Honda Civic years to avoid (and the best years)
6,429 NHTSA owner complaints and 33 recalls across 17 model years, 2010 to 2026. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
Compared with: Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla
- 6,429complaints
- 33recalls
- 412reported crashes
- 45reported fires
- 317reported injuries
- 48reported deaths
Which Honda Civic years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Honda Civic years to avoid are 2016, 2022 and 2010. The typical Honda Civic year has 319 complaints on file.
- 2016: 1,080 complaints, 3.4 times the typical year. Most complaints name the steering (41% of complaints) and the electrical system (11% of complaints).
- 2022: 881 complaints, 2.8 times the typical year. Most complaints name the steering (83% of complaints) and the forward collision avoidance system (8% of complaints).
- 2010: 396 complaints, including 47 reports of a death. Most complaints name the airbags (24% of complaints) and the brakes (23% of complaints).
What are the best Honda Civic years?
The Honda Civic years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2021 (143), 2020 (224) and 2023 (254). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 28 | 0.1× | 0 | 2 | 2 | Few red flags | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2025 | 70 | 0.2× | 2 | 10 | 11 | Some concerns to check | Steering |
| 2024 | 122 | 0.4× | 3 | 12 | 11 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2023 | 254 | 0.8× | 4 | 19 | 12 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2022 | 881 | 2.8× | 4 | 34 | 19 | Approach with caution | Steering |
| 2021 | 143 | 0.4× | 4 | 5 | 2 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2020 | 224 | 0.7× | 5 | 15 | 12 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2019 | 429 | 1.3× | 4 | 26 | 19 | Some concerns to check | Fuel system |
| 2018 | 598 | 1.9× | 6 | 26 | 21 | Some concerns to check | Steering |
| 2017 | 592 | 1.9× | 6 | 23 | 13 | Some concerns to check | Steering |
| 2016 | 1,080 | 3.4× | 5 | 36 | 16 | Approach with caution | Steering |
| 2015 | 380 | 1.2× | 1 | 37 | 23 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2014 | 291 | 0.9× | 2 | 30 | 29 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2013 | 319 | 1.0× | 0 | 29 | 34 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2012 | 454 | 1.4× | 3 | 55 | 41 | Some concerns to check | Airbags |
| 2011 | 168 | 0.5× | 9 | 22 | 20 | Some concerns to check | Airbags |
| 2010 | 396 | 1.2× | 8 | 31 | 32 | Approach with caution | Airbags |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 2,321 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Steering, suspension & tires1,177 (51%)
- Brakes256 (11%)
- Other systems240 (10%)
- Engine & powertrain216 (9%)
- Airbags & seat belts195 (8%)
Recalls (33)
Airbags · 26V332000 · May 2026 · model years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Safety · 24V859000 · Nov 2024 · model years 2023, 2024
An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 24V763000 · Oct 2024 · model year 2025
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Steering · 24V744000 · Oct 2024 · model years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 24V064000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 23V858000 · Dec 2023 · model years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Steering · 23V704000 · Oct 2023 · model years 2022, 2023, 2024
A damaged tire can fail and increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Brakes · 23V458000 · Jun 2023 · model years 2020, 2021
Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 23V430000 · Jun 2023 · model year 2023
Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fuel system · 21V215000 · Mar 2021 · model years 2019, 2020
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 20V314000 · May 2020 · model years 2018, 2019
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 19V502000 · Jun 2019 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 19V378000 · May 2019 · model years 2010, 2011
An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 18V817000 · Nov 2018 · model years 2017, 2018
If the information is missing or improper, it can increase the risk of injury or a crash.
Airbags · 18V661000 · Sep 2018 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Steering · 18V663000 · Sep 2018 · model years 2017, 2018
The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 18V421000 · Jun 2018 · model year 2018
If the owner is not able to verify if their vehicle is involved in safety recall, it can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Airbags · 18V268000 · Apr 2018 · model years 2010, 2011
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 18V266000 · Apr 2018 · model year 2017
If the seat-mounted air bags cannot not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury.
Airbags · 18V042000 · Jan 2018 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Transmission · 17V706000 · Nov 2017 · model year 2017
The improper heat treatment can result in the halfshaft breaking, preventing the engine from moving the vehicle, and can allow a possible roll away situation if the parking brake is not engaged. This can increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 17V545000 · Aug 2017 · model years 2010, 2011
In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 17V030000 · Jan 2017 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Safety · 16V725000 · Oct 2016 · model year 2016
If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Exterior lighting · 16V526000 · Jul 2016 · model year 2016
If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 16V346000 · May 2016 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Engine · 16V074000 · Feb 2016 · model year 2016
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.
Transmission · 15V574000 · Sep 2015 · model years 2014, 2015
If the transmission drive pulley shaft is damaged, it may break, and the vehicle may lose acceleration or the front wheels may lock up while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tires · 14V109000 · Mar 2014 · model year 2014
The tire damage could cause the tire to lose air, increasing the risk of a crash.
Steering · 12V548000 · Nov 2012 · model year 2012
The steering column may not have proper energy absorbing characteristics, which could increase the risk of injury during a vehicle crash.
Transmission · 12V256000 · Jun 2012 · model year 2012
IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A LOSS OF DRIVE POWER AND MAY ROLL AWAY IF THE PARKING BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN SET WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH OR PEDESTRIAN INJURY.
Fuel system · 11V288000 · May 2011 · model year 2012
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fuel system · 11V176000 · Mar 2011 · model year 2011
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.