The 2016 Honda Civic has 1,080 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 444 complaints (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
The problems owners report most, open recalls, and the mileage where failures cluster — straight from the NHTSA record, in seconds.
Reliability score
5.6 / 10
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
0
Critical
5
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2016 Civic?
High-risk ownership
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Electrical system: 98 complaints, classified severe
Brakes: 47 complaints, classified severe
Reliability score 5.6/10 — around the segment average
5 recall campaigns on file
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.
NHTSA crash-test safety ratings
5 / 5 overall
Overall★★★★★5/5
Frontal crash★★★★★4/5
Side crash★★★★★5/5
Rollover★★★★★5/5
Driver-assist features on the tested model:
Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2016 Honda Civic 2 DR FWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Buying a used 2016 Honda Civic? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
steering — 444 owner reports
· ~$700 to fix
electrical — 98 owner reports
· ~$850 to fix
engine — 56 owner reports
· ~$3,100 to fix
brakes — 47 owner reports
· ~$450 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged
severe on this model
.
Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 5 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
engine (~$3,100) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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The Civic is one of the most reliable cars on the road. The 2016 Civic is the year you have to be careful about — and the data is blunt about it. Pre-2016 Civics run a few hundred complaints a year; the 2016 jumps to over a thousand. It’s the launch year of the tenth generation, and it’s where a specific engine problem starts.
What 2016 introduced
The 2016 brought the redesign and the 1.5L turbocharged engine. That Honda 1.5T (L15B7) is on our worst-platforms list for one signature issue: fuel dilution of the oil. In cold/short-trip driving, fuel slips past the rings into the crankcase, the oil level rises, it thins out and loses its protective qualities, and bearing/cylinder wear accelerates. Honda issued service updates and warranty extensions over it.
The naturally aspirated 2.0L in the base 2016 Civic does not have this problem and is the safer engine on that year.
What to watch
A gas smell in the oil; oil level above full on the dipstick (the dilution tell)
Short-trip, cold-climate cars are the worst-affected — ask how it was driven
Confirm any oil-dilution-related software update or warranty extension was applied
Normal launch-year electronics/AC-condenser gripes also show up on 2016
Should you buy one?
A 2016 with the 2.0L — fine, treat it like a normal used Civic.
A 2016 with the 1.5T — buyable, but check the oil for fuel smell/over-full level, confirm the software update, favor a car that wasn’t a pure short-trip cold-climate commuter, and change oil on the shorter interval.
If you have flexibility, a 2017+ is meaningfully more sorted — same car, the launch bugs worked out.
It’s still a Civic underneath — durable bones. The 2016 is just the one year where you interrogate the engine before you buy. If you’re weighing a turbo one against a repair budget, run the warranty math on it; the 2.0L cars rarely need it.
What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2016 Civic· steering
Our civic's steering became very 'sticky' around 6 months ago and the problem develops at speed. The steering gets jerky and momentarily gets locked in a position that we need to fight against. We had a service scheduled at Honda and asked them to inspect the issue and they are…
Steering wheel sticks while attempting to drive straight causing the car to either drive to the right or left. This happens while driving for approximately 30 minutes or so and especially has an effect on the vehicle at higher speeds. Multiple forums and over 60+ complaints on…
Crack in windshield 5 months after purchasing the car from dealer. Was told it was not covered under manufacture or extended warranty. Replaced, and one year later, replacement glass has crack. Replaced and two months later, glass cracks after hit with debris from freeway. Is…
I am still having brake system issues and not allowing me to gear and drive! Since letter for recall in november, which already set appointment with dealership to reprogram or reboot system they stated would take care of,I have been back twice after that. I also have issues with…
Had a problem with your 2016 Honda Civic?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to allow the EPB to engage immediately after the ignition is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KC6.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.6 out of 10 based on 1,080 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Honda Civic has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2016 Honda Civic?
The 2016 Honda Civic is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 98 complaints, classified severe; Brakes: 47 complaints, classified severe; Reliability score 5.6/10 — around the segment average; 5 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2016 Honda Civic?
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 444 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2016 Honda Civic a good used car to buy?
It scores 5.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 1,080 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2016 Honda Civic?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 444 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. 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 2016 Honda Civic?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,080 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, 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.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Honda/Civic.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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