2016 Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,079 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
30,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 494 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 440 of 1,079 complaints (40.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 462 | 42.8% |
| Braking behavior | 162 | 15.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 51 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 40 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 27 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 17 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 440 |
| Unknown Or Other | 253 |
| Electrical System | 113 |
| Engine | 95 |
| Service Brakes | 92 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 47 |
| Structure:Body | 44 |
| Power Train | 34 |
Steering: 440; Unknown Or Other: 253; Electrical System: 113; Engine: 95; Service Brakes: 92; Visibility/Wiper: 47; Structure:Body: 44; Power Train: 34
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 212 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 162 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 80 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 212; 25,000 to 49,999: 162; 50,000 to 74,999: 80; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (212). 585 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 116 |
| 2017 | 63 |
| 2018 | 63 |
| 2019 | 144 |
| 2020 | 141 |
| 2021 | 86 |
| 2022 | 78 |
| 2023 | 108 |
| 2024 | 103 |
| 2025 | 101 |
| 2026 | 74 |
2015: 2; 2016: 116; 2017: 63; 2018: 63; 2019: 144; 2020: 141; 2021: 86; 2022: 78; 2023: 108; 2024: 103; 2025: 101; 2026: 74
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 462 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 162 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 51 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10846011 · 2016-03-10 (March 10, 2016)
I BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC EX 2016 2.0 L ON 2/17. ON 2/24, THE CAR BROKE DOWN MIDWAY (MILES DRIVEN 88). WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ALL KINDS OF VIDEO WARNING MESSAGES LIKE PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION, BRAKING SYSTEM, STEERING ETC. STARTED APPEARING ON THE CENTER DISPLAY WERE THE VEHICLE'S SPEED GETS DISPLAYED(PART OF THE TACHOMETER / SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY). I HAD TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. NEXT DAY THE DEALER RETURNED THE VEHICLE SAYING THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. FROM THAT DAY ONWARDS, I STARTED FACING INTERMI…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10846011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10871377 · 2016-05-29 (May 29, 2016)
I PURCHASED A HONDA CIVIC LX ON 5-1-16, MY TEST DRIVE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LONG AND I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PAIN. MY DRIVE HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LONG. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED HOME MY ARMS AND LEGS WERE NUMB, I HAD PAIN IN MY SACRAL, LUMBAR, AND CERVICAL SPINE AREAS. I HAD JUST TRADED IN MY 2016 HONDA FIT PURCHASED O 3-3-16 AT A $4,000.00 DOLLAR LOSS DUE TO SEVER BACK PAIN AND EXTREMITY NUMBNESS WHILE DRIVING THE SALESMAN TOLD ME THE REASON THE HONDA FIT 2016 SEATS WERE SO BAD WAS DO TO THE FACT THAT THEY A…
Owner-reported narrative. 57 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10816192 · 2015-12-25 (December 25, 2015)
WHEN THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) AND THE VEHICLE LANE KEEPING ASSIST SYSTEM (LKAS) ARE ENGAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE VEHICLE WILL REACT UNPREDICTABLY UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE MAY BRAKE SUDDENLY, RAPIDLY DECELERATE, AND QUICKLY DEPART THE HIGHWAY WHEN APPROACHING EXIT RAMPS. THE SITUATION OCCURS DURING DAYLIGHT AND NIGHTTIME HOURS WITH CLEAN CAMERAS AND RADAR WINDOW. DRIVER RESPONSE TIME IS TOO SLOW TO COUNTERACT THE EVENT. THE VEHICLE MAY SLOW BY 10-15 MPH AND DEPART THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE DRIVER IS ABLE TO RESUME CONTROL. DUR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10816192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10840485 · 2016-03-08 (March 8, 2016)
HI, I PURCHASED 2016 CIVIC IN DEC, 2015. I I HAVE EXPERIENCE 3 ISSUES TILL NOW 1. ELECTRONIC BRAKE - I HAVE HAD 2 INCIDENTS WHERE MY ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING, LUCKILY WAS DRIVING IN CITY AT LOWER SPEEDS. BUT LAST WEEK, WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, STOPPED TO FILL GAS - TURNED ENGINE ON, BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKE SWITCH. HAD TO KEEP TRYING FOR A MIN OR TWO BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT OFF. 2. SUDDEN RESISTANCE - HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS QUITE FREQUENTLY, NEED MORE ACCELERATION TO GET TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10840485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10825470 · 2016-02-10 (February 10, 2016)
MY MOTHER IN LAW'S NOT EVEN A WEEK OLD CIVIC HAD A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON I-210 EASTBOUND JUST BEFORE THE CAMPUS EXIT, PROBABLY DOING THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE AFTERNOON OF 02/06/2016. AAA AND THE POLICE RESPONDED. THEY COULD NOT RESTART IT. IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO ROCK HONDA WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. I AM [XXX] [XXX] LAKEWOOD, CO 80228 [XXX]. THE OWNER OF THE CIVIC: [XXX] [XXX] ALTA, LOMA CA 91701 [XXX]. ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10825470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10864212 · 2016-05-10 (May 10, 2016)
I CRANKED UP MY BRAND NEW HONDA AND A EMISSIONS SYSTEM ERROR DISPLAYED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND DROVE IT TO THEM. IN RETROSPECT THAT WAS PROBABLY A BAD IDEA. MY ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COULD HAVE GLITCHED AND I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. RODENTS ATE MY WIRING HARNESS THIS WEEKEND. AS PER THE SERVICE TECH AT MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP THE WIRING HARNESS AND SURROUNDING PIECES ARE MADE FROM A SOYBEAN DERIVATIVE. THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO IT BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY IT'S A PROTEIN PACK ON TIRES. THIS IS MY 7TH HONDA (PRELUDE SI, CIVIC SI, ACCORD EX, C…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10864212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10863521 · 2016-05-05 (May 5, 2016)
AFTER A SUDDEN STOP, SUCH AS STOPPING FOR A YELLOW LIGHT ABOUT TO TURN RED, THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AFTER REACHING 0 MPH. IT SEEMS TO BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE REPORTED BY VARIOUS USERS ACROSS CIVIC COMMUNITY FORUMS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10863521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10823637 · 2016-02-01 (February 1, 2016)
PISTON CLIP RING RECALL FROM HONDA WITH NO FIX UNTIL MID-MARCH AS TOLD BY HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. RECALL NOT PUBLICLY RELEASED BY HONDA AT THIS TIME. THE RESULT OF THIS PART FAILURE IS ENGINE FAILURE, AND/OR STALLING. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOOMING AND UNRESOLVED ISSUES.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10838201 · 2016-02-25 (February 25, 2016)
TODAY I FOUND OUT THAT HONDA ISSUED A RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MODEL YEAR 2016 CIVICS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA BECAUSE THE ENGINE CAN STALL WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS IS DUE TO A PISTON CLIP THAT WAS NOT INSTALLED OR MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED INTO THE PISTON DURING ASSEMBLY. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT HONDA SENT A STOP SALE NOTICE TO ALL DEALERS ON FEBRUARY 2ND HOWEVER; MY 2016 CIVIC CAR WAS SOLD TO ME ON FEBRUARY 13TH FROM A HONDA DEALER LOCATED IN PHOENIX, AZ. I DID CONTACT THE DEALER AND AM TAKING MY CAR IN TOMORROW BUT I READ …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10838201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10955765 · 2017-02-21 (February 21, 2017)
TRUNK SPONTANEOUSLY OPENS. IT HASN'T HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, CONTACTED HONDA'S HEADQUARTERS. THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE SO CANNOT FIX IT. THERE ARE OTHERS ON THE CIVIC ONLINE FORUM WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SECURITY ISSUE WHERE I CANNOT KEEP ANYTHING IN MY TRUNK. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. ONE NIGHT AFTER I GOT HOME, I WENT BACK OUT TO MY CAR AND THE TRUNK WAS OPENED. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, I GO OUT TO MY CAR IN THE MORNING OR AFTER WORK AND MY TRUNK IS OPEN. I KEEP THE KEYS AS FAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10955765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023476 · 2017-09-14 (September 14, 2017)
CAPLESS GAS TANK ALWAYS BACKFLOWS AND SPILLS GAS ONTO THE CAR IF I WAIT FOR THE GAS PUMP TO AUTO SHUT OFF. THIS NEVER HAPPENED WITH ANY OF THE OLDER CARS I HAVE OWNED. TO AVOID THIS FROM HAPPENING NOW I MANUALLY STOP THE GAS PUMP BEFORE THE TANK IS FULL.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023476 at NHTSA ↗