Honda Civic problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 3,012 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls for the Honda Civic. That averages 68.2 complaints per year on the road — more complaints than typical (index 1.69 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #9 of 9 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 21.9.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 225% above the 2018 and 2019 models (195 early complaints per model year versus 63).
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (200.3 complaints per year) and the 2021 model year the lowest (27.5). The 2022 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 68.2 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2020 and 2021 run at least 40% below this model's average of 68.2 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Steering (51.2% of complaints), followed by Fuel system (9.8%) and Unspecified or other (6.9%). Steering complaints are 8.0 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 167 complaints (5.5%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 114 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 350 complaints versus 534 in the previous 12 months — down 34%. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (69). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 25 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 14 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2023 (4). 2 NHTSA investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Momentary Increased Steering Effort” (engineering analysis, opened 2023-11-29, closed 2025-01-28).
Every other tracked model among Compact cars has fewer complaints per year, including Mazda Mazda3, Toyota Prius, Subaru Impreza and Kia Forte.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 602 | 68.5 | 1.7 | 3 | 6 | Steering | View › |
| 2019 | 453 | 58.2 | 1.44 | 69 | 4 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2020 | 234 | 34.5 | 0.85 | 40 | 5 | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 Fewest complaints | 159 | 27.5 | 0.68 | 40 | 4 | Steering | View › |
| 2022 ▲50%+ | 959 | 200.3 | 4.96 | 43 | 4 | Steering | View › |
| 2023 | 334 | 88.1 | 2.18 | 37 | 4 | Steering | View › |
| 2024 | 142 | 50.9 | 1.26 | 28 | 3 | Steering | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 98 | 54.8 | 1.36 | 61 | 2 | Steering | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 31 | 31.0 | 0.77 | 29 | 0 | Steering | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 350 · Previous 12 months: 534 Falling
Problem areas
Steering ›
1,541 · 51.2% · 7.98 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Fuel system ›
296 · 9.8% · 2.27 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Unspecified or other ›
208 · 6.9% · 0.77 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Electrical ›
202 · 6.7% · 0.43 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Engine ›
145 · 4.8% · 0.22 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Driver-assist systems ›
141 · 4.7% · 0.82 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Brakes ›
117 · 3.9% · 0.64 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Body & structure ›
101 · 3.4% · 0.37 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Airbags & seat belts ›
97 · 3.2% · 0.85 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Transmission / powertrain ›
83 · 2.8% · 0.24 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
50 · 1.7% · 0.66 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
25 · 0.8% · 0.45 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
6 · 0.2% · 0.13 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 25 months
What owners report
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Civic. The contact stated that after her daughter had shifted from reverse(R) to drive (D), the front passenger’s side air bag unexpectedly deployed without impact while the contact's boyfriend was in the front passenger’s seat.
I am writing to file a complaint regarding the air conditioning system failure in my 2020 Honda Civic Sport. The air conditioner in my vehicle began blowing hot air instead of cold air starting in January 2024.
Evaporator failed at 63,000 miles, resulting in poor window defogging during morning hours. The failed evaporator also led to loss of cabin cooling resulting in excessive heat stress during daytime operation.
I own a 2019 Honda Civic Hatchback LX that has experienced ongoing air conditioning system failures. Initially, the A/C would blow cold air at night or in cooler temperatures but struggled to provide adequate cooling during warmer weather.
While driving, the vehicle consistently exhibits a “wandering” or drifting sensation, especially at highway speeds. The steering wheel does not sit centered when driving straight, and small corrections are constantly required to keep the vehicle in its lane.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact cars
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda Mazda3 | 325 | 6.0 | 0.15 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Electrical |
| 2 | Toyota Prius | 262 | 7.2 | 0.18 | Stable | Rising | 11 | Electrical |
| 3 | Subaru Impreza | 499 | 8.5 | 0.21 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 13 | Body & structure |
| 4 | Kia Forte | 549 | 12.9 | 0.32 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 10 | Engine |
| 5 | Volkswagen Jetta | 870 | 17.0 | 0.42 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 22 | Engine |
| 6 | Nissan Sentra | 935 | 19.3 | 0.48 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Electrical |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | 1,147 | 26.7 | 0.66 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Engine |
| 8 | Hyundai Elantra | 1,434 | 28.7 | 0.71 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 19 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Civic | 3,012 | 68.2 | 1.69 | Worsening | Falling | 14 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 14
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (6) · 2019 (4) · 2020 (5) · 2021 (4) · 2022 (4) · 2023 (4) · 2024 (3) · 2025 (2) · 2026 (0)
Investigations
- Momentary Increased Steering Effort Closed
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Engineering Analysis (EA23003) to assess allegations of momentary increase in steering effort in model years (MY) 2022-2023 Honda Civic, 2023MY Honda CR-V, and 2023MY Acura Integra vehicles (subject vehicles). The complaints received by ODI alleged that the subject vehicles experienced a momentary increase in required steerin…
- Momentary Increased Steering Effort Closed
On March 17, 2023, The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE23-005) to access the alleged defect of momentary increase in steering effort in model years (MY) 2022 and 2023 Honda Civic vehicles. The complaints report that the momentary increase in steering effort (described as "sticky steering") occurs mostly at highway speeds after driving for a certain amount of …