Reliability
Honda

Civic (10th)

2016-2021 · Compact Sedan · 5 engines
3,104 NHTSA Complaints
14 Recalls
19 Fire Reports
133 Crash Reports
Data covers 6 NHTSA model names
CIVICCIVIC HATCHCIVIC HATCH TYPE-RCIVIC HATCHBACKCIVIC SICIVIC TYPE R
View all 7 generations of the Honda Civic → Inspection checklist

Reliability Score

8.6 / 10

Reliability score

Fewer owner complaints than similar compact sedans

The class average is 7.0. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 700 powertrain complaints. A typical compact sedan fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 1,469.

Scores this high have held: three years on they had moved 0.2 points in the typical case.

Breakdown
Complaints overall700 complaints against about 1,469 for similar vehicles
8.6
Last three years395 complaints against about 690 for similar vehicles
8.3
Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced61 complaints against about 346 for similar vehicles
9.6
Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating57 complaints against about 141 for similar vehicles
8.8

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is the class average. A line needs 20 expected complaints to show a number.

By model year
  • 20168.8
  • 20178.8
  • 20187.9
  • 20197.8
  • 20208.9
  • 20219.6

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

By engine

2.0L 4-cyl 8.9/10
About 37% fewer powertrain complaints than the 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, per vehicle built. (319 complaints, about 1,076,000 built)
1.5L 4-cyl turbo 7.7/10
About 60% more powertrain complaints than the 2.0L 4-cyl, per vehicle built. (357 complaints, about 764,000 built) Complaints of oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating run at a higher rate than this engine's complaints overall, so they set the score (46 against about 54 for similar vehicles).

A complaint counts toward an engine only when its VIN names the engine. Each score is that engine on its own against similar vehicles, worked out the same way as the score above.

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Complaints by Engine Code

K20C2

2.0L 4-cyl / 158 hp
1,485 complaints 247.5 per year Gasoline
9 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

steering
553
other
290
fuel system
201
electrical
164
safety systems
132

Same engine used in

L15B7

1.5L 4-cyl
1,023 complaints 170.5 per year Gasoline
3 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

steering
357
other
176
electrical
141
fuel system
114
engine
104

Same engine used in

L15BA

1.5L 4-cyl Turbo / 174 hp
449 complaints 89.8 per year Gasoline
4 fire reports 1 fatality
View details

Complaint Breakdown

steering
111
other
97
fuel system
73
electrical
61
engine
51

Honda Civic Unidentified Engine

91 complaints 15.2 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

steering
17
other
17
electrical
14
brakes
12
engine
10

K20C1

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo / 306 hp
49 complaints 9.8 per year Gasoline
2 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
11
electrical
11
fuel system
9
transmission
7
steering
5

Same engine used in

Show 3 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints. A low count can mean a clean record, and it can also be a VIN-decode anomaly in NHTSA's data.

R18A1

1.8L 4-cyl / 140 hp
4 complaints 1.3 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

safety systems
2
body
1
engine
1

R18Z1

1.8L 4-cyl / 140 hp
2 complaints 2.0 per year Gasoline
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

safety systems
2
electrical
1

K20Z3

2.0L 4-cyl / 197 hp
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

safety systems
1

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda Civic, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Steering: 1,043 owner complaints
Fuel System: 407 owner complaints
Electrical System: 392 owner complaints
Engine: 274 owner complaints
Safety Systems: 268 owner complaints

What to check on a used 2016-2021 Honda Civic

On a used 2016-2021 Honda Civic, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the steering (1,043), the fuel system (407) and the electrical system (392). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

  1. Turn the wheel from lock to lock while parked, then drive straight on a level road with a light grip.Safety. NHTSA has 1,043 owner complaints on the 2016-2021 Honda Civic about the steering.
  2. Let the engine idle for five minutes, walk around the car and smell for fuel.Safety. NHTSA has 407 owner complaints on the 2016-2021 Honda Civic about the fuel system, all engines combined.
  3. Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 392 owner complaints on the 2016-2021 Honda Civic about the electrical system.
  4. Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 274 owner complaints on the 2016-2021 Honda Civic about the engine, all engines combined.
  5. Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 268 owner complaints on the 2016-2021 Honda Civic about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
Open the full inspection checklist for the 2016-2021 Honda Civic

Recalls (14)

26V332000May 21, 2026serious
Air Bags

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.

24V064000Feb 1, 2024serious
Air Bags

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

23V858000Dec 18, 2023serious
Fuel System

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.

23V458000Jun 29, 2023serious
Service Brakes

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.

21V215000Mar 25, 2021serious
Fuel System

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Show 9 older recalls
20V314000May 28, 2020serious
Fuel System

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

18V817000Nov 16, 2018serious
Equipment

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic Hatchback and Civic Type R vehicles. The owners guide in these vehicles may not have been included or if included, the owner's guide may not have been properly provided required information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

18V663000Sep 27, 2018serious
Steering

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.

18V421000Jun 20, 2018serious
Equipment

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Civic vehicles. The manufacturing date area of the certification labels may have random characters which can affect the owner's ability to determine if a safety recall includes their vehicle.

18V266000Apr 26, 2018serious
Air Bags

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback and Civic Type R vehicles. Driver and front passenger seatback pads sold as replacement service parts were made without slit openings for the seat-mounted side air bags. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the seatback pad would interfere and adversely affect air bag performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection."

17V706000Nov 9, 2017serious
Powertrain

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe vehicles. The right halfshaft may have been improperly heat treated, reducing its strength.

16V725000Oct 11, 2016serious
Parking Brake

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.

16V526000Jul 11, 2016serious
Exterior Lighting

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."

16V074000Feb 9, 2016serious
Engine & Cooling

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.

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
—
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
—
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: No
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: No
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
—
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
—
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
—
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.5% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional

Alternatives in Compact Sedan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2016-2021 Honda Civic complaints?

Owners have filed 3,104 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016-2021 Honda Civic. The systems they name most often are the steering, the fuel system and the electrical system.

Is the 2016-2021 Honda Civic a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 3,104 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016-2021 Honda Civic. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016-2021 Honda Civic have?

NHTSA has 3,104 owner complaints on file for the 2016-2021 Honda Civic as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2016-2021 Honda Civic?

NHTSA lists 14 recalls covering some 2016-2021 Honda Civic vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.

What should I check before buying a used Honda Civic?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the steering, the fuel system and the electrical system, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Civic?

The 2021 Honda Civic received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 5 stars (9.5% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 3,104 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.

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