2016 Honda Civic Driver assistance Problems

Car suddenly had many warning lights. A red “BRAKE” light flashes. Lane keep and adaptive cruise stopped working. The steering feels numb and doesn’t return to center. Took to dealer for diagnostic. They reported a VSA computer module failure. Researching VSA failure I found there is a company that will overhaul used / non working VSA units. The repair involves resoldering connections that work loose from normal driving. The design is awful and it’s not surprising these units fail. Gasket material is pressed directly against the solder joints.

NHTSA ID

11743043

Incident

May 1, 2026

After driving for over 30 minutes, the steering becomes sticky. When I try to make minor corrections to stay in the lane, the steering gets stuck, requiring a little extra force, resulting in a slight over correction. At high speeds this slight over correction is very dangerous. This happens on all extended drives. It happens at all speeds.

NHTSA ID

11678062

Incident

Aug 3, 2025

Warning display of the following on the dashboard: Early lane departure mitigation problem collision mitigation system problem brake system mitigation Adaptive cruise control problem lane keeping assist problem

NHTSA ID

11666188

Incident

Apr 18, 2025

I have noticed for a while now. When the light turns green or I'm at a stop and I have enough time to take off the car does not move when I apply the gas. It stalls and that scares me. I have noticed my cruise control shut off the other day when driving on the freeway. And I could not turn it back on. Now when I try to apply the parking bake when I'm parked the parking brake does not turn on nor the brake hold. The lights keep flashing than turn odd My headlight in the front and back passenger don't work. I've switched out the bulbs and it's an electrical problem. I see recalls on some of these matters but honda won't do nothing because it's not on their system when I bought this car in 2016.

NHTSA ID

11580073

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

UNKNOWN

NHTSA ID

11566002

Incident

Jan 17, 2024

While driving on the freeway at 70-80mph the car begins to lose acceleration, stutters and faults all fault codes on the car. Car then begins to brake itself to a stop all while on a freeway at a high rate of speed. I have to pull over to the side of the freeway, crossing up to 5 lanes of high speed traffic all while my car is braking itself to a stop. I have narrowly missed 5 accidents in the 7 times this has occurred. Each time while in the left or carpool lanes of traffic while passing other vehicles at a high rate of speed. I have to bring the car to a complete stop on the side of the road, turn the car off to disengage the braking system, turn the car on, all fault codes remain, car stays in limp mode or safe mode, I limp to the dealer and drop it off. 2 Honda dealers in 2 different states can’t figure out what’s wrong with it. Replaced multiple replays and other components and I am now about $3800 in repairs and the car is not fixed. This has been happening since March when the first occurrence happened. Second and 3rd in Washington while visiting family in June and as of today, the 7th time occurred this morning while taking the car back to the dealer to have it looked at because it faulted on Saturday evening. Codes cleared when I started the car this morning and happened again as I was driving to the dealer. Each time the dealers have the car for a week. Say this fixed it, test drive it have no issues return it to me to have it happen within days of being returned. I’m terrified to drive the car at high speed even when I do get it back as “fix”🤞🏻. I feel like my issues and security is being constantly over looked by Honda. Arrowhead Honda in Arizona currently has the car for yet again more “repairs”.

NHTSA ID

11535497

Incident

Jul 31, 2023

Each time I drove my car the tire pressure light would flash before the ABS, brake system, power steering and traction lights would come on and the dealership could not find the problem although my car would not accelerate and the speed sensor has already been changed because only one went bad prior. 3 times to the dealership and no codes could be found and they couldn’t never duplicate the problem once the vehicle was turned off. This time the car jerked at take off and would not accelerate. They stated that it was the VBS Module that had to replaced this final time.

NHTSA ID

11531152

Incident

Jun 29, 2023

Similar to the Honda recall issued today for the reverse camera failures, I have found a recurring problem with the 2016 Honda Civics. The dashboard screen should show the back-up camera when in reverse, as well as the backward-facing camera mounted on the right side mirror when the right turn signal is on. More often than not, the cameras will show on the screen, but will then go back to the home/default screen before the maneuver is complete. It happens more often with the right mirror mounted camera, that it turns off prior to the turn signal being turned off, which has caused us numerous close calls when someone is actually in the blind spot. We count on that right side camera and when it malfunctions and the screen goes back to default when you are in the middle of changing lanes, it is very scary. I have searched for a fix from Honda and have noted that there are many Honda Civic owners who have been told by dealers that it is a known issue but there is no fix. For the owners who have gotten a new screen installed, they continue to report the same issues. Additional screen issues (although not related to safety) include the fact that the screens change modes/functions without being touched. I believe the camera issue is a malfunctioning screen issue as a whole and causes a major safety concern. The current recall for Honda Odyssey, Passport, and Pilot cameras should be expanded to include other Honda models and other years and should look at malfunctioning screens (not just cameras), especially since this is allegedly a 'known issue' to Honda.

NHTSA ID

11528585

Incident

Jun 23, 2023

unknown got on wrong highway because wippers malfunction in heavy rain

NHTSA ID

11493519

Incident

Mar 22, 2020

I was driving through an intersection, the car ahead of me was turning right and I was behind them with plenty of distance. They turned right and I followed straight. However my emergency braking system decided the car was very close, and better yet after it had already turned, decided I was about to have a collision with nobody in front of me and stopped my car in the middle of the intersection, while the light turned red. I desperately got my car to go, after abruptly stopping for no reason, but safe to say I was shaken up a bit and turned that off. Happened today of this complaint 8/5/2022. And it’s happened before on curvy roads, once where my car came to a abrupt stop and other times false alarms to “brake”.

NHTSA ID

11477858

Incident

Aug 5, 2022

Adaptive cruise control as well as automatic braking has come close several times to cause an accident on the highway. Sometimes a truck will be passing me in the left lane and the car will all of a sudden slam on brakes when there is nothing in front of me almost getting rear ended from the car behind me. Even when the cruise control isn’t set the automatic breaking will activate randomly when a large truck is passing me. I purchased this vehicle used and reported this to the dealer time of purchase but they did not fix it. But at the time it was not as noticeable. The car has less than 100,000 miles. The lane departure does not work pulling the car to oncoming traffic. In oncoming traffic in left lane it constantly causes the automatic breaking light to flash. This also randomly kicks off the cruise control. This situation seems to be getting worse. The form below is asking for a date that these incidents happen and does not give a place to say it happens every day, it’s only asking for a specific date. One day this is going to cause a severe accident.

NHTSA ID

11476475

Incident

Jul 28, 2022

My 2016 Honda Civic Touring is equipped with automatic emergency braking. In more than one instance, my Civic has applied the brakes unnecessarily when there was no apparent danger. Traveling on the highway at 65 mph, I have been 'cut-off' by a driver and the brakes were applied hard. There was no way to override the braking and the car commanded itself to a complete stop. The drivers immediately behind me had to brake hard and if they hadn't maintained control there would have been a pile-up. This took place in Cobb County, GA during rush hour on 75S in the 'Northwest Corridor' area. This is a high traffic density area.

NHTSA ID

11455415

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Multiple times my 2016 Honda Civic has engaged the auto braking system for what appears to be no reason at all. I have had my Honda brake when I do not have any vehicles, obstacles, items or obstructions anywhere in the road in front of me or beside me. When this occurs at full speed on the road the vehicles traveling behind me have had to quickly swerve into the adjacent lanes of travel to avoid a rear end collision which could have resulted in serious injury. I have also noticed that the lane departure warning system is faulty and frequently goes off steering my vehicle into the lane next to me even if there is a car occupying the lane next to me. Thank you for your time and assistance.

NHTSA ID

11453786

Incident

Jan 3, 2022

PURCHASED 2016 HONDA CIVC 4/2021 - THE LANE ASSIST FEATURE TRIES TO TAKE THE CAR INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. IT SEEMS TO DETECT THE RIGHT LINES SOMETIMES BUT COMPLETELY IGNORES THE LEFT LINES. THIS IS TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 45 MPH ON DRY STRAIGHT HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

11414510

Incident

Apr 29, 2021

Mileage

82,500 mi

TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 2 MONTHS. VEHICLE MAKES LOUD NOISES. VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE. PARKING BRAKE HAS TECHNICAL ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11406293

Incident

Dec 1, 2020

Mileage

55,000 mi

THE STABILITY BRAKING SYSTEM SUDDENLY FAIL. PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH ARE ON. THE DEALER CLAIMED THEY HAD ALREADY FIXED THE RECALL BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.

NHTSA ID

11340268

Incident

Jun 26, 2020

Mileage

29,800 mi

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT DOES NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK WITH KEYLESS ENTRY. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE IS TO MANUALLY PULL OUT THE KEY FROM THE KEY FOP AND INSERT IT INTO THE DOOR OR OPEN IT UP FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CURRENT KEY FOPS BECAUSE THIS WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS GIVEN 2 NEW KEY FOPS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS CAN BE A HUGE ISSUE WHEN I'M TRYING TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND CAN'T EVEN GET INTO THE VEHICLE PROMPTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

11326903

Incident

May 30, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY EPS SYSTEM IT DOESN'T REGISTER THAT MY CAR IS FINE BUT IT KEEPS MAKING MY BATTERY DIE AND I HAVE TO KEEP GETTING IT JUMP I SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR US NOV, 10, 2016 I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD MY CAR A YEAR YET AND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON. SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN THE CAR

NHTSA ID

11323247

Incident

Jan 26, 2020

1) THE AC ONLY HAVE COOL AIR BUT IT IS NOT COLD. IT IS NOT EVEN AS COLD AS THE OUTSIDE AIR. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER IS WORKING FINE, SO IT HAS TO BE THE SYSTEMS LEAKING AIR. 2) THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW IS OCCASIONALLY CANNOT ROLL DOWN BY BOTH BUTTONS FROM DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. IT HAS TO TAKE A WHILE AND AGGRESSIVELY PUSHED DOWN THE BUTTON FROM PASSENGER SIDE MULTIPLE TIKE TO BE ABLE TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN. 3) TOUCH SCREEN INTERMITTEN AUTOMATICALLY FLICKERING LIKE SOMEONE PRESSING ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11319846

Incident

Mar 14, 2017

Mileage

15,000 mi

WHEN I TURN ON THE CAR ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS TURN ON AND THE CAR LOCKS, I CAN'T MOVE IT FROM THE P (PARK) SHIFT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE LAST 2 1/2 MONTHS, 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11279183

Incident

Oct 7, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

ON 10-31-19, DRIVING MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC 1.5 TURBO ENGINE TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL. CAR WAS DRIVING WELL, UNTIL A REACH ABOUT 1 MILE, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE CAR LOSS POWER AND CAN ONLY DRIVE UP TO 15 MPH. I HAVE TO DRIVE MY CAR BACK HOME AND GET MY OTHER CAR. THE HONDA NEVER REGAINS NORMAL POWER. THE SAME DATE IN THE EVENING, I DROVE THE HONDA FOR ABOUT 3 MILES AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEVER LOSS POWER. THE FOLLOWING DATE, I DROVE THE CAR AND SUDDENLY AGAIN LOSS POWER WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN A BLOCK AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. DROVE BACK MY HONDA BACK TO MY HOUSE WITH THE CAR NEVER REGAINING NORMAL POWER. THE HONDA CIVIC ONLY DRIVES WELL FOR LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE AND THEN SUDDENLY LOSS POWER, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN THE CAR LOSS POWER IT ONLY DRIVES UP TO 15 MPH (WHICH TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO REACH 15 MPH) AND NEVER REGAIN NORMAL POWER. THIS LOSS OF POWER STARTED ON 10-31-19, WHICH WAS A VERY COOL DAY ABOUT 24-DEGREE FAHRENHEIT. MY CAR IS NOT DRIVER ABLE ANY LONGER. NOW THAT THIS HAPPEN, I RESEARCH PROBLEMS WITH 2016 CIVIC AND FOUND OUT THAT HONDA HAD AN ISSUE WITH 1.5 TURBO ENGINE SINCE 2017. ONE MONTH AND HALF PRIOR TO THIS HAPPEN, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE HONDA DEALER SERVICES TWICE AND ONLY WANT TO CHARGE ME WITH THINGS THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER AND COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. HONDA DEALER SHOULD HAD KNOWN THE PROBLEMS MY CAR HAS ARE RELATE TO OIL DILUTION IN THE ENGINE, BUT DECIDED NOT TO ADDRESS IT. NOW, I HAVE A CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVER ABLE AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HONDA PLACE MY FAMILY LIFE IN DANGER, SUCH THAT THE STREET AROUND OUR CITY, CARS DRIVES BETWEEN 55 TO 70 MPH. THIS EASILY COULD CAUSE A CAR TO RE-END OR T-BONE THE CAR WHILE MAKING A TURN ON A BUSY TRAFFIC STREET.

NHTSA ID

11277822

Incident

Oct 31, 2019

Mileage

1 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THE CAR WILL MOMENTARILY APPLY THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY RATHER HARD FOR A PERIOD OF A SECOND OR LESS. THIS OCCURS WHEN ON A HIGHWAY AND DRIVING WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND WHEN PASSING A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN ONLY UNDER CERTAIN SITUATIONS SUCH AS SUNLIGHT ANGLE AND THE COLOR OR REFLECTION FROM THE TRUCK ARE INTERFERING WITH THE CARS SENSING BRAKES CAN ALSO BE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED RATHER HARD WHEN EXITING A HIGHWAY RAMP WITHOUT USING A TURN SIGNAL. THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL APPLIED SO I SUSPECT IT IS RELATED TO THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE FEATURE. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NEW AND THESE EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED MORE THEN A DOZEN TIMES. ON A TRIP DRIVING FROM FLORIDA TO PENNSYLVANIA ON RT 95 IT HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES. VERY FRIGHTENING TO HAVE THE BRAKES APPLIED SPONTANEOUSLY AT 70 MILES/HR WHEN PASSING A TRUCK. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS DURING SERVICE AT A HONDA DEALER AND THEY REPORTED EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

11271558

Incident

Oct 20, 2019

Mileage

15,000 mi

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT BUT SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MOVING AT AROUND 40MPH. IN PART DUE TO THE LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD ONCE BRAKING POWER WAS REGAINED. THE CAR DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE PIN THE ISSUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FAILURE IN THE BRAKE CONTROL UNIT (HONDA ERROR CODES V300-49 AND V3003-68) AND RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE VSA MODULATOR UNIT. REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE VEHICLE JUST A MONTH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP INDICATED NO OBSERVED ISSUES WITH BRAKING. ATTACHED IS THE INVOICE OF THE VSA UNIT REPLACEMENT WORK PERFORMED AS RECOMMENDED.

NHTSA ID

11265943

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

56,527 mi

EVERY SINGLE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT AND SYSTEM CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON. GET MESSAGE THAT SYSTEM IS INITIALIZING. SAYS PROBLEM WITH TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM, STABILITY, BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM, POWER STEERING SYSTEM (EPS) PROBLEM, HILL START ASSIST PROBLEM, ETC. DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THESE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. STEERING IS LOOSE AND FEELS OUT OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11245358

Incident

Aug 17, 2019

Mileage

48,000 mi

ALL SYSTEMS WARNING LIGHTS POP UP ON STARTING THE CAR. I CAME HOME PARKED THE CAR AND STARTED IT 10 MINUTES LATER AND ALL SYSTEMS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. POWER STEERING, PARKING BRAKE, BRAKE FAILURE, COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM, TPMS, LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, HILL ASSIST SYSTEM, ABS SYSTEM . ALL THESE WARNINGS SHOW UP ON THE DASH.

NHTSA ID

11233279

Incident

Jul 18, 2019

Mileage

23,000 mi