How the 2023 compares
Too new to judge fully
It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Civic year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the steering, which half of owners reported by about 10,000 miles.
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 259 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Honda Civic. The most reported problem area is the steering (192, 74% of complaints), followed by the driver assist systems and the electrical system. That ranks 10th of 13 Civic years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 4 recalls.
Complaints259filed with NHTSA
Recalls4for this model year
Crashes1912 injuries reported
Fires0reported in complaints
2 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 2023 Honda Civic before you buy.
Steering
192 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 10,000 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
This car had a previous safety recall for steering components "sticking", creating an unsafe driving situation. The recall was performed, however the problem still persists and the steering is still unsafe, sticking, and jerks left to right. This possesses an actual risk of motor vehicular crash, injury, or death. Regardless of how…Owner complaint, filed 2026
steering feels sticky & i have to apply force just to keep the steering wheel centered when traveling at a high rate of speed as it feels as if the steering wheel is stuck causing me to over correct my steering. when driving through a curve, my steering wheel gets stuck and i can let go of the wheel and it will remain in place. this…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Driver assist systems
31 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Assist (16), Warnings (10), Automatic emergency braking (10).
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
I am the first owner, when i start lane keep assist feature, everytime it steers the car right side, after 10 seconds when it shows the light on dash to (keep your hands on steering wheel) i have steer hard to keep in middle of lane and you have to do it 3 to 4 times to use the lane keep assist feature accurately.Owner complaint, filed 2026
The front camera is inoperative. None of the safety features like automatic emergency braking are working. Dealer inspected and said needs a new camera which they can order.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Electrical system
17 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
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
When I first got the car. I had the cigarette lighter go out and the car had about 29,000 miles on it. The put two fuses and they blown. Now my car ac has went out. I have been told by a professional that the car sounds like it has a lot an electric issue. I have a friend who has the same issue with the same car with her CarPlay and…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The steering wheel is very very hard to turn some times when making minors adjustments on the highway to keep in the centre of the lane; only happen on high speed, sometimes 50km/h-80km/h the issue occurs too. However, after a while, it’s even more noticeable and it happens more frequently and at low speed too. Right now, it happens very…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Brakes and stability control
14 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
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
Honda brake hold system signals as ‘HOLD’ but car continues to roll, and then abruptly stops later than intended. This can cause an accident with pedestrians or other cars and injure passengers from the abrupt movement of the system that is not supposed to move.Owner complaint, filed 2023
I have a christmas tree of lights on my dashboard, I cant use my cruise control or lane assist features. I took my car to a Honda dealership to have a diagnostic done and found that the EPB on the left rear brake was bad. I changed it out and had the computer reset to find that the car is still having issues and now I'm being told to…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Wheels and tires
9 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
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 January 23, I first noticed a severe alignment problem, as the car felt unstable and was veering in one direction. I took the vehicle to Mavis Tire Shop, where an alignment was performed. Initially, the car felt fine, but the same issue reoccurred on February 6. I then took the vehicle to DCH Paramus Honda for a recall inspection and…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Tires had 17,000 miles on them and had to be “warrantied out” by the manufacturer. These tires had no grip and weren’t made for a car with sound dampening materials. I was told by the manufacturer that the reason the road noise got worse was the technologies were fighting against each other. More importantly, I experienced rapid wear.…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Engine and cooling
8 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
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
Clutch began to slip at 20,000 miles. This caused unrepairable damage to the flywheel. This put my safety at risk as clutches wearing out could cause the car to slip out of gear and/or damage the maneuverability of the vehicle. This problem was fixed by the dealer, but they blamed me for the damage and claimed clutch is a wear component.…Owner complaint, filed 2026
On over a dozen occasions my vehicle’s check engine light randomly comes on and then my car stalls out while driving and begins decelerating quickly. It is very dangerous and scary when this has happened on the freeway or in places where there is nowhere to pull off the road. My Honda Civic is less than 2 years old and has already been…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Transmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
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
Premature clutch failure. No longer available for inspection as the car has since been repaired. Safety of myself and family put at risk due to clutch failure/slippage as car was unable to hold a gear resulting in the inability to accelerate properly. Additionally, safety of others was put at risk as the failure to hold a gear resulted…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The headgasket failed prematurely at 76,000 miles causing coolant to begin leaking out of the vehicle. The safety of myself and others is put at risk because a head gasket blowing caused the car to lose power on the way home from work which has caused me to have to slow down and not be able to start again. This causes other vehicles to…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Air bags
8 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
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
During a collision on July 7, the airbag initiated but did not deploy. The car is available for inspection upon request. The safety of the driver was put at risk because the airbag did not deploy when intiated. The driver is not injured, but the car cannot be driven due to the airbag posing a risk to the driver. No one has inspected the…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Gentlemen: On August 11, 2025, the 2023 Honda Civic, VIN # [XXX] , was involved in an accident on the Miami/Gainesville Highway, resulting in a side impact with a truck. Fortunately, nothing serious happened to the health of my son, who was driving the vehicle. However, I am writing to you, motivated by the fact that I notified Honda USA…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Suspension
5 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
Following a drivetrain repair at Gary Yeomans Honda, the vehicle was returned to me in an unsafe driving condition. Specifically, the technician left unsecured heavy metal tools (a pry bar and screwdriver) loose in the engine bay, failed to torque a structural fastener, and rendered the rear brake light completely non-functional while…Owner complaint, filed 2026
I bought a 2023 Honda Civic Sport from Carvana four months ago. Ever since I bought the car I have been experiencing sticky steering and rattling in the front of my car. It is constant, and even worse at high speeds. I had it diagnosed at Honda, and the Power Steering Rack needs replaced. As far as I can tell from all of my research…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Cruise control and acceleration
4 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
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
Phantom braking when there is no cars or anything on the road. The car would immediately brake out no where. It could cause an accident randomly braking when using cruise control.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Under multiple conditions, both intercity highways and two-lane country highways the cars adaptive cruise control with randomly slowdown/brakes extremely hard. In one specific instance I was driving home in the middle of the night with a vehicle behind me and with no other oncoming traffic or cars in passing lanes and the adaptive cruise…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Seats and seat belts
4 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
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 contact owns a 2023 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front driver's side seat was shaking, and the recliner was wobbly. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and it was determined that the front driver’s side seat was not installed properly. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 14,000 miles
Driver seat and the seat belt squeaking. Started at 3k miles. Usually at lower speeds, sometimes the seat belt is squeaking even just if I’m breathing. Makes me worry about the quality of the assembly of parts.Owner complaint, filed 2023
Body, doors and structure
4 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
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
Report: Peeling white pearl paint on my Honda civic. The car is 3 years old and already on the hood peeling off. I-Car certified body shop looked at the car and immediately said factory defect upon testing. They have told me no primer for paint to adhere to... will force me to repaint entire hood and front bumper. Honda has unjustifiably…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Rear hatchback fills internally with water and only drains when tailgate is raised. Standing water and freeze/thaw cycle has potential to damage electrical components (taillights, rear camera, license plate light, rear defroster, rear wiper). This issue has been confirmed by Honda dealer, but they have been unable to fix it after 3…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Lights, wipers and visibility
4 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
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
This is to bring attention to the hazards associated with the LED car lights in new cars. You must be aware of complaints that these car headlights are beyond too bright and pose risk to drivers at night. I specifically try not to drive at night because of this hazard. These light are blinding when viewed from oncoming traffic. This is a…Owner complaint, filed 2026
For the 2023 honda civic when you turn on the headlights the front and rear defrost buttons are not illuminated. This is a serious safety issue. At night if you have condensation on either the front or rear windows you are unable to see the buttons for defrost since they are not illuminated. Honda of america tells me this is standard…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Fuel system
2 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
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
Car bought at 405 mph gas ⛽️ filled. Subsequently this mph gas started reducing from 405 to 395 to 390 to 380 to 375 and now it is on 367. Thus, the description of this vehicle with a full tank of 400 plus is false and wrong. Got pictures of some of these changes.Owner complaint, filed 2024
On over a dozen occasions my vehicle’s check engine light randomly comes on and then my car stalls out while driving and begins decelerating quickly. It is very dangerous and scary when this has happened on the freeway or in places where there is nowhere to pull off the road. My Honda Civic is less than 2 years old and has already been…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Honda Civic complaints by year
Compare the 2023 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2023 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Honda Civic | Too new to judge | 4 |
| 2023 Toyota Corolla | Too new to judge | 3 |
| 2023 Mazda Mazda3 | Too new to judge | 0 |
| 2023 Hyundai Elantra | Too new to judge | 2 |
2023 Honda Civic recalls
This is every recall issued for the 2023 Honda Civic, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.
Seats Critical fasteners
- Risk
- An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the driver's seat cushion frame, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Pilot, and 2024 HR-V, Acura Integra and Acura Integra Type S vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in an unsecured seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems."
Steering
- Risk
- Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle.
Steering Rack and pinion
- Risk
- A damaged tire can fail and increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the electric power steering rack, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Civic 4-door and Civic 5-door vehicles that received a replacement power steering rack as part of a service repair. The steering rack may have been incorrectly assembled, which can allow the tire to chafe against the lower suspension or tie rod end, possibly resulting in tire damage.
Brakes Control unit / module
- Risk
- Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel.
2023 Honda Civic questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Honda Civic?
The most reported problem areas on the 2023 Honda Civic are the steering (192 complaints), the driver assist systems (31 complaints) and the electrical system (17 complaints).
Is the 2023 Honda Civic a good year to buy?
Too new to judge fully. It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Civic year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the steering, which half of owners reported by about 10,000 miles. 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 2023 Honda Civic have?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2023 Honda Civic. The most recent, from Nov 2024, covers the critical fasteners. 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 2023 Honda Civic problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the steering gave a mileage of about 10,000 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.
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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model