2020 Honda Civic
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 225 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 21st highest complaint count among 26 Civic model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 15 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 12 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
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerFeb 1, 2024
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Campaign 24V064000 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
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderJun 29, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
Campaign 23V458000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpMar 25, 2021
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.
Campaign 21V215000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
225 reports, newest first.
Power train, Jun 29, 2025
Researched and found this has been a common issue with this make and model. Clutch slippage at random times when accelerating, reported to Honda dealership multiple times, stated there wasn’t any issue with vehicle and denied this was a common issue even though it has been reported by multiple owners of this year/make/model. 3-4 days ago, clutch started disengaging while driving and constantly had the burning friction smell. Fortunately I was able to get my vehicle to the dealership without having to be towed but it was a slow with lots of praying to the car gods. Now the dealership is charging me an outrageous amount to repair, even though I reported this months ago (prior to it getting this bad) and was told there wasn’t nothing wrong with it. My estimate for repairs came to just under $5k for something that should’ve been fixed when it was first reported (which probably would’ve been way less in cost to fix at that time). AND…I had to tell them what the issue was in detail because they treated me like I was stupid. This should’ve been a recall a long time ago with all the reports and complaints from so many people instead of Honda treating people like they’re stupid.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 22, 2025
1: Fuel pump - This recall was fixed last weekend on 6/14/25. On [XXX] My vehicle stalled on a major road with my son in the car. 2: I have my [XXX] son with me most of the time. The vehicle stalled while I was driving. Myself or my son could of been very injured or worse if I wasn't able to get off the main road. The fuel gage said it was full of gas, but it wasn't moving with what miles the car said it had left. 3: N/A 4: I believe it was inspected because it states in the recall the the fuel pump impeller wasn't molded properly. 5: Yes, all of my check engine lights came on. While pushing on the gas peddle the car wouldn't move. The car started to slow down and shake. It first appeared a week after I got the recall fixed on 6/22/25 Side note: I don't currently have the documents in my possession. Its in the car at the dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 20, 2025
Both fuel pumps failed and were replaced. The parts were saved for inspection upon request. My car shut down while I was accelerating on the entry ramp to a major highway. If it had not been for my skilled driving and fast thinking, a major accident with injuries would have occurred. The mechanic who fixed my car said this was the 12th one he has repaired. The vehicle was not inspected by anyone from Honda but we did save all the old parts so that it could be verified. There were absolutely no warning lights, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. Honda has a recall for this exact problem, for this exact same car but the VIN for my car has not been released yet because they are doing it increments, apparently. What doesn't make sense is that they don't agree to accept responsibility for this recall on the cars that have broken down and been diagnosed with this recall because the VIN hasn't been released yet! This is a $1900 repair that I had to come out of pocket for and I need to be reimbursed in order to payback the money borrowed to pay for the repair. Can you somehow help with this problem. I have the receipts for the repair but don't have them with me at the office where I am sending this message. I can provide them if you need me to but the total amount paid for the repair was $1984.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, May 30, 2025
My automatic Breaks that prevents me from rear ending a car keeps engaging when I am a few car lengths from another vehicle. It’s happened once yesterday and once today. Both times in heavy traffic areas. I’ve had the car for two years and this is the first time this has happened. Thankfully no one was following close behind because they may have hit me. I’m afraid this is going to happen one day when someone is too close and I’m going to get rear ended. It’s really scary and dangerous. I’m scared to drive my car.
Other or unspecified, May 29, 2025
The evaporator in my 2020 Honda Civic failed without warning, causing the air conditioning system to stop blowing cold air. This posed a safety risk, especially in hot weather, as it affected driver comfort and increased the chance of fatigue or distraction. The issue was diagnosed and confirmed by a certified Honda dealership, whose staff acknowledged that evaporator failure is a common problem in 10th generation Civics and that Honda corporate is aware of multiple similar cases. While Honda has extended warranty coverage for other A/C components, the evaporator—despite its high failure rate—remains excluded. The repair is extremely labor-intensive and costly, often exceeding what many owners can reasonably afford, which discourages timely repairs. In many cases, the failure is due to leaking refrigerant, which not only compromises system performance but also poses an environmental hazard. There were no warning lights or messages before the failure, and the component is available for inspection upon request. I am requesting that Honda extend warranty coverage to include the evaporator and provide reimbursement for repairs due to the widespread nature, safety concerns, and environmental impact of this issue.
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, May 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door failed to open as needed. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to open the door. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the steel beams inside the door. The contact stated that the failure occurred frequently. The contact had suffered rotator cuff injuries on both shoulders. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
Air bags, Seat belts, May 15, 2025
While making a slow right turn into a shopping plaza, I accidentally struck a median curb with only the driver’s side front tire. Despite the low speed and minimal impact, the passenger side front airbag deployed without cause, severely endangering my passenger. Aside from a flat tire, there was no damage to the body of the car. Fortunately, we were moving slowly enough to avoid injury, but had we been going any faster, it could have caused serious harm. After the incident, both front seatbelts locked, rendering the vehicle unsafe for both the driver and passenger. I later discovered that there are confirmed recalls affecting the passenger airbag system (specifically the front passenger seat weight sensor) for 2020 Honda Civics—my car’s exact make and model—but my VIN does not appear to be included, despite exhibiting the same failure. When I brought the car to a Honda dealership, I was told the recall did not apply and was quoted $10,000 in repairs for the SRS and seatbelt systems. Rather than addressing the potential manufacturing defect, I was instead hounded to trade in the vehicle. I believe this incident reflects a serious safety malfunction tied to an existing recall and deserves investigation. My vehicle may have been improperly excluded from a recall campaign affecting others with identical equipment and model specifications.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, May 10, 2025
Very frequently, the brake alert system comes on while on the highway causing my vehicle to engage the braking system. This happens whether or not there is a vehicle in front of me.
Air bags, May 9, 2025
The passenger side seat belt light comes on when someone is sitting in the passenger seat. We have had to McGrath Honda in St Charles IL, but they say there is no recall. First time they did a diagnostic and said nothing wrong. Still came on sporadically. Took back, McGrath said they could do a diagnostic but it would cost $159. I said, you already did that. Why not change the sensor. They said we have a service bulletin that states it may be a problem, but you will have to pay to fix. I said it does not come on all the time, so obviously it is a Honda problem. Left the dealership. That was three months ago. It has started coming on again. This is ridiculous. Honda has a seat belt safety issue and refuse to address it. What can be done? Do I need to contact the Consumer Protection Agency in Illinois or the National Safety and Transportation board?
Air bags, May 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue but confirmed that parts were not yet available, and to wait for the second owner notification letter to be mailed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Steering, May 9, 2025
While driving vehicle down the road the steering wheel sticks for a second or two then releases. This caused the car to veer off course until corrected. This has happened on a regular basis. I took it to dealership but they stated there were no recalls for the vehicle
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 27, 2025
UNKNOWN
Steering, Apr 16, 2025
The steering wheel tightens up when going on the highway. Researching the internet it is for a lot of Honda Civic models. People in the internet call it "sticky steering wheel" & that is exactly how it feels. It is a safety concern.
Steering, Apr 14, 2025
Steering is very sticky and fights me to correct to center. It is especially bad at high speeds and wet road conditions. It is unsafe to have to fight my steering wheel when correcting back to straight after a curve in the road. Dealership has been notified and was dismissed as caused by wind. Alignment has been corrected and it is still an issue. No dash warning lights. Just difficulty steering on a daily basis.
Other or unspecified, Apr 10, 2025
I am the owner of a 2020 Honda Civic Sport, and my air conditioning system has stopped working due to a failed evaporator. A certified Honda dealer confirmed the diagnosis and quoted a high cost for repairs. After researching, I found many other Civic owners with the same issue across multiple model years (2016–2021). Honda has issued an extended warranty for the AC condenser but not for the evaporator, even though both are key components of the same system. This issue negatively impacts the comfort and safety of the vehicle, especially in hot climates, and appears to be widespread. I believe it warrants investigation and possibly a broader warranty extension or recall.
Steering, Apr 3, 2025
At high speeds and exceptionally worse during rainy weather, my steering is very sticky and fights me to maintain my lane. It is tough to make micro adjustments to stay straight and it sticks harder making a curve and coming back to straight. I have made my concerns with my dealership who said they felt it but blamed it on high winds at the time. It has not been rectified in non windy weather. It feels very unsafe while driving highway speeds. There are several of the same complaints from the same make and model year of this car on many forums
Air bags, Mar 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 16, 2025
I received notice of the recall for my car more than six months ago, and since then, I have been trying to schedule an appointment at the Honda dealership in Paramus, NJ. However, they always tell me that the replacement part is unavailable and that they will call me back. It has now been at least six months, and my car is losing power and consuming more fuel than usual. For my safety and the safety of others, I request that this issue be resolved as soon as possible. Thank you.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 26, 2025
Was driving and vehicle broke down. Pulled a code P0087 which has to do with fuel pressure and do to all the fuel pump recall and everyone else’s experience, I believe the 2020 ex civics need to be recalled as well. Put my life in danger breaking down while diving down the road.
Structure, Feb 10, 2025
the car gets wet in the floor area after it rains. took to dealer and said it was p/S issue. the car is 5 years old, yet now there is mold on the floor carpet due to the water damage.
Power train, Feb 6, 2025
2020 Honda Civic EX-L Bought In 2021, December 2024 car has 102K miles and transmission went out. No warning at all, in the middle of highway. It's now Febuary 2025 a used transmission provided under the power train warranty got installed. That transmission is also failing on the vehicle. Dealership service manager doesn't know what the problem is nor why it is showing failure. I have no update on repair as of now. My only options were to trade in or buy a brand new $10k transmission out of pocket. HIGHLY disappointed and stressed out. - Regular maintenance/service on vehicle performed at shop. - All documentation was provided to dealership and warranty, all documents were accepted. - vehicle never gave me a warning of any failure. - No car, no rental, no replacement. ***dealership and warranty have not provided any information in writing or documentation as requested.
Electrical system, Jan 25, 2025
The car cuts off while driving
Steering, Jan 19, 2025
After about twenty minutes of driving the vehicle, the steering wheel will become notchy and sticky feeling, making it hard to perform slight adjustments in the steering while driving in a straight line. This sticky steering feeling causes me to overcorrect in my steering because I am forced to fight the steering wheel. This becomes a larger issue at highway speeds, as this sticky steering issue can make it hard to keep the vehicle in a straight line which poses a safety concern for me and other drivers on the road. My vehicle has not been inspected by anyone. I am open to having my vehicle inspected for this issue. My vehicle has around 54,000 miles.
Service brakes, Jan 16, 2025
I believe my car is affected by this recall and although it isn't showing up by my vin number, I am experiencing braking issues that cause the pedal to bounce while braking and it is getting worse by the day. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:23V-458 MFR CAMPAIGN ID:VEU CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTION:2020-21 Civic Master Cylinder Mounting Inspection Safety Recall RECALL DATE:06/29/2023 RECALL STATUS:17 Character VIN Required SUMMARY: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2020-21 model year Civic vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been improperly fastened to the brake booster assembly during production, resulting in loose or missing tie rod nuts. During application of the brake pedal, the tie rod studs may break, leading to the brake master cylinder separating from the brake booster assembly and a failure to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 135 - Light vehicle brake systems.
Electrical system, Jan 4, 2025
While driving on interstate highway, main dash display went almost completely dark. Could not see speed, warning lights, gas gauge, engine temp, etc. Pulled over to check out problem and "push to start" button would not turn off engine. It did on second try. Dealer diagnosed fault in gauge control module. Must be replaced.