SAFETY RECALL: BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SWITCH MAY FAIL.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Honda Civic lighting problems
moderate 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of Honda Civic in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Civic has a pattern of electrical and mechanical failures in the lighting and visibility systems. The third brake light—an LED unit mounted center-high—suffers from poor solder connections that break due to vibration, affecting multiple owners with identical failure modes. Rear brake light switches fail in the 70k–100k mile range; some burn out with silicone leaking inside, and failure can also lock the transmission in Park. Bulb and fuse checks prove good, but the switch itself is defective—Honda's service bulletins reference defect code 5EY00 for certain VINs, yet no recall was issued.
Owners report that touching the turn signal lever causes the headlights to cut off intermittently, pointing to a combination switch problem similar to recalls on earlier model years—but the 2006 was not included. Headlight lenses cloud regardless of preventative care, reducing output. The daytime running lights and permanently lit dashboard create a dangerous illusion: drivers think their exterior lights are on when only reduced-power headlights engage, a hazard at dusk and low-light driving.
Factory fog lights have non-tempered glass lenses that shatter from normal road debris on paved roads. Sun visors separate at the shaft connection and fail to retract, obstructing the driver's view—even after Honda replacements, they fail again every six months, especially in summer.
Same Honda Civic lighting reports on nearby years: 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Third brake light (center high-mounted) LED solder joint failure
LED solder connections on both sides of the third brake light assembly come undone due to vibration and poor initial soldering. The tight wire routing makes re-soldering difficult, and the joint fails again after repair.
When: Reported at various mileages; owners report it as a recurring issue across 2006 Civic EX models
Symptoms owners cite: Third brake light does not illuminate; Visible broken solder joints on LED assembly; Intermittent operation after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Owner re-soldered the joint as temporary fix; dealers quote $1000 for full LED light replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda has not issued a recall despite multiple owners reporting the same failure pattern
Rear brake light switch failure
Brake light switch fails, preventing rear brake lights from operating. On some vehicles, the switch also burns out with silicone lubrication leaking onto internal contacts. The failure can also prevent the vehicle from shifting out of Park.
When: Around 70,000 to 100,000 miles; one case reported within months after 5-year warranty expiration
Symptoms owners cite: Rear brake lights do not illuminate during braking; Both rear brake lights fail simultaneously while center high-mounted light still works; Unable to shift out of Park; Bulbs and fuses are good but lights remain off
Codes mentioned: 5EY00
Repairs/costs cited: Switch replacement required; independent mechanic repair noted; one owner mentioned brake position switch repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda service bulletins reference defect code 5EY00 for VINs beginning JHMFA1; Honda has not issued a recall per owner reports
Combination switch causing headlight dropout
Touching the turn signal lever causes the headlights to turn off momentarily. The issue is intermittent and appears to be a known problem in earlier Honda model years that were recalled, but the 2006 model year was not included.
When: Manifested shortly after 5-year bumper-to-bumper warranty expiration
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights turn off when turn signal is touched lightly; Headlights come back on when turn signal is released; Intermittent occurrence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Earlier Honda model years recalled for combination switch problem; 2006 model year not recalled
Headlight clouding and reduced output
Headlight lenses cloud and oxidize over time, reducing light output and visibility. One owner states this occurs regardless of preventative attempts and presents a safety risk if drivers cannot see or be seen.
When: Occurs over the life of the vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight lenses become cloudy and opaque; Reduced light output from headlights; Continued clouding despite preventative measures
Daytime running lights creating confusion about headlight status
The combination of daytime running lights and an always-illuminated dashboard confuses drivers into believing their exterior lights are fully on when actually only reduced-power headlights are engaged. This creates a safety hazard at dusk and during low-light conditions.
When: At dusk and during low-light driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Driver unaware that full exterior lights are not on; Only reduced-power headlights on while daytime running lights mislead driver; Other drivers unable to see the vehicle properly in low light
Factory fog light lens breakage
Non-tempered glass fog light lenses break under normal driving conditions when struck by road debris. The glass lacks any protective covering and is not designed to withstand impact from debris on paved roads.
When: Multiple occurrences reported; owner experienced 3 breakages from August 2006 through complaint date
Symptoms owners cite: Fog light lens cracks or shatters from road debris impact; Complete lens failure
Repairs/costs cited: Lens replacement required multiple times; owner reports 3 replacements needed since new purchase
Sun visor separation from mounting shaft
Both sun visors separate at the connection point to the mounting shaft. The visors fail to return fully to the headliner, causing a visual obstruction. The problem recurs every 6 months even after Honda replaces the visors, particularly during summer months.
When: Recurring every 6 months; noted as especially problematic during summer
Symptoms owners cite: Visor separates from mounting shaft; Visor remains extended and obstructs driver vision; Visor fails to retract to headliner
Repairs/costs cited: Honda has replaced visors twice per owner report, but failures persist
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda has performed warranty replacements but has not redesigned the unit despite recurring failures
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had lighting trouble with your 2006 Honda Civic?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2006 Honda Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 73,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Honda/Civic.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.