Is the 2016 Honda Civic a bad year?
1,082 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Civic years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2016 Honda Civic are in line with other Civic years. Steering, brakes and visibility and wipers stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 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 40,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 446 (41%) | 26k–53k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 94 (9%) | 6k–45k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 67 (6%) | 5k–42k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 119 (11%) | 6k–44k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 99 (9%) | 10k–52k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 36 (3%) | 37k–98k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 30 (3%) | 11k–44k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 28 (3%) | 15k–60k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 27 (2%) | 5k–40k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 48 (4%) | 4k–34k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 30 (3%) | 0k–5k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 19 (2%) | 4k–33k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 17 (2%) | 3k–37k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Equipment | 15 (1%) | 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 40,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,082 complaints: 36 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 28 say the car was towed.
87 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
Ac system needs a new condensor and compressor due to leaking....car is not even 4 years old...this issue is ongoing and Honda has done nothing....not living up to reputation...this is my first and last honda.
My air condition compressor is defective and leaking the new very flammable refrigerant R1234YF gas out from the compressor itself.
A rodent crawled up into the engine compartment and chewed up the wires to coil connector. It made all of the dashboard warning lights to come on and the engine was shaking due to the mis-firing coil.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 40,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Honda Civic: 5
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The electric parking brake (EPB) may not engage if it is applied immediately after turning the ignition off. If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles may have a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly, making the marker light inoperable. Equipment." If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire.
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: 241
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Honda Civic. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire
Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on inspection cover
Under certain circumstances, the vehicle may experience driveability issues, which may result in DTCs P0300 (random misfire detected)…
Oil leak at the valve cover
Neighbouring years
2015 Civic: 381 complaints, consider selling · 2017 Civic: 606 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda Civic year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Civic years side by side
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 2016 Honda Civic a bad year?
1,082 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Civic years. At 40,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Honda Civic?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (446), brakes (94), visibility and wipers (67), electrical system (119), engine (99).
How many recalls does the 2016 Honda Civic have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 26V-332), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Parking brake (NHTSA 16V-725), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 16V-526) and more. 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.