Is the 2014 Honda Civic a bad year?
292 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 97, 7.5× a quiet Civic year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 7.5× the complaints of a quiet Civic year, spread over 8k–104k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 Civic owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 57,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 97 (33%) | 8k–104k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 57 (20%) | 29k–88k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 39 (13%) | 16k–72k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 26 (9%) | 5k–74k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Wheels | 23 (8%) | 3k–60k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Speed control | 9 (3%) | 4k–68k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 7 (2%) | 3k–57k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 18 (6%) | 6k–47k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 18 (6%) | 1k–21k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 15 (5%) | 10k–50k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 13 (4%) | 7k–34k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 6 (2%) | 3k–26k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 57,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 292 complaints: 30 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 19 report an injury · 26 say the car was towed.
14 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My vehicle transmission went out on the highway brakes locking up then smoking. I was told by Honda it wasn't covered by warranty but later found out it was a defect in the transmission which would cause the breakdown.
I bought the car brand new in early 2015. Never had so much as a slip in the transmission. Got a recall notice in 2015 about a sensor for making the "Check tire pressure" Light stay on when starting the car.
I have currently lodged more than six complaints with this agency in regard to a 2014 Honda Civic I purchased new from frank fletcher Honda in bentonville, ar.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 57,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2014 Honda Civic: 2
The software settings that control the transmission operation may result in damage to the transmission drive pulley shaft. If the transmission drive pulley shaft is damaged, it may break, and the vehicle may lose acceleration or the front wheels may lock up while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, during mounting of the tires, the tire bead may have gotten pinched between the assembly equipment and the steel wheel rims, resulting in damage to the tire. The tire damage could cause the tire to lose air, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 66
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 Honda Civic. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
There is a clicking or grinding noise when making turns
American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2014-2015 Civic CVTs with a condition of the left axle seal leaking
Engineering request for investigation - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2014-2015 Civic CVTs with a condition of the left axle seal leaking
Yesterday, september 11, 2015, american Honda notified NHTSA ofa safetyrecallfor APPROXIMATELY123,0832014-15 Civic & 20,5932015 fit vehicles due to drive shaft…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Electrical overstress
Neighbouring years
2013 Civic: 319 complaints, keep it · 2015 Civic: 381 complaints, consider selling.
Every Honda Civic year
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Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2014 Honda Civic a bad year?
292 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 97, 7.5× a quiet Civic year. At 57,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 7.5× the complaints of a quiet Civic year, spread over 8k–104k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Honda Civic?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (97), air bags (57), electrical system (39), engine (26), wheels (23). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 8k–104k miles.
How many recalls does the 2014 Honda Civic have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 15V-574), Tires (NHTSA 14V-109). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.