Today, February 26, 2016, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is announcing a Product Update for certain Accord, Civic, CR-Z, Fit, and Insight model years 2014-2016 vehicles for sale in the state of Hawaii to amend Monroney labels that were printed without bumper impact information. Basic Problem American Honda had a computer programming issue; an obsolete program name causing printing of no bumper impact information on the Monroney label for the state of Hawaii.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Honda Civic engine problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Honda Civic have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Civic | 10 |
| 2012 Civic | 14 |
| 2013 Civic | 14 |
| 2014 Civic | 11 |
| 2015 Civic (this page) | 12 |
| 2016 Civic | 55 |
| 2017 Civic | 33 |
| 2018 Civic | 28 |
| 2019 Civic | 14 |
1fire
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
Service bulletin - There is a chirping from the engine area while driving on rough roads in hot weather. The side engine mount's internal components are rubbing together, causing a noise.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a pattern of serious engine and drivetrain failures on 2015 Civics. One owner's piston and connecting rod ejected through the block at highway speeds; insurance and independent experts ruled it mechanical, not collision-related. Another owner's CVT transmission pulley system failed at 130,000 miles, dropping the car to 35 MPH with no warning lights. A third reports CVT shaft fracture and unintended reverse rolling.
Engine vibration and noise complaints are widespread. Multiple owners report metallic noise and shaking from the front end, particularly in reverse or at idle, especially with Econ mode on. One owner's dealer repositioned motor mounts but the problem returned. Separately, cold-start metallic chirping traced to the VTC (Variable Timing Control) actuator affects multiple Civics and Si models, yet dealerships decline to service it.
Transmission issues extend to fill caps and drain plugs that eject or vanish during operation, spraying fluid and allowing debris entry. Owners call this a known defect. One owner discovered a missing transmission cap at a routine oil change after 100-plus miles of driving with no visible service work.
An engine-bay fire ignited near the battery area months after dealership battery replacement. The owner notes Accords were recalled for similar fires while Civics were not. Dealers frequently dismiss vibration complaints as normal and decline to address VTC issues.
Same Honda Civic engine reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Piston and connecting rod failure
Piston ejected through engine block; owner alleges mechanical defect unrelated to prior collision damage. Repairs cost ~$8,000 including full engine replacement.
When: August 2022; prior collision occurred ~3 weeks before but manufacturer/insurance experts determined failure was mechanical, not collision-related
Symptoms owners cite: Piston ejected from engine block; Vehicle suddenly immobilized
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required, ~$8,000 in repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Balise Honda dealership stated they could do nothing; owner notes there are recalls on other model years
Engine vibration and noise with improper motor mounts
Abnormal vibration and metallic noise from front of engine, intermittent onset. Dealer repositioned lower and side motor mounts; issue recurred after repair.
When: 896 miles; failure mileage reported very early in vehicle life
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from front of engine; Vibration without warning; Intermittent occurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Lower motor mount and side motor repositioned
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of recurrence
VTC actuator noise on cold start
Metallic cutting or chirping sound during cold start, lasting ~5 seconds. Multiple dealerships identified VTC (Variable Timing Control) actuator as cause but declined to service, claiming no fix available.
When: Occurs on cold start
Symptoms owners cite: Metallic cutting/blade-like sound on cold start; Noise persists ~5 seconds then clears; Owner reports issue affects multiple 2014–2015 Civics
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealers identified VTC actuator as cause but stated repair unavailable or refused service
Engine vibration in reverse and at idle
Noticeable vibration on front-right passenger-side console during idle, in reverse (especially when turning), and with Econ mode activated. Dealer claims normal operation; owner disputes this and alleges poor engine mounting.
When: At idle and in reverse throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration at idle with or without emergency brake; Increased vibration in reverse, especially when cornering; More pronounced with Econ mode on; Vibration felt in front-right console area
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports others replaced engine mounts at low mileage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and Honda claim vibration is normal operation
CVT transmission pulley and shaft failure
CVT transmission pulley system failure causing sudden loss of power and vehicle unable to exceed 35 MPH despite running at 70 MPH initially. Separate report of CVT shaft fracture during operation with vehicle rolling in reverse without gear selection.
When: One failure at approximately 130,000 miles; timing of other shaft failure not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden complete loss of power while driving; Vehicle unable to accelerate above 35 MPH; No warning lights illuminated; CVT shaft fracture and unintended reverse roll
Transmission fill cap/plug extrusion and loss
Transmission fill cap or drain plug frequently pops out or ejects from engine due to internal pressure buildup, allowing debris entry into transmission fluid. Multiple reports indicate this is a known issue. Owner reports missing transmission cap that vanished between service visits with no evidence of work done.
When: During operation; one owner discovered missing cap at routine oil change visit after hundreds of miles driven
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission cap/plug ejects or pops out during driving; No warning before ejection; Transmission fluid sprays out; Missing or lost cap after service
Repairs/costs cited: Fluid flush and replacement plus new cap required; owner notes others report same issue
Engine bay fire near battery
Fire started in engine bay near battery area while vehicle parked. Battery installed less than 9 months prior at Honda dealership. Owner notes Accords were recalled for battery fires but Civics were not.
When: May 14, 2020, shortly after battery replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Fire in front of engine bay; Fire in battery area
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for Civics; owner alleges related Accord recall exists
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Honda Civic?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 101,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2015/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.