Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Honda civic. The contact noticed oil leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the oil seal was missing and needed to be replaced. It was also diagnosed that the oil was leaking from between the engine block and the timing belt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…
2013 Honda Civic engine problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 14 engine complaints filed for the 2013 Honda Civic, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Civic has multiple critical issues: the push-button start allows the engine to shut off while driving (losing all brakes and power steering), throttle response is unreliable under acceleration, and early-life cylinder and transmission failures have occurred even on low-mileage, well-maintained examples. Avoid this model year.
Owners describe a pattern of serious safety failures. The most alarming is the push-button start system: pressing the start/stop button while driving shuts the engine down, instantly killing power steering and power brakes at highway speeds with no way to restart until the car stops and is shifted to Park—a hazard that has forced owners to coast to a stop by luck alone.
Throttle response is erratic: acceleration hesitates or disappears entirely when merging or turning, lasting a second or two and occurring even with Econ mode disabled. Honda Service acknowledged the issue affects other owners but offered no fix.
Engine durability is poor. One owner with 63,000 miles on a garage-kept, regularly serviced car experienced sudden number-two cylinder failure, uncontrolled shaking, and severe power loss on the highway. Another hit limp mode repeatedly above 40 mph; the dealer replaced four cylinder heads, spark plugs, and a CKR unit but the problem persisted.
Oil leaks surface at low mileage: missing oil seals at 36,000 miles, timing belt area leaks from insufficient sealant at the tensioner cover, and widespread timing chain tensioner cover seepage.
The transmission is weak. One owner's shift cable snapped at 23,000 miles on a carefully driven car; the transmission had already failed once before, and the owner fears a cable failure at highway speed.
The evap system check engine light triggers repeatedly; one owner's purge valve replacement lasted less than two months before the P0497 and P145C codes returned. AC condenser failures occur early, and owners report many similar complaints online with no manufacturer response.
Same Honda Civic engine reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Engine shut-off while driving (push-button start system)
Engine can be turned off by pressing the start/stop button while the vehicle is moving at highway speeds. Once off, power steering and power brakes are lost immediately, creating a life-threatening loss of control.
When: Highway speeds (55-60 mph); mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off mid-drive when start/stop button is pressed accidentally; Power steering becomes inoperable; Power brakes become inoperable; Vehicle cannot be restarted while moving (requires transmission to be in Park)
Cylinder failure with uncontrolled shaking and power loss
Number 2 cylinder failed without warning at 63,000 miles on a well-maintained, garage-kept vehicle. Engine power diminished severely, vehicle could barely accelerate on highway exit ramp.
When: 63,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle started shaking uncontrollably; Engine power diminished significantly; Difficulty accelerating (barely made it up exit ramp)
Repairs/costs cited: Cylinder #2 failed; repair cost $5,090.60, Honda covered 50% ($2,545.30); remainder not covered under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda covered 50% of repair costs, but no recall or TSB mentioned
Limp mode activation with sudden deceleration
Vehicle suddenly entered limp mode and decelerated to below 15 mph while driving at highway speeds (over 40 mph). Failure occurred multiple times. Dealer replaced cylinder heads, spark plugs, and CKR unit but issue persisted.
When: 130,000 miles; occurred multiple times
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suddenly switched to limp mode; Deceleration to less than 15 mph without driver input; Failure occurred repeatedly at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Four cylinder heads, spark plugs, and CKR unit replaced; failure continued after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of the failure
Oil seal missing / timing belt oil leak
Oil seal found missing during diagnosis at 36,000 miles. Oil leaking from between engine block and timing belt, indicating manufacturing or assembly defect.
When: 36,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking underneath vehicle; Oil visible between engine block and timing belt
Repairs/costs cited: Oil seal diagnosed as missing and needing replacement; repair not completed
Timing chain tensioner cover oil leak
Oil leak originating from the timing chain tensioner cover due to insufficient Hondabond sealant. Indicates assembly quality issue.
When: Mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak from timing chain tensioner cover
Repairs/costs cited: Cover plate removed, area cleaned, resealed with Hondabond, reinstalled; no leaks found after recheck
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer service performed repair
Acceleration hesitation / brief loss of throttle response
Throttle response delayed or absent when driver presses accelerator pedal, particularly after slowing down for turns. Occurs intermittently but unpredictably. Happens in both Normal and Econ modes. One owner reports loss of throttle for a second or two after turning.
When: Occurs since purchase; mileage varies
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation under acceleration, sometimes nearly stalling; Delayed or no throttle response when pressing accelerator; Loss of power during merging or after turning; Throttle unresponsive for 1-2 seconds at a time; Occurs in both Normal and Econ driving modes
Repairs/costs cited: Honda Service confirmed issue reported by other owners; owner attempted disabling Econ mode with no improvement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service acknowledged similar complaints from other owners but no fix offered
Evaporative emission system warning light and sensor malfunction
Check engine light repeatedly triggers for evap system issues. Purge flow valve was replaced but codes returned within two months. Issue worsens over time, now occurring daily instead of weekly. Multiple owners report same problem online, suggesting a design or manufacturing defect.
When: Worsening pattern: once every couple weeks, now every day
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light comes on and turns off intermittently; Occurs sporadically at warmer temperatures, regularly at lower temperatures; Problem frequency increasing over time
Codes mentioned: P0497 - Evaporative Emission System Low Purge Flow, P145C - Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Range/Performance Problem
Repairs/costs cited: Purge flow valve replaced; both error codes returned within two months; mechanic unable to diagnose root cause
AC condenser damage and cooling failure
AC condenser failed (reportedly from road debris) at unknown mileage. Service added refrigerant and dye to locate leak; cooling lasted only 3 hours before recurrence. Owner reports no recollection of striking debris and notes similar complaints from many other owners online despite no manufacturer improvement.
When: Mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: AC blowing hot air; Refrigerant leak that cannot be located; AC cooling restored briefly (3 hours) after service but fails again
Repairs/costs cited: Condenser replacement estimated at $535; refrigerant and dye added; leak not found initially
Transmission shift cable failure
Shift cable snapped on a low-mileage vehicle (23,000 miles) driven carefully. This occurred on a second transmission failure (first transmission broke earlier). Owner expressed safety concern that cable snap at highway speeds could cause loss of transmission control and accident.
When: 23,000 miles (second transmission issue)
Symptoms owners cite: Shift cable snapped; Transmission control lost
Repairs/costs cited: Shift cable repair required; not yet repaired; first transmission also failed at low mileage requiring repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda corporate investigator sent to determine if owner caused damage
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2013 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 engine problem on the 2013 Honda Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 19,700 and 63,981 miles, with the median around 39,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 19,700; a quarter make it past 63,981. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2013/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.