2020 Honda Civic problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 231 owner complaints on file for the 2020 Honda Civic, filed between 2019-12-12 and 2026-09-23. The most common problem areas are the electrical system (37, 16%), power train (32, 14%) and air bags (31, 13%). Owners reported 15 crashes, 1 fire and 12 injuries in these complaints. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2020 Honda Civic complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 37 | 16% | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Unknown or other | 36 | 16% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Power train | 32 | 14% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 31 | 13% | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Steering | 29 | 13% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 24 | 10% | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 24 | 10% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 6% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 12 | 5% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 9 | 4% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 7 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 7 | 3% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Structure | 6 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.
Electrical system: 37 complaints
- 37 complaints of 231 (16%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 5 of them also name the forward collision avoidance; owners reported 3 crashes and 3 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 Honda Civic covers this system.
Power train: 32 complaints
- 32 complaints of 231 (14%) name the power train — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts and axles.
- 2 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 1 crash in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 Honda Civic covers this system.
Air bags: 31 complaints
- 31 complaints of 231 (13%) name the air bags — frontal, side and curtain air bags, their crash sensors and control module.
- 2 of them also name the seats; owners reported 5 crashes, 1 fire and 5 injuries in these complaints.
- 2 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2020 Honda Civic; the latest, campaign 26V332000, says: “The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.”
Steering: 29 complaints
- 29 complaints of 231 (13%) name the steering — the steering wheel, column, gear and power-steering assist.
- 2 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 2 crashes and 4 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 Honda Civic covers this system.
Forward collision avoidance: 24 complaints
- 24 complaints of 231 (10%) name the forward collision avoidance — forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking.
- 5 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 1 crash and 3 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 Honda Civic covers this system.
Fuel/propulsion system: 24 complaints
- 24 complaints of 231 (10%) name the fuel/propulsion system — the fuel tank, pump, lines, injectors and fuel-system controls.
- 7 of them also name the engine; none of these complaints reports a crash, fire or injury.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 Honda Civic covers this system.
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 29 |
| 2022 | 28 |
| 2023 | 30 |
| 2024 | 51 |
| 2025 | 51 |
| 2026 | 28 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names CIVIC, CIVIC HATCH, CIVIC HATCH TYPE-R, CIVIC HATCHBACK, CIVIC SI, model year 2020. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2020 Honda Civic recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Honda Civic?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2020 Honda Civic's most common problem areas are the electrical system (37 of 231 complaints), power train (32 of 231 complaints) and air bags (31 of 231 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2020 Honda Civic have?
NHTSA has 231 owner complaints on file for the 2020 Honda Civic, including 15 reported crashes and 1 reported fire.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Honda Civic's problems?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2020 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.