AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
2020 Honda Civic
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 219 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Honda Civic, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and driver assistance categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 160 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2021 | 5 | 30 |
| Jul 2021 | 5 | 35 |
| Aug 2021 | 1 | 36 |
| Sep 2021 | 2 | 38 |
| Nov 2021 | 2 | 40 |
| Dec 2021 | 3 | 43 |
| Jan 2022 | 3 | 46 |
| Feb 2022 | 8 | 54 |
| Mar 2022 | 3 | 57 |
| Apr 2022 | 3 | 60 |
| May 2022 | 3 | 63 |
| Jun 2022 | 2 | 65 |
| Jul 2022 | 2 | 67 |
| Aug 2022 | 1 | 68 |
| Oct 2022 | 2 | 70 |
| Nov 2022 | 1 | 71 |
| Jan 2023 | 1 | 72 |
| Feb 2023 | 1 | 73 |
| Mar 2023 | 3 | 76 |
| Apr 2023 | 3 | 79 |
| May 2023 | 3 | 82 |
| Jun 2023 | 2 | 84 |
| Jul 2023 | 2 | 86 |
| Aug 2023 | 4 | 90 |
| Sep 2023 | 3 | 93 |
| Oct 2023 | 2 | 95 |
| Nov 2023 | 3 | 98 |
| Dec 2023 | 3 | 101 |
| Jan 2024 | 6 | 107 |
| Feb 2024 | 2 | 109 |
| Mar 2024 | 2 | 111 |
| Apr 2024 | 6 | 117 |
| May 2024 | 5 | 122 |
| Jun 2024 | 5 | 127 |
| Jul 2024 | 4 | 131 |
| Aug 2024 | 5 | 136 |
| Sep 2024 | 4 | 140 |
| Oct 2024 | 3 | 143 |
| Nov 2024 | 2 | 145 |
| Dec 2024 | 4 | 149 |
| Jan 2025 | 5 | 154 |
| Feb 2025 | 3 | 157 |
| Mar 2025 | 2 | 159 |
| Apr 2025 | 5 | 164 |
| May 2025 | 8 | 172 |
| Jun 2025 | 3 | 175 |
| Jul 2025 | 3 | 178 |
| Aug 2025 | 6 | 184 |
| Sep 2025 | 4 | 188 |
| Oct 2025 | 2 | 190 |
| Nov 2025 | 5 | 195 |
| Dec 2025 | 2 | 197 |
| Jan 2026 | 3 | 200 |
| Feb 2026 | 4 | 204 |
| Mar 2026 | 2 | 206 |
| Apr 2026 | 3 | 209 |
| May 2026 | 3 | 212 |
| Jun 2026 | 1 | 213 |
| Jul 2026 | 5 | 218 |
| Aug 2026 | 1 | 219 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical3513.9%
- Fuel system3112.4%
- Driver assistance3012.0%
- Powertrain (other)3012.0%
- Airbags2911.6%
- Steering2811.2%
- Brakes176.8%
- Visibility124.8%
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
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.govAIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the steering wheel was sticking with resistance while turning the steering wheel to the left. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not under a recall associated with the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11756169
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2026
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
on 7-28-26 After filling my vehicle with gas at the next red light, all lights on dashboard went on flickering warning (Christmas tree effect). on 7-29-26 After researching online Roadside came out and did Battery and alternator test that passed. I did hard reboot from instructions I found online and after several attempts the lights cleared twice, the morning of 7-30-26 when leaving for work the flickering lights came back on. Vehicle had a slight tremble but cleared after a few seconds while vehicle warmed up. I went to get the battery checked at the shop and it passed also had air filter changed. Lights still on, car is running fine, but I feel unsafe to drive and have an appt at the dealer for a diagnosis check on 7-31-26.
- NHTSA ID
- 11753827
- Incident
- Jul 29, 2026
The A/C went out on this vehicle. The A/C only worked half way in the car. It would only cool the passenger side and not drivers side. When I took it in to get it fixed, they said it was the condenser. There was a recall for the compressor shaft seal but not the condenser. They replaced the condenser and compressor shaft seal. As I checked the Internet I found a recall for this problem in Canada but not in the U.S. I asked Honda about it. They said it was VIN specific right now unless enough people complain about this problem. If it happened in Canada it should be dealt with here. According to my search there are others in the U. S.that have had this problem. How many complaints does it take before this is dealt with?
- NHTSA ID
- 11749531
- Incident
- Jul 6, 2026
At least a half dozen times the car would brake automatically when nothing was in front of the car. The BRAKE warning light would appear on the dashboard as the car abruptly slowed down. The car slowed down but never came to a complete stop. This happened at various speeds. Once on the freeway at high speeds, 3 times just before an intersection where I had a green light and other various times. I brought the car to 2 different dealers. They could not replicate the problem so they said there was nothing they could do. The courtesy car driver who gave me a ride said they occasionally experience the same thing in the courtesy car.
- NHTSA ID
- 11748962
- Incident
- Jul 11, 2023
On passenger side, 4 of 5 wheel hub bolts (lug bolts) broke off during driving. The lug nuts did not come loose. The bolts actually broke off with lug nuts attached. This caused the wheel to separate from the car while driving. This caused an accident and $5,500 damage to the car. There were no warnings from the in-car information center.
- NHTSA ID
- 11748079
- Incident
- May 28, 2026
I reported this issue to insurance. The facts are that when I was watching a family member’s toddler, I went to my vehicle to grab a stack of papers. While holding her, I reached in and grabbed the papers sitting directly on the back seat of the coupe vehicle (I.e., easy to reach). Upon grabbing the papers in one hand and holding her on my left hip, I shut the drivers side door and began walking toward the home. Immediately, I heard an odd sound like a rustle or possibly an animal scurrying. I looked around confused because I hadn’t seen anything and it wasn’t too dark. Then I looked closer and the entirety of my back windshield was shattered into a billion pieces leaking into my back seats and onto the car seat placed there for when I frequently pick up the toddler. I can’t help but think of what would’ve happened if she was in her car seat and the glass shards (which were many, sharp and permeating through each crevice and likely will remain until somehow discovered or hurting someone) would’ve fell there. Many honda owners experienced this issue of combustion in the rear windshield. It’s not safe or right. A recall should be made.
- NHTSA ID
- 11747930
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2026
I am the second owner of this year and model of Civic. I initially bought it back in 2021 with 14,000 miles on it. The clutch slipped and blew at around 29K miles in 2023. I brought it into a honda dealership and they were at least able to replace the clutch with the SAME CLUTCH under warranty but now it's 2026 and the clutch is going out again. Clutches should not be going out this frequently. I've driven several manuals and if you were to look up this specific year and model, it is a known issue across several forums online and youtube videos for having a "weak clutch". Despite it being a known issue, Honda refuses to announce a recall or make right by their customers who bought this specific year and model. I along with other owners of this specific year and model had our "Good Will" declined after the warranty period ended; how convenient for Honda. It would've essentially cost at least $10K in repairs for an average owner over 5 years on a relatively brand new car. That's more than 30% of the car's worth and value at MSRP.. They keep saying that all of these issues and feedbacks are being reported to the NHTSA but I honestly believe they're waiting for it to be long enough for warranties to expire and hop they can sweep it under the rug. I've driven Hondas all of my life and have loved their cars but their refusal to do right by this well known issue is leaving a sour taste in my mouth.
- NHTSA ID
- 11743792
- Incident
- May 1, 2026
The vehicle has experienced a complete failure of the A/C condenser unit due to refrigerant leaks originating from manufacturing defects in the tube walls. This matches the exact physical failure described in Honda Service Bulletin TSB #19-091. However, the manufacturer is refusing coverage because this specific VIN falls just outside their current arbitrary cutoff list. This component failure directly impacts vehicle safety by disabling the vehicle's capability to dehumidify the cabin and clear a heavily fogged windshield during sudden humidity or temperature changes, causing an immediate visibility hazard.
- NHTSA ID
- 11740234
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2026
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE
Service Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on inspection cover.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics, 2020-2022 CR-Vs, 2022-2023 Pilots & Passports with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen (Civics and CR-Vs only). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics, 2020-2022 CR-Vs, 2022-2023 Pilots & Passports with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen (Civics and CR-Vs only). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics, 2020-2022 CR-Vs, 2022-2023 Pilots & Passports with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen (Civics and CR-Vs only). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
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).
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2026 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 44.1 |
| 2025 | 66 | 2 | 0 | 60.7 |
| 2024 | 116 | 3 | 1 | 62.6 |
| 2023 | 251 | 4 | 2 | 61.8 |
| 2022 | 878 | 4 | 2 | 59.3 |
| 2021 | 139 | 4 | 0 | 56.0 |
| 2020Viewing | 219 | 5 | 0 | 58.8 |
| 2019 | 416 | 4 | 0 | 56.5 |
| 2018 | 725 | 6 | 0 | 58.8 |
| 2017 | 579 | 6 | 0 | 56.4 |
| 2016 | 1,071 | 5 | 0 | 55.2 |
| 2015 | 377 | 1 | 2 | 53.9 |
| 2014 | 290 | 2 | 2 | 61.2 |
| 2013 | 316 | 0 | 2 | 51.1 |
| 2012 | 454 | 3 | 2 | 61.8 |
| 2011 | 168 | 9 | 0 | 58.8 |
| 2010 | 396 | 8 | 0 | 54.2 |
| 2009 | 395 | 8 | 0 | 56.3 |
| 2008 | 916 | 7 | 0 | 52.1 |
| 2007 | 1,204 | 9 | 0 | 49.6 |
| 2006 | 1,402 | 15 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 2005 | 314 | 15 | 4 | 69.1 |
| 2004 | 350 | 15 | 3 | 65.2 |
| 2003 | 499 | 24 | 6 | 67.3 |
| 2002 | 702 | 24 | 4 | 66.3 |
| 2001 | 1,079 | 27 | 4 | 65.9 |
| 2000 | 287 | 18 | 0 | 61.9 |
| 1999 | 338 | 15 | 0 | 58.6 |
| 1998 | 435 | 18 | 1 | 62.9 |
| 1997 | 373 | 16 | 1 | 63.1 |
| 1996 | 305 | 17 | 2 | 66.2 |
| 1995 | 199 | 12 | 0 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 135 | 14 | 0 | 65.0 |
| 1993 | 146 | 13 | 1 | 65.9 |
| 1992 | 98 | 13 | 1 | 65.1 |
| 1991 | 110 | 8 | 3 | 65.0 |
| 1990 | 91 | 10 | 3 | 67.8 |
| 1989 | 69 | 6 | 3 | 68.3 |
| 1988 | 46 | 8 | 3 | 63.2 |
| 1987 | 39 | 3 | 3 | 65.3 |
| 1986 | 35 | 3 | 3 | 62.6 |
| 1985 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 59.8 |
| 1984 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
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.