VehicleVerdict

2016 Honda Civic problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 1,348 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 5.7 times the median Civic year — the 2016 model ranks #4 of 54 Civic years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 24 injuries in total across these filings.

Steering leads the complaint categories with 425 reports (32% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

1,348

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

0

Investigations

53

Crash-involved

7

Fires reported

24

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2016 compare to other Civic years?

See all Civic years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 Honda Civic problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Steering42532%
Other25219%
Electrical System14911%
Engine987%
Brakes987%
Visibility & Wipers675%
Body & Structure484%
Transmission363%
Lighting302%
Fuel System292%
Airbags272%
Tires & Wheels262%
Driver Assistance191%
Speed Control171%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)131%
Suspension60%
Seat Belts40%
Seats40%

Does the 2016 Honda Civic have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V332000AirbagsMay 21, 2026 · 98,892 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Consequence

Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

23V858000Fuel SystemDecember 18, 2023 · 2,490,460 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

16V725000BrakesOctober 11, 2016 · 350,083 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Civic two door and four door 1.5L turbo and 2.0L vehicles. The electric parking brake (EPB) may not engage if it is applied immediately after turning the ignition off.

Consequence

If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to allow the EPB to engage immediately after the ignition is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KC6.

16V526000LightingJuly 11, 2016 · 11,846 units

Defect

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic 2-Door vehicles manufactured February 23, 2016, through May 20, 2016. The affected vehicles may have a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly, making the marker light inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

Consequence

If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect both the taillight assemblies, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KB8.

16V074000EngineFebruary 9, 2016 · 42,129 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic vehicles manufactured September 22, 2015, to February 3, 2016 and equipped with 2.0L engines. The affected vehicles have engines with piston assemblies that may have been manufactured without a piston wrist pin circlip or with an incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip.

Consequence

If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in the Summer of 2016. Owners were mailed an interim notification beginning March 31, 2016, and will be mailed a second notice when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JX9.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

My front driver side wheel completely detached from the vehicle’s body while I was driving home causing the left side of my car to collide with the street pavement and skid to a stop. The driver door airbags deployed, fluid leaked from under the vehicle and the bottom driver side of the car was…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · November 1, 2025 · crash

THE FRONT WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF..THROWING CODES FOR STABILITY MALFUNCTION ASSIST, ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING..I HAVE BEEN TREATED AWFUL BY 3 HONDA DEALERSHIP AND I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THIS VEHICLE THAT I'M GOING TO DIE IN..BRUSH GUARD FELL DOWN BEING HELD WITH BAILING TWINE

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · March 17, 2018 · crash

EVERY SINCE THE REPAIR OF THE RECALL THE ENGINE PULLS NOT EVEN AN HOUR AFTER THE PICK UP THE CAR HAD TO GO BACK IN THE SHOP FOR BELT REPAIR. IT MAKES NOISES AS IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE . I'VE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TO SPEAK WITH PATRICK NEVER TO GET A CALL BACK. THE CARE IS IN MOTION. THE SMART…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 11, 2016 · crash

THE ELECTRIC EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. THE CAR WAS PARKED, IGNITION TURNED OFF, EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED, AND LEFT THE VEHICLE. WHEN I RETURNED, THE CAR HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN A ROAD AND SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER PARKED CAR CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. NO INJURIES RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT. POLICE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 31, 2016 · crash

EVERY SINCE THE REPAIR OF THE RECALL THE ENGINE PULLS NOT EVEN AN HOUR AFTER THE PICK UP THE CAR HAD TO GO BACK IN THE SHOP FOR BELT REPAIR. IT MAKES NOISES AS IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE . I'VE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TO SPEAK WITH PATRICK NEVER TO GET A CALL BACK. THE CARE IS IN MOTION. THE SMART…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · March 11, 2016 · crash

2016 Honda Civic — common questions

Is the 2016 Honda Civic reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,348 complaints put the 2016 model at #4 of 54 Civic years. It is one of the Civic years to avoid.

What are the most common 2016 Civic problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are steering (425 complaints), other (252 complaints), electrical system (149 complaints).

Does the 2016 Honda Civic have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 Honda Civic. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Honda Civic years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Civic years to avoid are 2006, 2007, 2001, 2016, 2022, 2008, 2002, 2018, 2017, 2012, 2003, 2019, 1998, 2009, 2010, 2015, 1997, 2013, 2004, 1999, 2005, 2014, 1996. The cleanest record among Civic years belongs to 1980.

How safe is the 2016 Honda Civic?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2016 Honda Civic earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.