2018 Honda Civic

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Steering is the leading concern among 596 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 26 Civic model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 596

Of the 2018 reports, 25 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 21 people were injured and 1 person died.

Primary concernSteering224 reports · 38% of complaints
Owner complaints596Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship6 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Steering224
  2. Other or unspecified105
  3. Fuel system89
  4. Gasoline89
  5. Fuel/propulsion system70
  6. Electrical system51
  7. Engine50
  8. Service brakes21

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. Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpMay 28, 2020

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Campaign 20V314000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. Equipment, other, owners/service/other manualNov 16, 2018

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic Hatchback and Civic Type R vehicles. The owners guide in these vehicles may not have been included or if included, the owner's guide may not have been properly provided required information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

    If the information is missing or improper, it can increase the risk of injury or a crash.

    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the owners information kit, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O3A.

    Campaign 18V817000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Steering, electric power assist systemSep 27, 2018

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.

    The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.

    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C2N, P2O.

    Campaign 18V663000 on NHTSA.gov

  6. Equipment, other, labelsJun 20, 2018

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Civic vehicles. The manufacturing date area of the certification labels may have random characters which can affect the owner's ability to determine if a safety recall includes their vehicle.

    If the owner is not able to verify if their vehicle is involved in safety recall, it can increase the risk of injury or crash.

    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is U23.

    Campaign 18V421000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints

596 reports, newest first.

  1. Structure, Engine, Dec 3, 2018

    I'VE BEEN SMELLING GAS IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE ONLY DURING START UP AND ITS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE CAR IS PARKED IN A HEATED PARKING GARAGE WHEN THE SMELL OCCURS AND IT WILL ALSO HAPPEN OUTSIDE IN A PARKING LOT AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR A LITTLE BIT. YOU CAN ALSO SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF GAS WHEN YOU OPEN THE HOOD WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD.

  2. Engine, Nov 26, 2018

    AT 4400 MILES ON THE 2018 CIVIC HATCHBACK 1.5 L (APPROX 4 MOS) THE VEHICLE LOST POWER MOMENTARILY WHILE ACCELERATING AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND HAD A STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE CABIN. A CHECK OF THE OIL SHOWED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY OVERFILLED WHEN PREVIOUS CHECKS DID NOT. HONDA DEALER (IDE HONDA, ROCHESTER, NY) REPLACED THE OIL AND OFFERED NO CORRECTIVE ACTION OR INFORMATION.

  3. Other or unspecified, Nov 25, 2018

    WITHIN ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS OF BUYING A NEW HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK 2 OF THE CONTINENTAL PROCONTACT TIRES STARTED DEVELOPING BUBBLES IN THE SIDE WALL. THE BE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT WITH TWO MILES ON IN AND NO MAJOR BUMPS OR POT HOLES HAVE BEEN HIT. REPLACING ALL TIRES SINCE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE OTHER TWO GET THE BUBBLES AS WELL AND DON'T WANT AN ACCIDENT IF ONE BLOWS. NOT HAPPY CONSIDERING THE CAR NOW HAS LESS THAN 8000 MILES AND LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND ALREADY HAVING TO REPLACE.

  4. Electrical system, Nov 20, 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LUNDGREN HONDA OF AUBURN (163 WASHINGTON ST, AUBURN, MA 01501) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A MOUSE CHEWED THROUGH THE WIRE HARNESS. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,300. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

  5. Steering, Electrical system, Nov 12, 2018

    RODENTS ATE THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WIRES. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN POWER STEERING LOSS OCCURRED. HE COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND OR KILLED. AMERICAN HONDA WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING!!

  6. Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 10, 2018

    CHANGED OIL AT 40 % LIFE AND FOUND GASOLINE IN OIL NOT SURE HOW MUCH BUT VERY STRONG ODER.

  7. Seats, Nov 9, 2018, crash

    ON SEPTEMBER 15 2018 I WAS INVOLVED IN A SOLO VEHICLE CRASH I FELL ASLEEP AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE DIRECTLY FROM BEHIND RESULTING IN ME BEING PROPELLED FORWARD INTO THE AIR BAG THAN PUSHED BACK BY THE AIRBAG IN THE SEAT...I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BUT THE SEAT BRACKET BENT FORWARD DURING COLLISION PUSHING ME INTO AIRBAG CAUSING SERIOUS CHEST CONTUSIONS AND INFLAMMATION OF LOWER BACK. AFTER THE CRASH SEAT COULD NOT BE MOVED FORWARD OR BACKWARD AS THE BRACKET WAS BADLY BENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET PICTURES OF MY VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WASH GOING TO RETURN TO PULL VEHICLE FROM TOW BUT HONDA PULLED IT OUT BEFORE I COULD AND ARE IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE.

  8. Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 8, 2018

    AT 2025 MILES MY 2018 CIVICTHAT I HAD FOR 2ISH MONTHS STARTED SMELLING LIKE FUEL IN THE CAB. SO I LOOKED IT UP AND THE EARTH DREAMS MOTOR IS HAVING OIL DILUTION PROBLEMS AND IT IS BECOMING MORE COMMON. SO I CHECKED MY OIL AND FOUND MY CAR A QUART OVERFULL WITH FUEL IN MY OIL. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY GAVE IT A FREE OIL CHANGE AND SAID THAT THERE IS NO FIX ANDIT IS NORMAL. THE OIL VISCOSITY WILL DETERIORATE EVENTUAL LEAVING ME WITHA KNOCK OR DISABLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT IS AN ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE A CRASH OR SICKNESS WHEN THE NOXIOUS GAS SMELL COMES BACK. I HAVE NOW PUT 450 MILES ON IT SINCE THE OIL CHANGE AND AM SMELLING FUEL IN MY OIL AGAIN.

  9. Electrical system, Nov 7, 2018

    THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS COVER COMPOSITION IS ATTRACTIVE TO RODENTS. SQUIRRELS CHEWED INTO THE HARNESS LEADING TO LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THE ENTIRE HARNESS NEEDS REPLACING DUE TO THE SOY BASED WIRE COATING. THE FAILURE WAS FIRST NOTICED WHILE AT SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN CITY TRAFFIC. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS AT STARTING THE VEHICLE RESULTED IN ROUGH IDLE AND DANGEROUS HESITATION WHEN MERGING. LOCAL DEALER ADVISES THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AFFECTING THE UK ASSEMBLED CIVIC HATCH BACK. ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT IS $900.00 AS THIS IS NOT COVERED BY HONDA.

  10. Engine, Nov 7, 2018

    FUEL SMELL IN ENGINE OIL AND ENGINE OIL IS OVER FILLED ON DIPSTICK NOT LONG AFTER OIL CHANGE POSSIBLY DUE TO FUEL DILLUTION INTO OIL

  11. Steering, Service brakes, Oct 20, 2018

    WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET (SPEED LIMIT 35) WHEN SUDDENLY NEITHER THE BRAKES NOR STEERING WORKED. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE I WAS HYDROPLANING, BUT THE ROADS WERE NOT WET AND IT WASN'T RACING. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. FINALLY THE STEERING REENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE THE CAR SO I DIDN'T HIT ANOTHER CAR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD AND NOT GOING VERY FAST.

  12. Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 30, 2018

    SIDE PASSENGER LANE WATCH CAMERA INTERMITTENTLY DOESN'T TURN ON CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE

  13. Other or unspecified, Sep 6, 2018

    I PURCHASED A HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK FROM WILLETT HONDA SOUTH IN MORROW, GA ON 8/29/2018. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO THE MY HOME. THAT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE DEALERSHIP AND MY HOME IS LESS THAN 20 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP ON 8/30/2018, AND I SPENT APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS IN THE AT THE WILLETT HONDA WAITING FOR THE REPAIR. THE SAME WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS ON THE WAY HOME AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. WILLETT HONDA SENT A LOANER CAR TO MY NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICHLE FOR ONE DAY, 8/31/2018. I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN UNTIL 9/5/2018. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SENT ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 1 WEEK. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. ROTATING THE TIRES AND ADJUSTING THE AIR IN THE TIRES IS NOT THE PROBLEM. I SAT NEXT TO A LADY WITH HER CAR IN THE SHOP AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ACCORDING THE HONDA, THE WARNING LIGHT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED, BUT I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE A BRAND NEW VEHICHLE BACK AND FORTH TO THE SHOP. THE CAR WAS NOT DISCOUNTED TO ME FOR HAVING A FAULTY SYSTEM INSTALLED INTO THE CAR BY HONDA.

  14. Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 23, 2018, crash

    HAD TO HAVE TO MANY OIL CHANGES, ALMOST ONE A MONTH , NOT GOOD ON THE MILAGE THEN A CAMRY MAYBE WOULD HOLD OFF THAT MANY CHANGES.

  15. Service brakes, Aug 22, 2018

    ON THE AFTERNOON OF 8/21/2018, I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 HONDA CIVIC (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) TO PICK UP MY SON FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AS I WAS MOVING THROUGH THE CAR RIDER LINE (WHICH IS ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE), I TURNED ON THE BRAKE HOLD ASSIST FEATURE SO THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AS I'M WAITING IN LINE. AS MY SON IS ENTERING THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR, THE CAR STARTS ROLLING FORWARD. AS I TURN FORWARD AND SLAM ON THE BRAKES, THERE IS A YOUNG BOY AN INCH AWAY FROM MY BUMPER. THEN LIGHTS APPEAR ON MY DASH DISPLAY INDICATING THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE HOLD SYSTEM (SEE ATTACHED PHOTO). THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THIS INSTANCE, BUT BOTH MY SON AND THE CHILD IN FRONT OF MY CAR COULD BOTH HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY SYSTEM. IF HONDA'S BRAKE HOLD ASSIST FEATURE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FAIL SUDDENLY IN THIS FASHION, IT SHOULD NOT BE A FEATURE IN THE VEHICLE AT ALL. IT PROVIDES DRIVER'S WITH A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT THEIR BRAKES ARE ENGAGED, BUT WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS THE BRAKE SUDDENLY DISENGAGES ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY.

  16. Seats, Aug 8, 2018

    THE HEAD RESTRAINTS AND SEAT CONFIGURATIONS OF THESE HONDA CIVICS CAUSE SEVERE BACK PAIN, AS DIAGNOSED BY MY DOCTOR AND CHIROPRACTOR. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR SIX WEEKS AND HAVE SPENT > 20 HOURS GETTING XRAYS, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND VARIOUS RE-ALIGNMENT TREATMENT BECAUSE OF THE UNSAFE AND HARMFUL CONFIGURATION OF THESE SEATS. PER THE HONDA REPRESENTATIVE, THEY STATED THAT THESE HEAD RESTRAINTS AND SEAT SHAPES COMPLY WITH SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIRBAGS. HOWEVER, NHSTA AND OTHERS HAVE FAILED TO REALIZE THAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO MITIGATE "HYPOTHETICAL WHIPLASH", THEY ARE PROMOTING ACTUAL, WIDESPREAD, SEVERE DAMAGE TO DRIVERS.

  17. Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2018

    I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM WALDORF HONDA ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE. ON APRIL 13, 2018, THE RED BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AS I WAS DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) YELLOW INDICATOR ILLUMINATED.

  18. Structure, Jul 13, 2018

    THE FRONT BUMPERS ON ALL 2016 TO 2018 HONDA CIVICS ARE NOT SECURED PROPERLY, HOND AIS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS NO FIX FOR THIS. THESE BUMPERS COULD FLY OFF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HURT OR KILL SOMEONE. HERE'S A LINK WITH OTHER OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.CIVICX.COM/THREADS/FRONT-GRILLE-COMING-APART.3495/

  19. Electrical system, Jul 11, 2018

    (4 COMPLAINTS, ALL POSSIBLY ELECTRICAL) 1) KEY NOT DETECTED IN VEH ERROR, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, I HAVE THE KEY NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING AND NO LONGER IN A POUCH, MY CAR BEEPS AND SAYS "KEY NOT DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE) THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET AND FREEWAY. IT IS A RANDOM OCCURRENCE BUT HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. 2) BLUETOOTH IS NOT CLEAR ON THE PERSON SPEAKING TO ME'S SIDE. OTHER PERSON STATES AS WELL AS HONDA TECH LINE STATES IT IS UNCLEAR, MUFFLED, AND LOUD INTERFERENCE WITH MY VOICE HAPPENS WHILE USING BLUTOOTH. 3) CAR PLAY: DUE TO BLUETOOTH ISSUE I STARTED ONLY TAKING CALLS WHILE USING CAR PLAY. ONCE I STARTED USING I STARTED HAVING THE ISSUE OF IT STATING RANDOMLY AFTER BEING SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTED"CAR PLAY NOT SUPPORTED" WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CALL IT WILL DISCONNECT AND I WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER TO ATTEMPT TO RECONNECT. RIGHT AFTER CAR PLAY WILL CONNECT AGAIN AND WORK UNTIL IT RANDOMLY DISCONNECTS AGAIN SAYING CAR PLAY NOT SUPPORTED. NOTE: WITH CAR PLAY AND BLUETOOTH ISSUE I HAVE TAKEN CAR INTO DLR MULTIPLE TIMES STARTING WITH THE DAY AFTER THE VEH WAS PURCHASED IN 1/29/2018 NO RESOLUTION SO FAR TO DATE. DLR HAS REPLACED MICROPHONE, AND STILL NO RESOLUTION AS OF YET 4) DRIVER WINDOW MAKES WEIRD SOUND LIKE IT IS COMING OFF THE TRACK, TOOK INTO DLR AND THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR FOR THE WINDOW, THE WINDOW STILL HAS ISSUE. ** I HAVE MORE PHOTOS OF RECORDS FROM TAKING VEH INTO DLRSHIP. BUT THIS FORM ONLY ALLOWS ME TO UPLOAD 5

  20. Other or unspecified, May 4, 2018

    MY REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. THE TIRE IS CRACKED AND AIR IS ESCAPING.NEW CAR BOUGHT ONLY TWO MONTHS TIRES SHOULD NOT BE CRACKING.

  21. Steering, Nov 29, 2017

    THE ISSUE IS WITH THE "ROAD DEPARTURE MITIGATION" (RDM)SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM MAY HAVE BEEN WORKING AS DESIGNED: BUT IF SO IT CREATED A CORRECTION THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ISSUE OCCURRED AT A POINT WHERE THE ROAD ABRUPTLY CHANGES FROM A SINGLE LANE TO A THREE-LANE ROAD. THE THREE-LANE ROAD HAS A SOLID DIVIDER BETWEEN THE THREE WEST-BOUND LANES AND THE THREE-EAST BOUND LANES. THE NORMAL PROCEDURE IS TO ENTER THE THREE-LANE GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND THEN MOVE TO THE RIGHT AS DESIRED TO GET INTO THE MIDDLE OR RIGHT-HAND LANE. IN OTHER WORDS THE SINGLE-LANE ROAD MERGERS INTO THE LEFT-HAND LANE IF YOU KEEP THE STEERING STRAIGHT AHEAD. AS I APPROACHED THE TRANSITION POINT THE RDM SUDDENLY PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT (CREATING ABOUT A 30 DEGREE CHANGE IN DIRECTION) AND APPLIED HEAVY BRAKING. IF THAT ACTION HAD OCCURRED ON A TWO LANE ROAD WITH A CAR ON MY RIGHT IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. SINCE THERE WAS AN ABRUPT CHANGE IN LANE MARKINGS AND THE SOLID CENTER DIVIDER CLOSE AHEAD; I SUSPECT THE RDM INTERPRETED THAT SITUATION AS "I WAS ABOUT TO CRASH INTO SOMETHING". THE OWNER'S GUIDE SAYS IT WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT IT DID. BUT IN THIS CASE IT COULD HAVE REPLACED ONE TYPE OF CRASH WITH ANOTHER TYPE OF CRASH; OR MORE IMPOTENTLY CREATED A CRASH THAT WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED AT ALL !!