2017 Honda Civic Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
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What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 Honda Civic, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Steering16628.4%
- Electrical9716.6%
- Engine6911.8%
- Body & structure386.5%
- Brakes366.2%
- Fuel system345.8%
- Driver assistance335.7%
- Visibility315.3%
- Powertrain (other)274.6%
- Airbags223.8%
- Other / unspecified91.5%
- Seat belts50.9%
- Suspension50.9%
- Tires & wheels40.7%
- Exterior lighting30.5%
- Interior & seats30.5%
- Transmission20.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
sticky steering
I just purchased a 2017 Honda Civic yesterday that seems to be experiencing issues similar to the electric power steering (EPS) malfunction involved in Honda’s EPS gearbox recall, even though my VIN is not included. The steering becomes stiff and jerky when trying to turn the wheel, particularly at higher speeds (especially on the highway) and when trying to slightly move the wheel to remain in the lanes. The condition occurs consistently and has made it difficult to maintain proper control of the vehicle, which is super concerning for me. This creates a safety risk because the steering does not respond smoothly or predictably. I purchased this car yesterday at around 75k miles, and I noticed it immediately once I hit the highway. After doing some research I see that many others are experiencing the same issue, as well as it already being a widely known issue with Honda hence their initial recall. I believe this defect should be investigated and expanded to my vin because myself and other owners are experiencing the same problem outside the current recall population.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback and the dangerous issue related to its air conditioning (A/C) system — a problem affecting many Civic owners nationwide. I initially brought my vehicle to Honda City Chicago for a Honda “campaign” repair (a term they use instead of calling it a recall) in 2023 and again this year, related to the A/C system. I was told the issue would be resolved. However, after agreeing to an optional transmission oil change they recommended, I was later told the A/C still wasn’t fixed — and that I now needed to pay $400 for a diagnostic. That diagnostic revealed the actual problem: a locked A/C compressor. (Which they knew they just wanted the money) This defect is not just an inconvenience — it’s a serious safety hazard. When the A/C is turned on, the locked compressor causes the engine to shake violently and stall completely. This happened to me at a red light; the car shut off, became unresponsive, and I was stuck blocking traffic. If this had occurred while driving at higher speeds, the consequences could have been catastrophic. Many Civic owners have reported similar compressor failures leading to engine stalls and unsafe driving conditions. Honda is aware of this issue but continues to treat it as isolated rather than a systemic defect. I urge the NHTSA to open a formal investigation into this widespread and dangerous issue involving locked A/C compressors in 2016–2020 Honda Civics. A safety recall is warranted before more drivers are put at risk or harmed due to this known defect.
The Body Control Module (BCM) is faulty and causes the alarm to go off on its own, lights inside the cluster glitch turning on by itself and drains the battery even with the key fob nowhere near its vicinity when off. Sometimes does not recognize the key fob.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving the car on April 19, 2026, the car started losing engine power, was unable to maintain current speed of roadway, had to drive less than 15 miles an hour to a safe location. Had the car towed to the dealership they said there was a faulty code throwing for cylinder three had the fuel injectors replaced. Pick the car up drove not even 2 miles and car was still having the same issue turned around went back to the dealership. They said the car wasn’t throwing any codes picked the car up. It drove fine for less than a week and had to repeat of the same situation, had the car towed again to the dealership all to find out there is a crack in the head gasket, unsure if the turbo was affected after researching apparently this is a very common problem for this make, and model of car.
The component or system that failed their malfunction is the evaporation system in the Honda vehicles especially after 2017 that regarding the R – 1234YF refrigerant - yes it has been confirmed by the dealership that the evaporator is leaking inside the car, but it is a known issue that warranty only covers the condenser in front of the car which also leaks. My problem is is since both equally run the same R – 1234YF refrigerant this type of refrigerant is known to cause corrosion and pinholes within the condenser and evaporated tubes leading to further issues with AC and cooling problems. There are no warning lights when it comes to these issues, which also pushes a further problem. If you were to go to any Honda dealership or ask, usual people who have condenser issues it could usually and most cases lead back to the evaporator, which also has systematic problems due to Hondas negligence and they knew about this refrigerant because they released it in 2017 to all the models that run the R – 1234YF refrigerant the main problem is the evaporator is supposed to suck out hot air from the car, but if it doesn’t do that and the car can have overheating problems, or it can cause dangerous heat inside the car, causing extreme sweating or even death in certain cases
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
About one month ago, I noticed that the paint on my rear quarter panel (to the right of my rear window) was peeling. It continues to peel. My insurance will not cover the paint failure, as the adjuster stated that they "will not touch my car because there are several class action lawsuits again Honda for the paint on this specific model and color of white" '. I have contacted Honda and they stated that after looking up my VIN, there are no lawsuits or recalls associated with my specific VIN. I am at a loss because the paint looks like a paint failure - not as though something hit or scratched the paint and caused it to peel. I am looking for assistance for reimbursement or how to get this covered. Because this is not an at fault event, I am unsure of next steps because the paint will continue to peel and then there is a possibility that the car will rust.
The paint on the rear trunk area has failed and it is chipping off in large amounts. The missing paint exposes the area to corrosion and reduces structural integrity of the components. American Honda was informed about the paint defect and the car was inspected by Hendrick Honda on 5/27/26 as requested by American Honda.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the Electronic Power Steering, Evaporative Emission Control System, Check Engine, and Antilock Braking System lights were illuminated; however, the contact had not experienced any failures or malfunctions while operating the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,192.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud screeching sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the screeching sound stopped. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,646.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Fuel pump failure
While driving the car on April 19, 2026, the car started losing engine power, was unable to maintain current speed of roadway, had to drive less than 15 miles an hour to a safe location. Had the car towed to the dealership they said there was a faulty code throwing for cylinder three had the fuel injectors replaced. Pick the car up drove not even 2 miles and car was still having the same issue turned around went back to the dealership. They said the car wasn’t throwing any codes picked the car up. It drove fine for less than a week and had to repeat of the same situation, had the car towed again to the dealership all to find out there is a crack in the head gasket, unsure if the turbo was affected after researching apparently this is a very common problem for this make, and model of car.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am noticing intermittent issues with ADAS with all the following errors pop up at once. The issue comes on randomly and goes back to normal randomly. * Adaptive Cruise Control problem * Collision Mitigation Braking System Problem * Lane Keep Assist Problem * Road Departure Mitigation System Problem * Braking System Error Has not been confirmed by an independent service/dealer/insurance/police. No other warning messages before this.
The Power Steering Rack Assembly had to be replaced on my vehicle because the sensors that notify the safety systems of the direction the steering wheel is pointing failed while I was driving my son to school. The result of this failure caused a multiple system failure resulting in an inability to steer the car at speed. The Lane Keep Assist system was actively fighting against my driver input as I was driving, effectively locking the steering wheel in a stationary position. This failure not only put my and my son's life in danger but other drivers on the road as well. This could have very easily caused a severe collision considering the ability to steer a motor vehicle is arguably the most integral part of operating one. The car has decently low mileage for being 7 years old and is well-maintained. This issue occurred suddenly without any prior warning lamps, messages, etc.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while purchasing the vehicle, the contact became aware that the A/C was inoperable. Before purchasing the vehicle, the contact asked the dealer to replace the A/C condenser, and the component was replaced. The contact stated that three years later, the A/C compressor was replaced again, but the shaft seal was not replaced. The contact stated that on June 30, the evaporator failed, causing fumes to enter the A/C and there was bacteria trapped due to oil leaks from the shaft seal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with the failure of the evaporator, causing the oil from the shaft seal to leak into the evaporator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,500.
The contact's father owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the A/C unit was blowing warm air while activated. Due to the failure, the defroster system failed to clear the glass as intended. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the mechanic discovered that the A/C compressor shaft seal and the A/C evaporator were inoperable. The mechanic also discovered that flammable gas was leaking from the A/C evaporator system into the cabin of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the A/C compressor shaft seal was covered under warranty; however, the A/C evaporator was not covered. The dealer submitted a Goodwill request to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer agreed to cover 75% of the cost of the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact opened a Goodwill request for assistance; however, the manufacturer denied the request. The contact was provided with a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
When driving at any speed, there is noticeable jerking in the power steering whenever making minor movements on the steering wheel. Rather than smoothly adjust the direction for the vehicle, this jerking will forcibly redirect the vehicle to move in the direction the steering wheel was turned. This results in the inability to smoothly drive straight and results in unpredictable jerking movements, which is a huge safety issue at high speeds. Similar recalls for this problem have been issued for other years of Honda Civics, but not for the 2017 one.
We are experiencing a technical issue with the vehicle, which appears to be caused by a software or component error, rather than user error. This situation has led to the car starting unexpectedly and presenting challenges that could compromise safety while driving. Unfortunately, there has yet to be a recall or resolution communicated by the authorities.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop and making a left turn, the contact heard a boom, and the front driver's side airbag suddenly deployed without warning or impact. The airbag hit the contact's hand. The contact received medical attention, and a stent was placed in the contact's arm up to the elbow. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The insurance company was informed of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
The Passenger side Air Bag Inflator failure
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
SAFETY CONCERN > while driving on a local roadway, the right front tire went flat but the OEM TPMS ( this Civic model uses a indirect system ) never alerted ( due to traffic & road conditions was unable to pull off road ) & had to drive to nearest tire dealer, where a associate confirmed no TPMS warnings were displayed. after repair work completed, contacted a local Honda dealer service dept. , where a advisor stated there is no repair possible on Honda's indirect TPMS. he suggested installing a aftermarket direct TPMS ( tire pressure sensors are installed in each tire & a display unit fitted somewhere on dash ) at owner's cost. this is a safety concern.
PAINT FROM FACTORY IS PEELING OFF . MY CAR ONLY HAS 33,000 MILES ON IT . I WAS WASHING MY CAR AND AS A SPRAYED OFF MY CAR WITH A LIGHT FLOW OF WATER I SAW PAIN CHIPS FLOWING DOWN THE STREET. ALL OF MY WHEELS ARE STARTING TO PEEL AWAY SLOWLY. I RARELY DRIVE SO THIS IS CONCERNING TO ME.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The seatbelt in our Civic became entangled around our child and locked. The more we tried to get her out, the tighter it became. It was so tight around her waist that it left marks. She unbuckled the seatbelt and let a little more back into the retractor, hoping it would unlock but it only got tighter. We were on vacation and had to find a hardware store to buy a socket set to disconnect the seatbelt from the frame of the car, so at this point has to drive on I-70 with a kid tangled in an unbuckled seatbelt. Once we purchased a socket set, there was plastic obstructing access to the bolt, so we had to then purchase a knife to cut away the plastic to access the bolt. All the while, our kid was tangled up tightly in the seatbelt, squeezing her abdomen. There needs to be an emergency seatbelt lock release button. Had this became tangled around her neck, she could have been seriously hurt or killed.
While driving a loud pop was heard. Smoke started coming out of the seatbelt retractor track. Seatbelt would then not retract. The local service shop said that a CO2 cartridge that locks the seatbelt had burst and there are substantial safety concerns with the vehicle now. Uploading the service quote below.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The steering wheel drifts and the power steering light comes on
While driving in normal or sport mode, the steering wheel would stick and not steer fluid or smooth. Like the steering was getting stuck on a gear.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic equipped with Hankook Tires, Tires Line: New Englander 4S, Tire Size: 215/50/R17, DOT Number: [XXX] . The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the front tires started wobbling. The contact stated that the failure persisted while driving 45 MPH. The vehicle was taken to Town Fair Tire, where the tires were purchased. The front passenger's tire weight was replaced; however, the failure persisted while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the tire dealer had attempted to sell replacement tires to the contact; however, the contact noticed that the replacement tires that the dealer was selling were dented and wobbly upon rolling the tires on the floor. The contact declined to purchase the tires. The vehicle was taken to Firestone, where the front tires were replaced with new tires. The tires were replacement tires. The manufacturer was not contacted. The tire failure mileage was approximately 30,000. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 160,000. The VIN was unavailable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was sticking. The steering wheel was pulling in one direction and jerking, causing the contact to make corrections to center the steering wheel. The contact stated that the failure had become more prevalent at highway speeds. Additionally, the TPMS warning light illuminated after the tires were replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
After turning off the vehicle and locking it the vehicle continuously turns on to accessory mode on its own. On a few occasions I came out to a dead battery or have been woken up more than once to my alarm blaring in the middle of the nite and when I came out to check my vehicle it was usually turned on to accessory mode upon researching the internet I found that many owners with the 2016 and 2017 have the same problem which is a result of a faulty Body Control Module within the keyless entry system. I have taken my car to honda to be fixed it's been 3 days now with no solution on repairs yet.6/7/25
My Honda civic sedan 2017 does not turn on all the lights on the dash turn on and I can not push my breaks to turn the vehicle on
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The drivers seat is loose and wobbles. I first noticed last Monday [XXX]. I keep my car clean & always do routine maintenance. This is a concern incase I get hit seat is already loose. I did research and see it’s an issue for some. There are forums online. It does the same thing wobbles, something is loose near center console under the seat. I took it to the dealer they said my frame broke and it will be 1,200+ to fix… [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 9/17/2017. LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LATER, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT BACK WAS DEFORMED, CAUSING BACK PAIN AND DISCOMFORT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY MANIPULATED THE CUSHIONS TO GET THE SEAT BACK TO A MORE COMFORTABLE SHAPE, HOWEVER IT DIDN'T LOOK THE SAME AS WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THAT THE CUSHIONS BECAME DISPLACED AGAIN. THERE ARE TWO CUSHIONS FORMING THE SIDE BOLSTER, AND THE SIDE AIRBAG IS DESIGNED TO DEPLOY BETWEEN THE CUSHIONS. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE CUSHIONS BACK INTO PLACE AND DON'T LIVE CLOSE TO MY DEALERSHIP SO IT IS INCONVENIENT TO TAKE IT BACK IN. NOW I HAVE BACK PAIN IN THE AREA WHERE THE SEAT IS DEFORMED AND PUSHING INTO MY BACK. I AM TAKING IT TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK HOWEVER I AM AFRAID EVEN IF THEY REPLACE THE SEAT THIS PROBLEM WILL KEEP OCCURRING. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR LONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO TRADE IT IN WITHOUT TAKING A HUGE LOSS. I AM ALSO CONCERNED WITH HOW THE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD BE EFFECTED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
The gear shift is loose. Not stable. With switch into a different mode with the slightest tap without having to have my foot on the brake or pushing the release button to move to a different gear.
2017 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH AND RADIATOR FANS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONER WOULD BLOW OUT HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON REFRIGERANT. THE DEALER TESTED THE VEHICLE FOR LEAKS AND NONE WERE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .