One of the worst Civic years
Owners filed about 2.6 times as many complaints as a typical Civic year. The main thing to watch is the steering, which half of owners reported by about 39,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2020 and 2021.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Civic years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 1,082 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Honda Civic. The most reported problem area is the steering (446, 41% of complaints), followed by the electrical system and the brakes and stability control. That is the most complaints of any Civic year from 2012 to 2024. It has 5 recalls.
4 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2016 Honda Civic before you buy.
Steering
446 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 39,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
Power steering rack needs replacement. No damage cause by myself. Later models of the same vehicle have recalls on the power steering rack. The steering wheel will “stick” when driving and i’ll have to use excessive force to turn the wheel even just slightly causing the vehicle to jerk around.Owner complaint, filed 2026
When driving at highway speeds/long distances, steering occasionally gets stiffer to the point where it will stick and require more force to free. This leads to overcorrections and constant adjustments for the duration of the drive, as well as difficulty staying in a lane. Issue can usually only be replicated when driving longer…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Electrical system
119 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 27,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while getting maintenance work performed on the vehicle , her mechanic discovered a mileage discrepancy through a Carfax report. The contact stated that she was given a Carfax report upon purchase of the vehicle; however, the report she was given did not…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 190,000 miles
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Honda Civic in October 2024. The contact stated that while attempting to trade the vehicle at the dealer, the Carfax Report indicated a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. The contact stated that at the time of purchase, the odometer reading was 109,000; however, the Carfax…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 172,000 miles
Brakes and stability control
111 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact's parent owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the parent was parking into a parking space, and straightening the steering wheel; the brake pedal depressed but the vehicle continued to drive. Several warning messages were displayed "Vehicle Stability Assist Problem", "Power System Steering Problem", "Hill…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 48,000 miles
Honda knew of an issue with their Electronic Parking Brake system which required a software update per service bulletin 17-007 since January 17, 2017. Honda claims that the issue was not associated with my 2016 Civic Coupe EXL VIN however on Oct 29, 2023 my Civic threw this error which then cost me $112 for the service center to diagnose…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Engine and cooling
99 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 29,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
I was driving my vehicle on the highway and I experienced a loss of power / limp mode and my car started decelerating very quickly and I pulled off and parked because I got super scared of driving and when I tried to start my vehicle back up it would not turn back on. I found a recall describing the exact scenario I went through and it…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was running with the A/C unit activated, there was an abnormal odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. Additionally, while the A/C unit was activated, only hot air was coming from the vents. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 106,000 miles
Lights, wipers and visibility
90 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 9,000 miles. Parts named most: Defroster / defogger / HVAC system (9).
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
My A/C system experienced a total failure at around 79,000 miles. I took the vehicle to a service center, and they confirmed the failure is the A/C Evaporator. This component is now broken and available for inspection upon request. This evaporator failure is an extremely common, widely reported issue across this generation of vehicles…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, there was an abnormally loud pop coming from the sunroof. There was no warning light. Illuminated. Upon inspection, the contact became aware of a large hole in the sunroof glass. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 166,655 miles
Body, doors and structure
48 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (44).
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
The paint on my car has been chipping nonstop and I have called Honda multiple times about the issue and they will not correct nor acknowledge the problem. This issue has been occurring before 2025, it got even worse in 2025Owner complaint, filed 2026
The paint is flaking all areas surrounding the rear windshield which will cause rust damage and may lead to rear windshield needing to be replacedOwner complaint, filed 2026
Transmission and drivetrain
36 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 36,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
The CVT transmission causes the car to stall when gaining acceleration past 20 mph-40 mph from a complete stop and when slowing down and then trying to gain rpm with flow of traffic whether on streets or highways. This can cause a safety concern for the driver if the car stalls out in the middle of oncoming traffic in the streets or…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Upon a quick right turn into traffic, the right front drive axle shaft snapped in two, leaving the vehicle without propulsion.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Fuel system
30 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road; however, after the vehicle was restarted the vehicle operated normally. The failure was a persistent failure. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 100,000 miles
My transmission light has been on for over a year. After visiting to private mechanics- diagnostic testing from both confirm an EVAP leak. They did smoke tests and nothing came back. After visiting credit karma. Under property, as I own my vehicle it states that there is a “Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump recall” documented on…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Air bags
28 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 31,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2016 HONDA Civic. The contact stated she noticed a air bag module suddenly illuminated on the instrumental panel on it's owns with no previous damage on the vehicle. The contact referenced a NHTSA campaign, but could not provided a recall number, stated her VIN was not included in the recall repair but believe that the…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 28,000 miles
2016 Honda civic EX steering wheel airbags and front passenger airbags didn’t deploy during my husbands wreck. He totaled the car…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Wheels and tires
26 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
On July 19,2021 I purchased a complete 4 set of tires from Pensacola Honda and the service advisor knowingly put the wrong tires on my vehicle and i Didn't notice until today that they were wrong tires that i purchased. tires put on vehicle: Continental pro contact 215/50/R17 CORRECT TIRES SIZES: 215/55/R16Owner complaint, filed 2022
Tire size: 215 / 50 R 17 While driving on a highway, a tire pressure warning appeared. Shortly after, theTPMS malfunction light came on and immediately the driver side rear tire blew out. My car spun 360 degrees and I managed to bring it to a stop. Luckily the cars behind me slowed down while I maneuvered to the curb. I was on a…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Cruise control and acceleration
17 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 3,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
Each time I drove my car the tire pressure light would flash before the ABS, brake system, power steering and traction lights would come on and the dealership could not find the problem although my car would not accelerate and the speed sensor has already been changed because only one went bad prior. 3 times to the dealership and no…Owner complaint, filed 2023
The vehicle cruise control picks up speed when going down hill. The honda dealership stated that the vehicle is a base model and does not have adaptive cruise control, therefore, according to them, is working as designed. The "design" has a serious safety flaw as the driver must constantly be aware of the terrain and speed of the vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 15,206 miles
Driver assist systems
13 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (6).
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
Similar to the Honda recall issued today for the reverse camera failures, I have found a recurring problem with the 2016 Honda Civics. The dashboard screen should show the back-up camera when in reverse, as well as the backward-facing camera mounted on the right side mirror when the right turn signal is on. More often than not, the…Owner complaint, filed 2023
I was driving through an intersection, the car ahead of me was turning right and I was behind them with plenty of distance. They turned right and I followed straight. However my emergency braking system decided the car was very close, and better yet after it had already turned, decided I was about to have a collision with nobody in front…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Seats and seat belts
8 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 0 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
The weld on the front drivers seat failed and the seat frame has come apart. The seat is unstable and could in an accident not keep me safe in the vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2024
I bought a 2016 honda civic lx sedan the seats do not hold my body in place while driving left knee hits driver door when turning right right knee hits console when turning left short bottom seat, thighs are unsupported back of seat hard/painful arms and legs go numb within first 10 minutes of drivingOwner complaint, filed 2016, at 64 miles
Suspension
6 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2016 honda civic. While driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel warning indicators illuminated and the vehicle shook. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (roseburg honda, 1950 nw mulholland dr, roseburg, or 97470, (541)-672-6227), but a failure was not found. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 30,000 miles
My front driver side wheel completely detached from the vehicle’s body while I was driving home causing the left side of my car to collide with the street pavement and skid to a stop. The driver door airbags deployed, fluid leaked from under the vehicle and the bottom driver side of the car was damaged including the back left wheel/tire.…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Honda Civic complaints by year
Compare the 2016 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2016 compact cars
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Honda Civic | Among the worst years | 5 |
| 2016 Toyota Corolla | About average | 1 |
| 2016 Mazda Mazda3 | About average | 6 |
| 2016 Hyundai Elantra | About average | 2 |
2016 Honda Civic recalls
Air bags Front passenger
- Risk
- Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Fuel system Fuel pump
- Risk
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Parking brake
- Risk
- If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to allow the EPB to engage immediately after the ignition is turned off, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Lights
- Risk
- If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect both the taillight assemblies, replacing them as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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."
Engine and cooling
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
2016 Honda Civic questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Honda Civic?
The most reported problem areas on the 2016 Honda Civic are the steering (446 complaints), the electrical system (119 complaints) and the brakes and stability control (111 complaints).
Is the 2016 Honda Civic a good year to buy?
One of the worst Civic years. Owners filed about 2.6 times as many complaints as a typical Civic year. The main thing to watch is the steering, which half of owners reported by about 39,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2020 and 2021. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Civic years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2016 Honda Civic have?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 Honda Civic. The most recent, from May 2026, covers the front passenger. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2016 Honda Civic problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the steering gave a mileage of about 39,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the electrical system gave a mileage of about 27,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Honda Civic years should I avoid?
The Civic years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2016. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2020 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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