Is the 2017 Honda Civic a bad year?
606 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Civic years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2017 Honda Civic are in line with other Civic years. Steering stands 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 2017 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 46,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 174 (29%) | 26k–80k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 37 (6%) | 6k–48k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel system | 34 (6%) | 15k–84k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 29 (5%) | 6k–51k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 104 (17%) | 8k–42k miles · mostly behind | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 68 (11%) | 8k–38k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 37 (6%) | 6k–32k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 37 (6%) | 12k–36k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 25 (4%) | 10k–35k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 13 (2%) | 3k–22k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 11 (2%) | 8k–32k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 9 (1%) | 2k–26k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Collision avoidance | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 6 (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 46,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 606 complaints: 23 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 19 say the car was towed.
76 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I do oil change by myself. Here I am reporting fuel dilution of engine oil issue on my car. The second last time of my car's oil change was on march 16 2019.
Fuel is mixing with oil. Oil dipstick reads higher when checked. Engine performance is sluggish. When checking oil, there is a strong gasoline smell.
Vehicule stalling while driving on the highway at a speed of 60 MPH all warning lights pop up, vehicule loss power until stall.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 46,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2017 Honda Civic: 6
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 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. If the information is missing or improper, it can increase the risk of injury or a crash.
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. The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
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. If the seat-mounted air bags cannot not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury.
The right halfshaft may have been improperly heat treated, reducing its strength. The improper heat treatment can result in the halfshaft breaking, preventing the engine from moving the vehicle, and can allow a possible roll away situation if the parking brake is not engaged. This can increase 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: 218
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 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
2016 Civic: 1,082 complaints, keep it · 2018 Civic: 750 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 2017 Honda Civic a bad year?
606 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Civic years. At 46,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Honda Civic?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (174), brakes (37), fuel system (34), transmission and drivetrain (29), electrical system (104).
How many recalls does the 2017 Honda Civic have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 26V-332), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Equipment (NHTSA 18V-817), Steering (NHTSA 18V-663) 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.