2020 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 2020 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
- Electrical3714.3%
- Fuel system3112.0%
- Driver assistance3011.6%
- Powertrain (other)3011.6%
- Steering2911.2%
- Airbags2911.2%
- Brakes176.6%
- Visibility135.0%
- Engine124.7%
- Other / unspecified83.1%
- Suspension62.3%
- Body & structure62.3%
- Interior & seats31.2%
- Tires & wheels20.8%
- Exterior lighting20.8%
- Heating & air conditioning10.4%
- Seat belts10.4%
- Transmission10.4%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2020 Honda Civic. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 87,000. At the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 247,000.
The turbocharger bypass control solenoid valve circuit on my 2020 Civic Si has developed an intermittent open, setting DTC P0035. I diagnosed it myself: the solenoid coil measures 45 ohms and functions when commanded via bi-directional scan tool, and supply voltage is present at the harness connector. However, the control circuit reads approximately 9V in the off state when it should be near ground, and the reading fluctuates when the harness is flexed near the connector — indicating a partial break in the wiring consistent with vibration fatigue. This is a safety concern because the ECM fault cascades to other systems. My scan report shows U0401-68 in the ABS module and U0416-68 in both the EPS and Integrated Driver Assistance modules. The result is that VSA stability control is disabled. I first noticed the problem because warning lights appear during hard cornering — precisely when stability control is most needed. Honda has acknowledged this exact failure mode. Service Bulletin 18-044 (NHTSA ID 10142655), issued June 2018, covers the 2017 Civic Type R for DTC P0035 and states the cause as: heat and the natural frequency of the harness cause the coupler wire to oscillate, producing an open circuit to the turbocharger bypass control solenoid valve. The remedy was a replacement engine wire harness kit. The Si shares the same L15B7 engine family and the same bypass control solenoid circuit, but no campaign covers it. Owner forums document numerous P0035 wiring failures on non-Type-R 1.5T Civics. I am requesting that NHTSA consider whether this defect and its effect on stability control warrants a safety investigation and expansion of the existing remedy to other 1.5T Civic models.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
On 04/2025 the car was driving fine with no warnings or indication of a problem. Turned my car on at a parking lot and as I was driving away the car suddenly stopped, all the warning lights started coming on. I was able to turn it back on and drove it to a nearby dealer. I am the second owner of the car and Honda dealer said the fuel pump had already been replaced due to a recall. This time they said it was a secondary fuel pump that was the problem and the very expensive repair was done. Fast forward to 2/2026 and the same thing happened. This time it was scarier as it shut off as a car was backing up from a parking spot. Fortunately, the driver saw the car and was able to stop before running into me. The car failed to start, and I had to get it towed. Could not tow it to the dealer since it was late in the evening. The next morning, the car did start, but all the warnings continued to flash on the dash. The car is being towed to the dealer where the "repair" was done. All this happening within a year of repairs. This should be a recall and Honda should refund my initial repairs as this is happening to other drivers as well.
Fuel pump issue. There is an active recall for this make and model but this vin isn’t included. The car will be fine and either completely shut down or once parked it won’t restart. After about an hour it will start and be fine. We took to a local mechanic who diagnosed the fuel pump. Said there was a recall so we went to the local dealership. They said it isn’t included and they can’t get the fuel pumps as they are being held for recalls only. The car continues to have this issue which is unsafe. I’ve contacted Honda corporate who are trying to get a fuel pump for us. We believe this should be included in the recall and should be looked into further I’m listing the most recent incident date but it’s happened at least 20 times since August 2025
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Clutch started slipping all of a sudden. Check to see if it was under warranty said the warranty had expired because the car was over 36,000 MI did not know about the extended clutch warranty at the time that Honda was extending it due to defective parts so we replaced it ourselves. Upon tear down it was discovered that the clutch disc was only about 30% worn down there were no hot spots in the flywheel or the clutch cover so the problem was related to the holding force of the clutch cover have we continued to drive the car the way it was it would have burnt it up because it would barely move. I've been in Autotech for 50 years never seen a clutch slipping with this much material left on it and the parts in this condition it is obviously a defect with the part and I submitted a claim to Honda and they denied it had I had known Honda would have taken care of it I would have brought it to them.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
When driving, especially at highway speeds where only minor tracking adjustments are needed, the steering wheel can feel like it is momentarily sticking or catching. Having to exert sudden, extra physical effort to "break" the wheel free from this sticky point. This often leads to momentary overcorrection, significantly increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, a bobcat crossed the road, and the bobcat was struck by the vehicle. The contact stated that there was extensive front-end damage and undercarriage damage to the vehicle. The driver’s and passenger’s side air bags did not deploy. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was driven to a gas station, inspected, and then driven back to the residence. However, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a collision center for repair. The contact received a call from the collision center and was informed that all the air bags in the vehicle had been removed and that the wires were cut and twisted together, which led the sensors to believe the air bags were still connected. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (AIR BAGS). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repairs, and the contact was informed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
My automatic Breaks that prevents me from rear ending a car keeps engaging when I am a few car lengths from another vehicle. It’s happened once yesterday and once today. Both times in heavy traffic areas. I’ve had the car for two years and this is the first time this has happened. Thankfully no one was following close behind because they may have hit me. I’m afraid this is going to happen one day when someone is too close and I’m going to get rear ended. It’s really scary and dangerous. I’m scared to drive my car.
Very frequently, the brake alert system comes on while on the highway causing my vehicle to engage the braking system. This happens whether or not there is a vehicle in front of me.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the compressor shaft failed, and the shaft seal caused further damage to the compressor and caused an additional failure. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: 23-039. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with compressor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the warranty only covered the shaft seal and not the compressor. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.
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.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The turbocharger bypass control solenoid valve circuit on my 2020 Civic Si has developed an intermittent open, setting DTC P0035. I diagnosed it myself: the solenoid coil measures 45 ohms and functions when commanded via bi-directional scan tool, and supply voltage is present at the harness connector. However, the control circuit reads approximately 9V in the off state when it should be near ground, and the reading fluctuates when the harness is flexed near the connector — indicating a partial break in the wiring consistent with vibration fatigue. This is a safety concern because the ECM fault cascades to other systems. My scan report shows U0401-68 in the ABS module and U0416-68 in both the EPS and Integrated Driver Assistance modules. The result is that VSA stability control is disabled. I first noticed the problem because warning lights appear during hard cornering — precisely when stability control is most needed. Honda has acknowledged this exact failure mode. Service Bulletin 18-044 (NHTSA ID 10142655), issued June 2018, covers the 2017 Civic Type R for DTC P0035 and states the cause as: heat and the natural frequency of the harness cause the coupler wire to oscillate, producing an open circuit to the turbocharger bypass control solenoid valve. The remedy was a replacement engine wire harness kit. The Si shares the same L15B7 engine family and the same bypass control solenoid circuit, but no campaign covers it. Owner forums document numerous P0035 wiring failures on non-Type-R 1.5T Civics. I am requesting that NHTSA consider whether this defect and its effect on stability control warrants a safety investigation and expansion of the existing remedy to other 1.5T Civic models.
I received an email from Honda regarding a safety recall, stating that the defective part is now available. However, when I called different Honda dealerships, they told me to disregard the notice because the part is not available. If the repair cannot be done, I am concerned why Honda sent the notice in the first place.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. While driving 50 MPH on the highway, the passenger’s side wheel felt as if the wheel was about to detach, causing the vehicle to veer to the right. The vehicle returned to normal functionality and operated as designed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25E071000 (Wheels). The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving to work in the rain on the highway and I heard a big thump and I thought I had hit something and my wheel went sideways and I kept trying to keep my car on the road even though I didn’t hit anything.
my car has been grinding ever since I purchased the car. The vehicle only had 17,000 miles when I bought it. I took it to Honda of Hollywood and let them know that my car was grinding and they said that I needed to change my brakes. I changed my brakes and went back to the dealership and they said I needed to sand the rotors. I went to get my rotors repaired and my car was still grinding. I went back to the dealership and they said nothing was wrong with the car. I don't hear any other Honda grinding like my car. On the freeway my car is rattling. The tires in the back of my car move around they are not straight. I looked under my car and noticed that the wheel bearing is broken. I don't think the dealership should be putting my life in jeopardy like that when my car was under warranty when I reported the issue.i need help.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
I bought this car from a Honda dealership in Cincinnati. I searched for this specific year and color. It had about 48k miles on it when I got it. I have only put on 14k miles now. I purchased the warranty. After a year of owning it. My paint on the plastic pieces started to chip off. The mirror is nearly completely paintless, and the door handles look bad as well. I have been trying to work with Honda. The dealership recognized this was an issue with this color. There is a class action for the white as well. The honda dealership said Honda corporate should do something about it since I haven't had this car very long. Honda corporate came back and told me that they would have only covered it in the year of 2020 which is silly because the car is a 2020. I purchased it at the end of 2023. So as soon as I got this off of the lot I was [XXX] essentially. I told them that I haven't even put that many miles on the car and they said it didn't matter. Online everywhere talks about the issues with the paint chipping on the plastics and they refuse to recognize it. I was quoted over 1000 to fix the more serious issues but another 400 more to fix everything and that was just for the parts and not the labor. The dealership service manager at Honda recognized this was a problem but corporate doesn't want to do anything about it. The issue started happening a year after I purchased it. I haven't even owned it for a full two years. Not even 14k miles on it since my purchase. Purchased the warranty and they refuse to help. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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 contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door failed to open as needed. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to open the door. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the steel beams inside the door. The contact stated that the failure occurred frequently. The contact had suffered rotator cuff injuries on both shoulders. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
I financed this car 3 months ago, and I received a safety recall notice from Honda. Unfortunately, they don't have the necessary part until 2025. As a result, I've been unable to rent out the car on Toro for the past 2 months to make finance payments. Additionally, due to a previous car accident, I don't feel safe driving the car, which causes me anxiety. Now, I'm unsure what steps to take. I want to return the car without negatively impacting my credit score, as this situation is not my fault. I'm losing both money and payments because of the recall, and the car can't be fixed until 2025.
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 owned a 2020 Honda Civic equipped with Continental tires, Tire line: Conti Pro Contact, Tire size: 235/40/R18, and DOT number: af2rwd3w. The contact stated while driving at 75 MPH, the rear passenger side tire blew out suddenly which the vehicle started to drift to the right of the road and go over and crash into a medium near oncoming traffic. The contact was able to place a spare tire on the vehicle for the contact to continue to drive to their residence. The contact took the vehicle to an auto body shop that inspected the vehicle and declared the vehicle a total loss. The contact was concerned that the failure that occurred with the vehicle was a defect on the tire that had blown out. The tires were the original equipment on the vehicle The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,045.
Drivers rear side tire had a blow involving the tread flying off exactly at the seam it is attached to the tire. This couldn't caused an accident or death to myself or other drivers on the road. These tires were purchased on the vehicle brand new in Sept 19 2020. The accident happened September 15 2021. The vehicle is brand new as well. The other Goodyear eagle sport tires on the vehicle had bubbles which would lead to another blowout. The car has under 25k miles. The car has had oil changes, etc per car doc agreement. There is something wrong with the integrity of the rubber of the tire or they are retreading and selling retreaded tires as new. My son decided with the knowledge of the tire mechanic, to replace all Goodyear tires due to the safety hazard they could create. He had to replace 3 tires.
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 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the headlights failed to operate properly and failed to provide adequate illumination while driving. The dealer was contacted, and headlight failure was repaired; however, headlights were not recalibrated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
Lights go off and on not sure if can drive at night. dealer said that they thought it is the control module but also stated that car could turn shut down at any unknown time. Did not offer a replacement vehicle and was told to just keep driving until part comes in. This problem has been going on sense january . was told today 04/21/2022 that it would now be june
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
I am writing to file a complaint regarding the air conditioning system failure in my 2020 Honda Civic Sport. The air conditioner in my vehicle began blowing hot air instead of cold air starting in January 2024. I took the vehicle to a mechanic for inspection, I was informed that the evaporator has failed and needs to be replaced. While researching this issue, I discovered that many other Honda Civic owners have reported similar air conditioning problems involving the evaporator and AC system. I also became aware of a 2021 letter involving American Honda Motor Co. and Honda dealership personnel regarding evaporator leaks in vehicles with VIN numbers beginning with 2HG or 19X. The letter stated that Honda was researching these vehicles in an effort to better understand the issue. Given the number of similar complaints and Honda’s apparent awareness and investigation into evaporator leaks, this appears to be a potentially widespread defect affecting these vehicles, even when properly maintained. The failure of the air conditioning system has caused significant inconvenience, medical issues and financial burden. I have severe Hyperthyroidism, and reside in CA. Due to extremely hot weather & no A/C, the heat affected my heart rate and health severely. My honda is utilized daily for employment & commitments. Without proper air conditioning in almost 3 years now, while driving my car, I was admitted into the hospital last summer 2026 for 5 days due to the extreme heat affecting my heart and almost causing me to go into a coma aka [thyroid storm]. I believe this issue should be investigated further, as it may indicate a defect in the vehicle’s air conditioning system. I respectfully request that the NHTSA review this matter and investigate whether the evaporator failure in the 2020 Honda Civic Sport is a recurring manufacturing defect that may warrant further action or assistance for affected vehicle owners. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
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
While making a slow right turn into a shopping plaza, I accidentally struck a median curb with only the driver’s side front tire. Despite the low speed and minimal impact, the passenger side front airbag deployed without cause, severely endangering my passenger. Aside from a flat tire, there was no damage to the body of the car. Fortunately, we were moving slowly enough to avoid injury, but had we been going any faster, it could have caused serious harm. After the incident, both front seatbelts locked, rendering the vehicle unsafe for both the driver and passenger. I later discovered that there are confirmed recalls affecting the passenger airbag system (specifically the front passenger seat weight sensor) for 2020 Honda Civics—my car’s exact make and model—but my VIN does not appear to be included, despite exhibiting the same failure. When I brought the car to a Honda dealership, I was told the recall did not apply and was quoted $10,000 in repairs for the SRS and seatbelt systems. Rather than addressing the potential manufacturing defect, I was instead hounded to trade in the vehicle. I believe this incident reflects a serious safety malfunction tied to an existing recall and deserves investigation. My vehicle may have been improperly excluded from a recall campaign affecting others with identical equipment and model specifications.
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 contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the clutch became unresponsive which resulted in the vehicle losing motive power. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 16,275.
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 .