Honda Civic Reliability
Quick answer
The Honda Civic has 1.89 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 18 sedans by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Civic places 14th: a higher complaint rate than most. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 8,238 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and air bags, and NHTSA lists 35 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2008, 2016–2019, 2022 and 2023 as years to avoid and rates 2013 as a better year. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
1.89
Complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022)
8,238
NHTSA owner complaints (2008–2026)
35
Recall campaigns
7
Years to avoid
Most-reported Honda Civic problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2007–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 2,466 | 30% | 99 | 2 | 35 |
| Air bags | 987 | 12% | 264 | 8 | 196 |
| Electrical system | 792 | 10% | 34 | 19 | 20 |
| Engine | 646 | 8% | 15 | 19 | 11 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 626 | 8% | 26 | 3 | 12 |
| Service brakes | 616 | 7% | 105 | 4 | 37 |
| Visibility / wipers | 448 | 5% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Body structure | 421 | 5% | 46 | 3 | 22 |
Of all 8,238 complaints, 537 (7%) report a crash, 58 (1%) a fire and 317 (4%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (1,988 complaints), the most-reported areas are steering (1,293), automatic emergency braking (192), the electrical system (143), lane-keeping assistance (132).
Honda Civic complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each Civic model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 987 | 7 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2009 | 426 | 8 | Air bags | — |
| 2010 | 414 | 8 | Air bags | — |
| 2011 | 172 | 9 | Air bags | — |
| 2012 | 474 | 4 | Air bags | — |
| 2013 | 329 | 0 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2014 | 298 | 2 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2015 | 394 | 1 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2016 | 1,083 | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2017 | 610 | 6 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2018 | 602 | 6 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2019 | 461 | 4 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2020 | 243 | 5 | Electrical system | — |
| 2021 | 163 | 4 | Steering | — |
| 2022 | 962 | 4 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2023 | 338 | 4 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2024(new) | 145 | 3 | Steering | — |
| 2025(new) | 105 | 2 | Steering | — |
| 2026(new) | 32 | 0 | Forward collision avoidance | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Honda Civic recalls
NHTSA lists 35 recall campaigns across Honda Civic model years 2008–2026. The ones below cover the most model years. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V332000May 22, 2026 | 2016–2022 | Air bags — sensor / occupant classification / front passenger | 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,… |
| 23V858000Dec 19, 2023 | 2016–2021 | Fuel system — delivery / fuel pump | 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,… |
| 24V744000Oct 4, 2024 | 2022–2025 | Steering | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic… |
| 19V502000Jun 27, 2019 | 2008–2011 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015… |
| 19V378000May 16, 2019 | 2008–2011 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014… |
Best and worst Civic years
- Years to avoid: 2008, 2016–2019, 2022 and 2023.
- Better years: 2013.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Honda Civic years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Honda Civic
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Driver aids: ask about false automatic-braking events and check for warning messages on the dash.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Honda Civic can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Honda Civic reliability FAQ
Is the Honda Civic reliable?
The Honda Civic has 1.89 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 18 sedans by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Civic places 14th: a higher complaint rate than most. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 8,238 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and air bags, and NHTSA lists 35 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2008, 2016–2019, 2022 and 2023 as years to avoid and rates 2013 as a better year. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Honda Civic problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, the most-reported areas are steering (2,466), air bags (987), the electrical system (792) and the engine (646). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are steering, automatic emergency braking and the electrical system. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Honda Civic should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2008, 2016–2019, 2022 and 2023 as years to avoid and rates 2013 as a better year. Each model year is compared only with other Civic years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Honda Civic last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 2.6% of 36,630 used Civic listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 10.9% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 8.8% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Honda Civic have?
NHTSA lists 35 recall campaigns covering Honda Civic model years 2008–2026. The one covering the most model years is 26V332000 (air bags, 2016–2022). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Honda Civic?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure Civic reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Honda Civic, model years 2008–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- Complaints per 1,000 sold divides the 4,518 complaints for the 2015–2022 model years by 2,389,931 vehicles sold in the US in those calendar years (published sales figures), times 1,000.
- The sedans ranking uses the same complaints and sales, weights serious complaints double and adjusts for vehicle age, then compares 18 models. See the full ranking.
- Year flags compare each Civic model year only with other Civic years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the Civic compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.