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NHTSA DATA · 2000–2026 MODEL YEARS
Honda Civic engine noise: what owners report
8,140 complaints to NHTSA, sorted: where the trouble is, which sounds owners describe, at what mileage, and what the manufacturer told its dealers. Then check your own Civic by sound, free.
The Honda Civic has 8,140 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2000–2026 model years. In 12% of them (958) the engine or the transmission is named. The system named most often is steering (1,913 complaints). Owners most often describe humming (50), grinding (48) and knocking (35). The median mileage on an engine or transmission complaint is 100,000 miles. NHTSA lists 198 manufacturer service bulletins that touch the engine or the transmission and 4 engine or transmission recall campaigns (of 44 in total). These are counts of unverified consumer reports, not failure rates.
NHTSA data through October 2026. Counted by PulsCar, updated 2026-11-09.
12%
of complaints name the engine or the transmission (958)
8,140
owner complaints to NHTSA, 2000–2026
100,000
median miles when an engine or transmission complaint is filed
198
service bulletins on engine or transmission
4
engine or transmission recalls (of 44)
Where owners say the problem is
Systems named in the complaints. One complaint can name several.
Steering
1,913
Engine
589
Transmission and drivetrain
362
Fuel and propulsion
223
Electrical system
217
Brakes
135
The sounds they describe
How often each word appears in the written complaints. The bigger the bubble, the more owners used it.
Humming50
Grinding48
Knocking35
Clunking32
Shuddering23
Ticking19
Rattling19
Whining9
Also written about: stalling (210) and misfiring (38).
What each sound points to
Among the complaints that use a word, how many name each system. This is how owners connect a sound to a part, not a diagnosis.
enginetransmissionbrakessteeringsuspensionelectrical system
“hum” 50
8%
4%
0%
14%
0%
4%
“grind” 48
15%
42%
17%
19%
10%
4%
“knock” 35
29%
23%
3%
43%
9%
3%
“clunk” 32
3%
28%
0%
62%
19%
0%
“shudder” 23
26%
48%
4%
13%
4%
17%
“tick” 19
16%
5%
5%
42%
0%
5%
Hover a cell. Each row: the complaints that use that word, and the systems the same owners name.
Complaints by model year
Last 15 model years. Older cars had more time to collect complaints: read it as a map, not a ranking.
’12
’13
’14
’15
’16
’17
’18
’19
’20
’21
’22
’23
’24
’25
’26
2016 model year: 1,081 complaints (the most)
At what mileage
Engine and transmission complaints, by the mileage on the car when it was filed.
24%
26%
33%
17%
Under 50,000 miles · 24%50,000 to 100,000 miles · 26%100,000 to 150,000 miles · 33%Over 150,000 miles · 17%
601 engine and transmission complaints state a mileage. Median: 100,000 miles.
Official records
Manufacturer service bulletins and recall campaigns on file with NHTSA. Tap a line to read it.
Confirm the noise by accelerating while the front wheels are turned sharply to the left and then again to the right.
Bulletin A18-043 · 2018-12-14
The vibration can be felt through the steering wheel or floor at idle The noise can be described as clunking or banging To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the…
Bulletin APaS07092018904 · 2018-07-30
Some may also describe it as a starter noise a pressure control valve is vibrating in the CVT lower valve body on a hot restart.
Bulletin A17-003 · 2017-06-30
The noise can be described as grinding, squeaking, groaning, rubbing or metallic to fully understand the cause of this condition, ahm would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a…
Bulletin A-PAS-09122013-9 · 2016-12-20
A service bulletin is a manufacturer’s instruction to dealers. It is not a recall and not a finding about any particular car.
RECALLS ON THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION
4of 44 recall campaigns
The right halfshaft may have been improperly heat treated, reducing its strength.
Campaign 17V706000
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.
Campaign 16V074000
The software settings that control the transmission operation may result in damage to the transmission drive pulley shaft.
Campaign 15V574000
During assembly, the process required to seat the driver s side driveshaft and set the retaining clip was not completed as a result, the driveshaft may separate.
Campaign 12V256000
Check any VIN for open recalls free at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
In NHTSA complaints about the Honda Civic, owners most often describe humming (50 complaints), grinding (48 complaints) and knocking (35 complaints). These are word counts in written complaints, not confirmed faults, and one complaint can use several words.
When a Honda Civic makes a hum noise, what do owners say it is?
Among the 50 Honda Civic complaints that use the word “hum”, 14% also name the steering. It shows how owners connect the sound to a part of the car; it is not a diagnosis.
At what mileage do Honda Civic engine and transmission complaints appear?
Of 601 Honda Civic engine and transmission complaints that state a mileage, 33% were filed between 100,000 and 150,000 miles, and the median is 100,000 miles.
Has Honda issued service bulletins or recalls for the Civic engine or transmission?
According to NHTSA, 198 service bulletins touch the engine or the transmission (2015–2026) and 4 of its 44 recall campaigns concern the engine or the transmission. A service bulletin is an instruction from the manufacturer to its dealers; it is not a recall and not a finding about any particular car. Check any VIN for open recalls free at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Can a sound check diagnose my Civic?
No. A sound check is not a diagnosis, because nobody has opened your engine. PulsCar’s free check analyses 30 seconds of audio and tells you what to ask a mechanic.
Check your Civic by sound
Film the engine for 30 seconds, idling, hood open. Two independent AI engines analyse the sound and you see the result on screen: a health score, the systems the sound can speak about and what to ask a mechanic.
What this data can and cannot tell you. NHTSA complaints are unverified consumer reports. These are counts, not rates: we do not know how many Honda Civic cars were sold or driven, so a higher count does not mean a worse car. A sound check is not a diagnosis, nobody has opened your engine. Data: NHTSA public database (nhtsa.gov), counted by PulsCar.
Safety first. If the engine overheats, the oil light is on or the car loses power while driving, stop and call a mechanic.