2018 Honda Civic Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 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
- Steering30340.7%
- Fuel system17423.4%
- Electrical587.8%
- Engine577.7%
- Brakes253.4%
- Driver assistance243.2%
- Airbags223.0%
- Body & structure212.8%
- Visibility162.1%
- Powertrain (other)131.7%
- Other / unspecified101.3%
- Interior & seats81.1%
- Suspension40.5%
- Exterior lighting30.4%
- Seat belts30.4%
- Heating & air conditioning20.3%
- Tires & wheels10.1%
- Transmission10.1%
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
Steering catches and sticks while driving and you have to tug to get it to release to get control back. This has happened several times that has caused me to almost wreck numerous times. I do not feel safe driving it but it is my only vehicle. Dealership said it is more than likely the epf system, or the electrical steering system that is faulty.
Steering sticks when driving in straight line for extended time. Requires extra effort to make small adjustments Also becomes jerky when making adjustments
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 vehicle is currently experiencing severe performance defects that directly mimic the documented failures associated with the defective, improperly molded fuel pump impellers. Specifically, I have experienced the following symptoms: Engine Stalling: The vehicle has lost engine power or stalled unexpectedly while in motion, creating an immediate and severe traffic hazard. Hard Starting / No-Start Condition: The engine frequently takes multiple crank cycles to start or fails to start entirely, despite a fully functional and recently tested 12V battery.Erratic Power Delivery: I have noticed severe engine hesitation and a loss of acceleration power while driving at highway speeds.I understand that American Honda has recalled over one million vehicles globally for this exact Denso fuel pump defect. Despite my vehicle exhibiting all classic symptoms of a failing, low-density fuel pump impeller, my specific VIN is currently not showing as "active" or "eligible" on the manufacturer's lookup tool.Because a sudden loss of engine power while driving significantly increases the risk of a crash or injury, this represents a critical safety issue. I request that American Honda corporate reviews this data, coordinates a diagnostic review with an authorized dealership without a diagnostic fee liability to myself, and covers the complete cost of a replacement fuel pump assembly under the safety recall countermeasure guidelines.Thank you for your immediate attention to this safety hazard.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Body Control Module failure. Car starts on its own in accessory mode, draining battery. Not able to start car. Very common issue. But could cause fire from battery.
The vehicle experienced a failure of the steering system, specifically the steering gearbox. The steering intermittently sticks, binds, and resists input, followed by sudden release, causing unpredictable response and difficulty maintaining control. The vehicle also pulls unexpectedly, creating a serious safety hazard, especially at highway speeds. The vehicle is unsafe to operate and is currently at a dealership for inspection. Prior to failure, symptoms included increasing steering resistance, inconsistent feel, and intermittent sticking, which worsened over time until the vehicle became undrivable. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized dealership, which determined the steering gearbox requires replacement. The dealership indicated the failure was not due to misuse, damage, or lack of maintenance. There are similar steering-related failures reported in comparable vehicles; however, this vehicle is excluded based on VIN eligibility. Despite similar failure, no recall coverage has been provided. This failure creates a high risk of loss of control and potential crash, with no warning lights or alerts prior to failure. The estimated repair cost exceeds $4,300 including parts and labor. The manufacturer has been contacted, but no resolution has been provided. This failure occurred during normal operation and was not caused by driver input or external damage. The sudden loss and return of steering control creates a dangerous condition that could result in a crash without warning. Given similar reported issues, this warrants investigation into a potential safety defect.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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 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.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Airbag deployment after minor incident .. foot slipped off the brake at a traffic light while car was not in motion, car rolled a few feet and bumped the back of another vehicle and the tow ball from the back bumper of said vehicle went through the front bumper of my 2018 Honda Civic and the airbag was deployed
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was hand washing my car and large flakes of paint started coming off around the back window. I have never experienced this with a vehicle before and it appears to be a manufacturer paint adhesion defect.
The paint on my 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback (VIN: [XXX] , color Sonic Gray Pearl) is prematurely chipping and peeling on the driver-side mirror cover and door handle. This issue is identical to paint defects already acknowledged by Honda on other Civics and Accords, which were covered under extended warranties or settlements. Honda refuses to cover my vehicle, stating my VIN is excluded, even though the defect is visibly present and widespread among Civic owners. This reduces the vehicle’s durability and resale value and demonstrates a clear manufacturing paint adhesion defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
Honda has known about an issue with their 2016-2020 vehicles where the evaporator stops working. They continued to use the same part for the AC and because the evaporator does not work any longer, the windshield doesn’t correctly defog and it obstructs my vision.
So my 2018 Honda Civic has been affected by the known AC condenser leaks and compressor shaft seal leaks, that Honda has provided an extended warranty for. However they have also found a massive leak at the evaporator. To which Honda has not provided an extended warranty for. This is a huge concern because I am unable to defog my windows without AC and makes it very difficult to see while driving in conditions that my window my fog up. I have not been in an accident currently, but I see this as a massive problem for myself and other Honda owners. Customer service has just formally denied my claim for a curtesy repair for the evaporator. It is very disheartening and Honda should be held responsible.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 .