Mar 22, 2025
One year after buying my car I noticed the steering would stick in place when trying to turn it causing overcorrections in driving. At first this was occurring just occasionally. It got to the point where the sticking of the wheel was everytime I drove the car, making it dangerous to drive, especially on the highway. There were no warnings the car gave off in this situation. I had brought it in twice to a Honda dealership regarding this issue. They drove it around independently and did not find the wheel to stick. They did give me a few ideas of what it could possibly be but with no definitive diagnosis. I also had an independent mechanic assess the car and they did not know what the problem was. I have contacted the Honda manufacturer twice regarding this issue, especially since finding multiple forums regarding the same complaint for their Honda civics. They just tell me there’s nothing they can do and tell me to go back to the same dealership to get another possible diagnosis of the issue. My car is available for inspection if requested.
Steering, Mar 18, 2025
The steering feels like it's sticking slightly to the left of center, and I've been noticing it more as the weather gets warmer. It primarily occurs at slower speeds but becomes more pronounced at higher speeds. When making small adjustments while driving, the steering wheel doesn’t move smoothly and seems to stick. Once it passes the sticking point, it causes oversteer, forcing me to overcorrect in the opposite direction. This makes driving, especially at higher speeds, feel very unsafe. Through my research, I’ve found that this is a common issue, and there are recalls for this exact problem in my vehicle’s model year. However, after checking my VIN, it appears my car is not included in the recall. I'm deeply concerned that this steering defect could lead to an accident. Given the numerous reports of the same issue in vehicles not currently covered by the recall, I hope the recall will be expanded to include all affected cars.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor around the exterior of the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor on the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump assembly and filter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was unclear if the failure was due to a fuel leak. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,379.
Other or unspecified, Mar 2, 2025
At the start of the summer in 2023, I noticed that my AC was only blowing hot air (during >110 degF Phoenix summer). I took it to a Brakes Plus on 4/7/2023 and had an evac and recharge service performed along with a leak test. The test detected a leak from the condenser, and I had the Brakes Plus shop replace that part. At the start of the summer of 2024 I was back at Brakes Plus with the same issue, my AC had gradually reverted to blowing only hot air. At that time, I did another evac and recharge service along with a leak test that was not able to detect any issues. Most recently, on 2/28/2025, I took my car to Brakes Plus again due to the same issue with my car AC only blowing hot air. This time, the technicians performed a leak test and saw signs of a leak near the compressor shaft in the form of dye found splattered around that area. So, that prompted us to find the warranty extension for the AC compressor shaft seal. So, I figured this time I would stop and take it to the Bell Honda Service Center to confirm that finding. I then set up an appointment with the Bell Honda Service Center in Phoenix on 3/1/2025. I was told that the only way to check for any leaks in my system would of course be to do an evac and recharge of the system and add some of the dye needed to detect any leak. That cost me ~$320. The diagnosis from the Bell Honda Service Center did NOT find any signs of leakage near the compressor shaft seal and I was not allowed the same courtesy of showing me that in person (or even via a picture) as I had been offered at Brakes Plus. Instead, the diagnosis suggested that my new issue was excessive build up of freon in the evaporator, resulting in a leak, which I was also not visually demonstrated. I asked if there was any warranty eligibility for the evaporator and was able to confirm at the dealership that there was no warranty extension or recall for the evaporator at the moment. However, I did hear of numerous reports of similar evaporator issues.
Steering, Feb 28, 2025
When driving at highway speed the steering will get stiff and stick. This causes me to put more pressure on the wheel resulting in over correction. It has gotten to the point where it’s unsafe to drive. I’ve read about this issue online. Problem w worm gear in steering rack.
Steering, Feb 27, 2025
Not sure what component is causing the issue but steering is sticky. For subtle movements or corrections there will be resistance. This is causing jerky movements while driving which could cause an accident in the future.
Steering, Feb 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the steering wheel was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel inadvertently turned to the left or the right, causing the contact to forcefully turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that it was difficult to make the turn. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,360.
Steering, Feb 27, 2025
Steering wheel seems to stick when car has been running for 30-40 miles. When going straight and making slight adjustments it sticks then jerks causing oversteering. Because of the mileage required to get this to occur the independent mechanic has been unable to replicate. I no longer feel safe taking this vehicle on the freeway or on any road trip.
Steering, Feb 26, 2025
Electric Rack n Pinion had to be replaced due to it binding while driving greater than 40 mph. Was a safety issue as the steering wound get 'stuck' trying to make adjustments to stay in the lane. Causing over steering. It started in January and continuely worsened. I believe there is a recall for later models with the same issue, why not 2016's? Cost me approximately $4,000 to replace.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Feb 25, 2025
Honda did a software update on my vehicle tied to the recall below. The dealership stated to me that they need to replace the VSA modulator and they are claiming this is not covered since they did the software update a few years ago. I believe they are directly corollated as I don't drive the car much only have 27K miles on the car. They are asking me to the pay for replacing the modulator VSA and are stating that this is not covered under the recall. It's hard for me to beleive how they are unrelated if the software is causing the unit to malfunction and we know the unit needs replacement there is a direct connection. This is costing me $2500. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:16V-725 MFR CAMPAIGN ID:KC6 CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTION:VSA Software Update/EPB RECALL DATE:10/06/2016 RECALL STATUS:17 Character VIN Required
Steering, Feb 19, 2025
A sticky hard steering feeling from the steering wheel. Results in a labored, exausting feeling from fighting the steering wheel. Results in an over correction of steering at times.
Other or unspecified, Feb 16, 2025
In 2019, Honda extended the warranty on two components of the A/C systems in 2016-2018 Civics: the condenser and the compressor shaft seal. However, it did not extend the warranty on the evaporator. I took my Civic to the dealer to diagnose an A/C issue where the system stopped putting out cold air after approximately 45 mins of driving. The dealer found leaks in the condenser, compressor shaft seal, and evaporator. Dealer received approval to replace the first two parts under warranty. However, Honda would not cover the evaporator. The dealer told me I would need to replace the evaporator, at a cost of nearly $2500, in order to recharge the A/C. Simple internet research confirms this is a common problem. Honda should be including the evaporator in its extended warranty because it seems to fail at the same rate as the other parts and because it is effectively impossible to replace the two covered parts without replacing the evaporator--which is by far the most expensive of the 3 parts to replace.
Electrical system, Feb 14, 2025
Failed body control module known issue with Honda for years. wants to stick consumer with $1300 repair bill so car can be drive able again.
Steering, Feb 14, 2025
Occasionally steering was sticking, mostly highway driving. Car drifted slightly to left.
Steering, Feb 13, 2025
Sticky steering when on center and in warmer weather. Cannot make minor steering adjustments without overcorrecting left or right. This is an ongoing issue for the past few years.
Other or unspecified, Feb 6, 2025
Complaint Description for NHTSA Vehicle Information: • Year: 2016 • Make: Honda • Model: Civic • VIN: [XXX] : 90,484 Description of the Issue: I am experiencing a complete AC failure in my 2016 Honda Civic due to an evaporator leak, which has resulted in an unreasonable $4,000 repair cost quoted by my local Honda dealership. This is a well-documented and widespread issue among 2016-2020 Honda Civic owners, where the AC system components, including the compressor, condenser, and evaporator, fail prematurely. Honda has already acknowledged defects in the AC condenser and extended the warranty for that part. However, they have not extended the warranty for the evaporator, which is also failing at an alarmingly high rate. Safety Concerns: • Visibility Issues: Without a working AC system, the defrost function does not operate properly, causing windshield fogging, which can obstruct visibility and create a safety hazard while driving. • Extreme Heat Risk: In hot climates, the lack of AC can lead to dangerous cabin temperatures, which is a health and safety risk, especially for passengers with medical conditions or young children. Honda’s Response & Requested Action: • I contacted Honda Customer Service to request goodwill assistance, but they have not yet agreed to cover the repair cost. • Many Honda Civic owners have filed similar complaints about evaporator failures, yet Honda has failed to take action. • Given the widespread nature of this issue, Honda should extend the warranty for the evaporator, just as they did for the AC condenser. I am filing this complaint to formally urge NHTSA to investigate this issue and hold Honda accountable for what appears to be a defective AC system across multiple model years. Thank you for your time and consideration. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, Feb 3, 2025
Steering wheels binds up on highway. If I slightly turn the wheel in any direction it gets stuck that way and I have to use a lot of force to get it to unbind. Causes uncontrollable steering adjustment very serious.