2016 Honda Civic problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 1,081 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Honda Civic, filed between 2015-12-10 and 2026-09-10. The most common problem areas are the steering (444, 41%), electrical system (119, 11%) and engine (95, 9%). Owners reported 36 crashes, 4 fires and 16 injuries in these complaints. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2016 Honda Civic complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 444 | 41% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown or other | 253 | 23% | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 119 | 11% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Engine | 95 | 9% | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 92 | 9% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 48 | 4% | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 47 | 4% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 37 | 3% | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 30 | 3% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 28 | 3% | 13 | 1 | 12 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 28 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 27 | 2% | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 20 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 19 | 2% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 17 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Steering: 444 complaints
- 444 complaints of 1,081 (41%) name the steering — the steering wheel, column, gear and power-steering assist.
- 15 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 4 crashes and 1 injury in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Honda Civic covers this system.
Electrical system: 119 complaints
- 119 complaints of 1,081 (11%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 26 of them also name the service brakes; owners reported 4 crashes and 3 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Honda Civic covers this system.
Engine: 95 complaints
- 95 complaints of 1,081 (9%) name the engine.
- 18 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 1 crash and 2 fires in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2016 Honda Civic; the recall, campaign 16V074000, says: “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.”
Service brakes: 92 complaints
- 92 complaints of 1,081 (9%) name the service brakes — the foot-brake system: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and ABS.
- 26 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 9 crashes in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Honda Civic covers this system.
Structure: 48 complaints
- 48 complaints of 1,081 (4%) name the structure — the body and frame structure.
- 9 of them also name the unknown or other; owners reported 4 crashes and 2 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Honda Civic covers this system.
Visibility/wiper: 47 complaints
- 47 complaints of 1,081 (4%) name the visibility/wiper — the windshield, windows, mirrors, wipers and defrosters.
- 11 of them also name the unknown or other; none of these complaints reports a crash, fire or injury.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Honda Civic covers this system.
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 116 |
| 2017 | 64 |
| 2018 | 63 |
| 2019 | 144 |
| 2020 | 141 |
| 2021 | 86 |
| 2022 | 78 |
| 2023 | 108 |
| 2024 | 103 |
| 2025 | 101 |
| 2026 | 75 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names CIVIC, CIVIC SI, model year 2016. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2016 Honda Civic recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Honda Civic?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2016 Honda Civic's most common problem areas are the steering (444 of 1,081 complaints), electrical system (119 of 1,081 complaints) and engine (95 of 1,081 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2016 Honda Civic have?
NHTSA has 1,081 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Honda Civic, including 36 reported crashes and 4 reported fires.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Honda Civic's problems?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 Honda Civic; 1 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.