Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.
Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.
ProblemsByVinFile / 2018-HONDA-CIVICNHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Honda
2018 Honda Civic problems
The 2018 Honda Civic has 598 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 6 active recall campaigns.
The 2018 Honda Civic has 598 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 224 complaints, typically surfacing around 52,933 miles (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
0
Critical
6
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2018 Civic?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Electrical system: 39 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 5,600–20,000 mi
Reliability score 5.8/10 — around the segment average
6 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: 2018 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 2018 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 — 224 owner reports
· tends to show around 52,933 mi · ~$700 to fix
fuel system — 88 owner reports
· tends to show around 69,218 mi · ~$1,200 to fix
electrical — 39 owner reports
· tends to show around 15,993 mi · ~$850 to fix
engine — 28 owner reports
· tends to show around 27,927 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged
severe on this model
, showing up around 15,993 mi.
Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 6 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.8/10 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.
Embed this reliability snapshot
Free to use on your site, post, or video — just keep the "Source" credit line below the chart. Preview the widget →
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you,
what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact
year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2018 Civic· steeringCrash
Car suddenly lost power steering and resulted in the car swerving and losing control causing the car to turn in opposite direction of travel. The car crashed into the wire guard rail on interstate 40. No waring lamps were on the dash at the time of incident. Allstate reported…
Crash mitigation system would state malfunction of system going down the interstate and not work and cruise control would not work when I used the brakes.would have to pull over to side of road and turn the key off to get it to reset. This has happened 3 times. Dealer said they…
On 11/28/2018, I was driving on freeway and the air bag in my car deployed with no reason. I sent the car to the dealer for investigation. The dealer told me that the air bag is deployed because they found a dent on the rear control arm which I found hard to believe. When the…
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally hesitated while accelerating. The failure has progressed over time. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System,…
Had a problem with your 2018 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 fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 598 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 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 2018 Honda Civic?
The 2018 Honda Civic is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 39 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 5,600–20,000 mi; Reliability score 5.8/10 — around the segment average; 6 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 2018 Honda Civic?
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 224 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 52,933 miles. 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 2018 Honda Civic a good used car to buy?
It scores 5.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 598 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 52,933 miles. 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 2018 Honda Civic?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 224 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 52,933 miles. 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. Typical failure occurs around 52,933 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 2018 Honda Civic?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 598 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/2018/Honda/Civic.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
We are not affiliated with Honda. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we
may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
