Honda Civic problems
312 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Steering: 37 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 11,788–65,300 mi
- Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
The car body exterior is showing significant paint problems on the roof and the back trunk door. The paint is chalking and paint on the front is cracked.
A side impact collision that resulted in the tire snapping off the frame and the airbags did not deploy. Astonished by the craftsmanship of the wheel assembly because of how easily the tire can snap off. The other driver speed at impact was approximately 30+mph. This is not a…
"takata recall" I received a card in mail sayingthat there was a class action settlement on the takata airbags. This card advised me to go to the website to find out if my Honda civic was part of this settlement. And whether I should go to the Honda dealer to check if I needed…
Also wasn't able to select the steering, the speed control brakes and the wheels/tires. The car has completely shut off while driving going 60 on the highway. Since I've got this car it's been a huge pain and has been in the shop nearly the entire time I've had it. I'm…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2013 Honda Civic reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 312 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Honda Civic is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2013 Honda Civic?
The 2013 Honda Civic is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Steering: 37 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 11,788–65,300 mi; Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2013 Honda Civic?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 99 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 61,791 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 61,791 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Honda Civic has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Honda Civic?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 312 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.