2018 Honda Civic Problems

Since soon after purchasing the vehicle used (~28,000 miles) there is a very obvious ‘pop/click’ sound to the steering wheel and it will try to pull slightly to the left or right. This is most obvious when driving straight but also occurs when turning left or right. This ‘quick pulling’ to either direction can be dangerous (or at a minimum very concerning) while driving straight and at high speeds. As many others have submitted to this NHTSA forum, this has been diagnosed as a failure (I would argue “faulty”) steering rack. This would appear to warrant a recall, in my opinion. The replacement, through the dealership, was estimated at $5,000 total ($3,778 parts; $1,300 labor). (If factored into my used car purchase, I should have just purchased a brand new car.)

My 2018 Honda Civic EX developed a steering problem that made the steering wheel difficult to turn. On [XXX], at approximately 67,219 miles, I brought the vehicle to J&L Auto & Tire Center in Nyack, New York, for evaluation. The repair facility documented the complaint as “hard time steering wheel” and recommended replacing the rack-and-pinion steering gear assembly with a rebuilt unit. The estimated repair cost was $4,901.84, including labor, parts, and tax. I contacted American Honda after the repair facility advised me to investigate a possible known steering gearbox issue affecting certain 2017–2018 Honda Civics. Honda informed me that my VIN was not included in Safety Recall 18V-663 / Service Bulletin 18-102 and that the repair would not be covered under that campaign. I am concerned that this steering failure may represent a broader safety issue affecting additional 2018 Honda Civics that were not included in the original recall population. The existing Honda recall addressed a steering gearbox defect that could cause unexpected steering input. Although I cannot confirm that my vehicle experienced the identical internal defect, I believe the steering failure warrants investigation to determine whether there is a common underlying problem or a broader defect affecting vehicles outside the original recall. A steering system that becomes difficult to operate can compromise a driver’s ability to control the vehicle and may increase the risk of a crash, particularly during emergency maneuvers. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this complaint alongside other reports of steering rack failures and difficult or sticky steering in 2017–2018 Honda Civics to determine whether further investigation or an expanded safety recall is warranted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My 2018 Honda Civic LX continues to experience serious safety and drivability issues after the fuel pump recall repair was completed by a Honda dealership. The vehicle intermittently shuts off while stopped, including at drive-throughs and stoplights. When pressing the accelerator, it sometimes hesitates or fails to respond, with the RPMs not increasing as expected. It may then suddenly jerk or surge forward. I have also experienced hesitation and struggling when turning after coming to a stop. During these incidents, dashboard warning lights have illuminated, including the check-engine, electric power steering, traction control/stability, and brake system lights. These issues put my safety and the safety of others at risk because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose power in traffic, fail to accelerate when needed, or suddenly surge forward. This creates a collision risk for surrounding vehicles and pedestrians, especially at intersections and in stop-and-go traffic. The fuel pump recall repair was completed, but the symptoms have continued. The dealership has not resolved the problem. Whether the malfunction was reproduced or confirmed during inspection is UNKNOWN. The exact failed component is UNKNOWN. The fuel delivery system, fuel pump, throttle body, accelerator control system, engine management system, and related electrical components may require investigation. The vehicle and components should be available for inspection upon request. Some symptoms existed before the recall repair and have continued afterward. I am requesting an investigation into whether the recall repair adequately addressed the safety issue or whether an additional defect remains.

My 1.5L turbo had the error message "Emissions System Problem" appear on the dash. When I went to AutoZone for them to run their diagnostic, it threw error code P219E which is indicative of a sticking-open fuel injector-pushing raw fuel through the engine and venting toxic vapors directly into my climate control system. Premature fuel injector failure is a known issue on Honda's 1.5L engines, but they have failed to address the issue related to the fuel injectors for these vehicles, presenting a serious safety hazard for drivers of their vehicles.

My 2018 Honda Civic LX continues to experience serious safety and drivability issues after the fuel pump recall repair was completed by a Honda dealership. The vehicle intermittently shuts off while stopped, including at drive-throughs and stoplights. When pressing the accelerator, it sometimes hesitates or fails to respond, with the RPMs not increasing as expected. It may then suddenly jerk or surge forward. I have also experienced hesitation and struggling when turning after coming to a stop. During these incidents, dashboard warning lights have illuminated, including the check-engine, electric power steering, traction control/stability, and brake system lights. These issues put my safety and the safety of others at risk because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose power in traffic, fail to accelerate when needed, or suddenly surge forward. This creates a collision risk for surrounding vehicles and pedestrians, especially at intersections and in stop-and-go traffic. The fuel pump recall repair was completed, but the symptoms have continued. The dealership has not resolved the problem. Whether the malfunction was reproduced or confirmed during inspection is UNKNOWN. The exact failed component is UNKNOWN. The fuel delivery system, fuel pump, throttle body, accelerator control system, engine management system, and related electrical components may require investigation. The vehicle and components should be available for inspection upon request. Some symptoms existed before the recall repair and have continued afterward. I am requesting an investigation into whether the recall repair adequately addressed the safety issue or whether an additional defect remains.

Infotainment screen stuck in software update mode. Rear camera and Heat - A/C - Defroster no longer visible. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the fuel pump was surging, and the vehicle was jerking while idling or while driving at undisclosed speeds. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The Check Engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), which was previously repaired. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis was provided. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was contacted and opened an investigation. The failure mileage was approximately 104,661.

The A/C evaporator core failed on my 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback with approximately 67,000 miles, confirmed by an authorized Honda dealership in April 2026. This is my second major A/C system failure in under one year on this vehicle. Approximately one year ago, the same dealership replaced the A/C condenser and compressor shaft seal. Now the evaporator core has failed and requires full replacement at a cost of $1,741.58, plus $381.99 already paid for diagnosis. The failed component is currently at the dealership and available for inspection upon request. The failure was confirmed by the dealership’s technician and documented in the repair order. Safety risk: The A/C system completely stopped producing cold air with no prior warning lights or symptoms. In Atlanta, GA summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F with high humidity. Complete loss of cabin cooling poses a serious heat-related safety risk, particularly for children and elderly passengers. This is a known widespread defect across 2016-2019 Honda Civics. Hundreds of owners have reported identical evaporator failures. Honda has acknowledged the pattern through case-by-case goodwill assistance but has not issued a formal recall. A goodwill assistance case is currently open

Mid 2025 my brakes started malfunctioning above 50 mph. Then they were stuck closed. It was found to be a faulty abs module. We replaced it with Honda in the phone. The second module failed within 2 weeks. Now my car is still sitting at the shop, and Honda still hasn't responded. It's been 2 months

Parking brake does not light up. It will flash and not turn on. Once the car is in park and pull the brake button it will not engage. Turning off the engine you can hear the brake system trying to engage but doesn’t. This is a problem when parking the car up hill or down hill. Have been avoiding parking car in these scenarios.

I was driving today and for no reason at all the cars anti collision system automatically braked hard and could have caused an accident if someone was driving behind me. There was no one, objects or vehicles around my car at the time that would cause it to happen.

March 5th 2020 I finally recorded a message that had been appearing in my dash board during late night drives. Message read as "Adaptive Cruise Control Problem" "Collision Mitigation System Problem" I notified Honda of North Hollywood service department at the time, and they said they could not do anything to fix the problem unless the message was actively displayed on the dash board during the time of service. Unfortunate for me the message would come and go and would not remain on for the service advisor to see. Several times my vehicle would randomly brake abruptly (to a screeching halt) due to a malfunction in detecting cars/objects around me. Luckily I managed to not crash or have other vehicles crash into my car from behind, but it scared me. I've always wondered what the issue was, and was never able to get it resolved because I didn't have proof of the abrupt stops. Fast forward to May 2024 I received a letter in the mail for a recall on the fuel pump module. I think this might have something to also do with not being able to start my car three times within one year... I ended up replacing multiple batteries and cleansing the fuel tank thinking that was the issue and I have been mobile since then. I have contacted Curry Honda in Georgia multiple times to get the recall resolved. 8 months since I received the recall notice, and the issue is still unresolved. Please help. I rely on this vehicle to get to work, and I am still paying on this car. I am concerned of the safety issue.

Today, an SRS warning message unexpectedly appeared on my vehicle’s dashboard. I drove the vehicle normally earlier in the morning without any warning lights, messages, or other symptoms. When I returned to my vehicle after work and started it, the SRS message appeared for the first time. There was no accident, collision, impact, or other known event that occurred between the time I drove the vehicle in the morning and when the warning appeared. I have had no prior accidents involving this vehicle and am not aware of any damage or circumstances that would have caused a problem with the Supplemental Restraint System. The vehicle had been operating normally prior to this warning appearing. The unexpected SRS warning is concerning because the SRS system includes important safety components such as the airbags and seat-belt restraint system, and a malfunction could potentially prevent these safety features from functioning properly in the event of a crash. At this time, I do not know which specific SRS component has malfunctioned, and the vehicle has not yet been diagnosed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle is available for inspection and diagnosis. I am reporting this issue to NHTSA because the warning appeared suddenly and without any apparent cause, and I would like the issue documented and investigated to determine whether it may be related to a broader safety defect or an existing recall affecting other vehicles of the same make, model, or model year. I am requesting that NHTSA review this complaint and determine whether this SRS issue is consistent with other reported safety concerns or whether my vehicle’s VIN should be considered for inclusion in a recall or other safety action.

Car has the SRS light pop up from time to time. It will stay on for the whole drive and will sometimes go away after turning the car off and on again. It is intermittent. I has happened to my vehicle already 5-6 times.

Paint on top of car is defective. To only have 48,000 miles on a car and for it to look like that is unacceptable.

I am reporting a structural manufacturing issue on my 2018 Honda Civic. The vehicle is currently grounded at Caliber Collision in Ceres, CA. A certified structural facility (Caliber Collision) has documented that the factory sheet metal seams are splitting open in both front wheel wells and the center floor area directly under the driver’s seat. The vehicle was involved in a minor right-side accident on [XXX] (fully repaired), and a minor left-side accident on [XXX]. Caliber Collision has officially stated in writing that the impact forces from these accidents were not hard enough to cause this type of structural damage. Coupled with a complete lack of buckling to the sheet metal, Caliber has determined that this seam splitting does not appear to be loss-related, and they are exploring the possibility of an inherent manufacturer defect. Caliber Collision attempted to reach out to Service Manager Jorge Sanchez at Mistlin Honda in Modesto, CA, to escalate this structural problem, but he was completely unresponsive. Because a local resolution failed, American Honda Corporate has since opened an active safety investigation into this vehicle under Honda Case Number: [XXX]. Because the structural seams under the driver's seat and wheel wells are splitting under non-loss conditions, this creates an active vehicle safety hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The evaporator core failure (leaking). It affects defrosting windshield causing visibility and safety issues. Diagnosed at dealership after condenser and compressor shaft seal extended warranty work completed. Evaporator core diagnosed 3 months after same dealership did warranty work.

Rear window wiper failed to operate when transmission put in reverse. Should have operated automatically. Rear window wiper failed to respond to switch position when selected to on. Scan tool shows body control module receiving switch input but no output to wiper motor. Rear window washer comes on without switch being moved to on position when car is turned on and will not turn off unless car is turned off or fuse is pulled. Unable to control wiper washer system. No warning lights noted and no faults found during scanning. There has been recalls on other model's of this year and brand of car for defective body control module. Rear wiper motor and switch stalk were replaced with known good parts, no fix.

This was such a strange occurance. After pulling off from a stop sign attempting a right turn, my vehicle stalled, readjusted, then stalled again. I was driving on a cobblestone road while it was raining, but did not find any issues with vision or traction. However, during this process, my passenger airbag deployed out of nowhere causing me to immediately stop the car to see if I had hit something. There was nothing under or beside my car indicating any significant impact that would have caused this to happen. There were no other cars, or any pedestrians involved, nor any debris or blockade in the road so I did not file a police report or contact my insurace. My sister was in the passenger seat, and my 3 children in the back. No one sustained any injuries, but the entire incident was extremely startling, shocking, and confusing. There is no damage on my car that suggests I hit something, but I have no idea what could have caused an airbag to deploy, and why only that one? Being that I was pulling off on a turn, I was not going fast enough for me to think that the cobblestone could have set off a "pothole like" effect to the sensors. After research revealed there have been recalls on previous models concerning the Takata airbags, I reached out to a local Honda dealer for help. The associate immediately disregarded my account of the incident stating that "there hasn't been any recalls on the 2018 Honda Civic" and that I should "take it to a body shop and see if the insurance will take care of it". I assumed he had no intention of helping me AT ALL because I had reached the service department with a Honda service issue, so why would he not at least offer to have me bring it in to be fix there, even if I had to pay out of pocket? This lead me to do further research in which I found that there is in fact a current recall on the fuel pump, which is known to cause issues with stalling. I feel misled by Honda, and would like an explanation, as well as accountability.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, the contact stated that while decelerating, the brakes were rubbing significantly. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated, and the dealer determined that the brakes were functioning properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

Car steering gets stuck/jerks and cannot stay straight, wheels jerk aggressively from left to right in speeds up to 50 on the highway during rain.

The car has excessive play in the steering causing much vibrations in the seat and steering wheel while driving, the slightest movement will send you all over the road and presents itself extremely jerky and unstable handling. It should not have this much play in the steering. I see multiple complaints over the steering of this car model but oddly enough i have the opposite issue pertaining to the same components but either way it sounds like the steering system of these cars are not up to par in some way and it seems dangerous to continue driving with noticeable issues there. Im about to trade it in dispite im still paying on it and there is over 100,000 miles on it. It feels like an expensive fix that just aint that worth it to me.

Passenger seat dings and interior light comes on when making a left turn. It sounds like the seat belt alert even when the passengers and driver have their seat belts on. It also happens when rhe passenger shifts their weight. This is a distraction while driving.

My boyfriend has a Honda Civic 2018 EXL and on 11/07/2025 around noonish, I briefly turned on the passenger side seat warmer for approximately 15 minutes and received second degree burns/blisters on the back of my thighs from the seat. I knew something was wrong because I had to peel my thighs off the seat and my skin felt really flushed and hot. Over 24 hours, the blisters formed and then popped.

My steering wheel was sticking. At speeds above 45 it was much more noticeable. When I was driving in a strait line and had to move the steering slightly the steering wheel would stick. It would cause the car to pull to one side and when you adjust the wheel to in the opposite side it would do the same thing. You where driving in a straight road constantly over correcting , playing ping pong to keep your car in the lane. When I looked on the internet this seems to be a common problem. I had my car looked at a Honda dealership. They told me there was no recall. My only choice was to get it repaired. It cost me 4,546.35 to be repaired. I bought a Honda for dependability and feel they should take responsibility for this before someone gets seriously injured.

The car had damage because in the carfax they gave me on the left side of the car the shock absorbers fail and I always had that problem also The moldings the first time I cleaned it also fell apart at the time to revere and turn to the right when it is going back it has such an annoying noise

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side headlight failed to illuminate intermittently and was dimmed. The contact stated that the passenger's side headlight bulb had previously been replaced several times; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel was loose while making a left turn and seized while making a right turn. No warning light was illuminated. The contact jerked the steering wheel to correct the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the passenger's side headlight connector switch needed to be replaced. The dealer was unable to duplicate the steering failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact stated that the driver's side headlight later failed to illuminate. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN MY OFFICE PARKING LOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED AND WENT TO LEAVE AND THE INSIDE LIGHTS FLASHED AND THEN SEEMED AS IF THE BATTERY DIED. GOT CAR JUMPED OFF, TOOK TO ECONOMY HONDA IN CHATTANOOGA, TN THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THE BATTERY WAS FINE. LEFT AND NOW ABOUT A MONTH LATER IT IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. WENT TO START IT, LIGHTS FLASH AND IT WONT COME ON AND NOW IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while utilizing the rear seat belts, the seat belts occasionally failed to latch as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

MAKING A LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MPH WHEN OTHER CAR TRYING BEAT THE LIGHT DOING ABOUT 50 MPH RESULTING ME HITTING HIM BROADSIDE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED PROPERLY BUT THE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE SEAT BELT RIPPED OUT OF FLOOR OF THE CAR INCLUDING THE BOLT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. AS ARESULR I WAS INJURED WITH A FRACTURED STERNUM AND RIB.

The contact is an attorney who represented the owner of a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the client had taken pain medication and fell asleep in the driver's seat with the seat heater activated. The client slept for approximately seven hours and sustained severe burns the his lumbar region. The client was later admitted to the local hospital and treated for third-degree burns. The contact was concerned that the seat heater may have failed and became too hot causing injuries to the client. The vehicle was not yet examined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

AC compressor and condenser are both broken or have leaked. They should cover both, not just one part. A lot of people with civic owners are complaining with the same issue. Honda should cover all AC parts. P.S: im not sure if this is related but i smell like metal from the AC vent which is very bad for the health.

Driving at 70mph I got a low tire pressure alert followed shortly thereafter by the left rear tire separating entirely from the rim and started rolling down the highway as I pulled off the side of the road. Very nearly lost control of the vehicle.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN HER GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE DOWN A HILL ONTO A DIRT ROAD WHILE HER SON WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FIRST GEAR HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STILL ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,596.