RoadVitals

2016 Honda Civic

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1,071
+10 complaints in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest May 21, 2026
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
40
16 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 1,071 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Honda Civic, most frequently naming the steering, electrical and engine categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 316 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
26V332000

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

May 21, 2026
98,892 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: 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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number Refer to CommentsView on NHTSA.gov
23V858000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Dec 18, 2023
2,490,460 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: 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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number KGC, KGDView on NHTSA.gov
16V725000

PARKING BRAKE

Oct 11, 2016
350,083 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: 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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number KC6View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 1,071
Steering
Filed Aug 9, 2026

Steering will feel notchy or sticky while driving, especially on the highway while trying to stay in a lane. This will cause excessive force to "unstick" the steering while will then require another steering correction. This has happening with the car since purchase (used) in 2020.

NHTSA ID
11755754
Incident
Aug 9, 2026
Steering
Filed Aug 3, 2026

My 2016 Honda Civic seems to have a 'sticky steering' issue. It is most noticeable when trying to stay straight in a lane, like when trying to make minor adjustments left or right, it would feel like the steering wheel will stick, causing it to jerk more in the direction I’m trying to steer, which causes slight over steering and having to correct back the other direction. It doesn’t happen all the time though. It’s random, but once it starts doing it, it stays that way till I’m done driving.

NHTSA ID
11754367
Incident
Jun 1, 2026
Steering
Filed Aug 2, 2026

While driving at highway speeds (55–70 mph), the electronic power steering (EPS) physically binds and sticks when held in a straight line. Making minor lane corrections requires a sudden, deliberate application of extra physical force to 'break' the wheel free from the center position. This causes the vehicle to momentarily overcorrect, posing a severe crash hazard due to unexpected lane drifting. An example is my wife hates riding in my car because she feels as if she is being tossed back and forth in the passenger seat. This is the exact mechanical EPS worm gear/preload spring manufacturing defect covered under NHTSA Recall Campaign 24V-744 for 2022–2025 models, but it is actively manifesting on my 2016 model without any dashboard warning lights or fault codes.

NHTSA ID
11754293
Incident
Aug 2, 2026
Steering
Filed Jul 31, 2026

At highway speeds (more than 40-50 mph) the steering wheel feels "stiff" when driving straight and requires effort to move to the left or right. This causes a jerky motion to either left or right which then requires effort to correct, which then may cause a jerky motion in the opposite direction. Reading forums and other complaints on this website, it seems like this is a known Honda issue and must be corrected via a safety recall.

NHTSA ID
11754075
Incident
Jul 30, 2026
Steering
Filed Jul 31, 2026

Steering wheel sticks and is jerky. Requires constant adjustments to drive straight, especially at highway speeds. Seems like grease is no longer effective and pinion gear sticks in spots. Very dangerous in my opinion. Unsafe. Honda should offer to service this by simply injecting new OEM grease.

NHTSA ID
11753989
Incident
Jul 31, 2026
Steering
Filed Jul 24, 2026

On the freeway steering wheel feels like it’s getting stuck

NHTSA ID
11752705
Incident
Jul 24, 2026
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 23, 2026

With increasing frequency, at seemingly any condition or speed, a cluster of dashboard warnings, including power steering EPS, ABS, tire pressure TPMS, and others, flash on and stay on. Shortly after, the warnings appear power steering assist fails completely. This leads to uneasy and potentially dangerous circumstances as the car becomes minimally controllable as the physical effort required to maneuver is largely increased. Making turns especially difficult and hazardous while on public roads. This happens with increasing frequency. Initially restarting the car would temporarily fix the problem but that is decreasingly the case and the lights and steering lock happen again shortly after the reset. I no longer attempt to reset the car as it rarely helps now. I am actively keeping log of the frequency of this problem including date, time, and milage.

NHTSA ID
11752474
Incident
Apr 4, 2026
Fuel system
Filed Jul 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road; however, after the vehicle was restarted the vehicle operated normally. The failure was a persistent failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); as the cause of the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11752350
Incident
Dec 1, 2025
Mileage
100,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

A25-076

ENGINE

Service Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on inspection cover.

ATI&08062024906

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank replacement.

ATI&07222024906

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank replacement. If you have a vehicle that match the qualifiers listed below, AHM requests to have the photos of the lock ring & the low-pressure fuel pump flange taken & sent to TIS (click HERE for example photos).

ATI&07052024901

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Dealer Message - Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank replacement.

A19-091

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Service Bulletin - American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C condenser to 10 years from the original date of purchase with unlimited miles. This warranty extension only covers vehicles that have a defective A/C condenser from the factory. The A/C condenser was not manufactured to specification. As a result, corrosion may develop in the form of tiny holes in the condenser tube walls that allow the refrigerant to leak out.

A23-039

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement, the compressor shaft seal may leak. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft seal from the original 3 years to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limitation. The new refrigerant and oil may cause swelling of the compressor shaft seal. The swelling may lead to abnormal wearing of the seal which may increase seal gaps around the compressor shaft allowing refrigerant to leak out.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Honda Civic by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027000—
2026250044.1
2025662060.7
20241163162.6
20232514261.8
20228784259.3
20211394056.0
20202195058.8
20194164056.5
20187256058.8
20175796056.4
2016Viewing1,0715055.2
20153771253.9
20142902261.2
20133160251.1
20124543261.8
20111689058.8
20103968054.2
20093958056.3
20089167052.1
20071,2049049.6
20061,40215052.6
200531415469.1
200435015365.2
200349924667.3
200270224466.3
20011,07927465.9
200028718061.9
199933815058.6
199843518162.9
199737316163.1
199630517266.2
199519912064.9
199413514065.0
199314613165.9
19929813165.1
19911108365.0
19909110367.8
1989696368.3
1988468363.2
1987393365.3
1986353362.6
1985152059.8
1984530—
1983900—
1982100—
1981101—
1980001—
1979111—
1978010—
1977030—
1976020—
1975020—
1974020—
1973020—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.