Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank replacement. If you have a vehicle that match the qualifiers listed below, AHM requests to have the photos of the lock ring & the low-pressure fuel pump flange taken & sent to TIS (click HERE for example photos).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Honda Civic fuel system problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Honda Civic have filed 88 NHTSA complaints about the fuel system, typically surfacing around 57,000 miles at roughly $1,200 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See fuel system across all vehicles →
| Model year | fuel system complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Civic (this page) | 88 |
| 2019 Civic | 62 |
| 2020 Civic | 6 |
When does it fail?
Of the 88 fuel system complaints filed for the 2018 Honda Civic, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
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.
Of the 10 model years of Honda Civic we track for fuel system problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 88.
Owners have filed 88 fuel system complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system 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.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank replacement. If you have a vehicle that match the qualifiers listed below, AHM requests to have the photos of the lock ring & the low-pressure fuel pump flange taken & sent to TIS (click HERE for example photos).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank replacement. If you have a vehicle that match the qualifiers listed below, AHM requests to have the photos of the lock ring & the low-pressure fuel pump flange taken & sent to TIS (click HERE for example photos).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank replacement. If you have a vehicle that match the qualifiers listed below, AHM requests to have the photos of the lock ring & the low-pressure fuel pump flange taken & sent to TIS (click HERE for example photos).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - (Repair Procedure Revision) Due to swelling of the fuel pump motor impeller, the fuel pump may seize and stop working. If this occurs, the engine may not start, or the engine could stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Replace the fuel pump motor.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2018 Honda Civics describe a pattern of fuel-system-related failures tied to NHTSA Campaign 23V858000. The most serious incidents involve sudden loss of motive power while driving—stalling at speeds between 15 and 65 MPH with no warning lights, leading to crashes in two documented cases. One owner reported the vehicle rolling uncontrolled into a garage wall at 20-30 MPH after stalling; another's vehicle steered right unexpectedly and struck a parked car, totaling the vehicle.
Common drivability issues reported include hesitation during acceleration, difficulty starting (especially after extended parking), and intermittent power loss in LIMP mode. One owner experienced violent engine shaking, high-pitched sounds near the fuel tank, and forward surge when braking after VSA modulator replacement. A few owners detected abnormal fuel odor.
The recurring theme across nearly all complaints is parts unavailability. Owners received recall notifications but were told the required component had not yet been distributed. Multiple owners escalated frustration about exceeding what they considered reasonable wait times for repair. A handful of narratives describe the issue only as "anticipated failure" with no actual symptoms yet experienced. Most vehicles went undiagnosed and unrepaired; the one that underwent independent diagnosis showed cylinder-3 misfire. Owners consistently noted a lack of warning lights at the moment of failure.
Same Honda Civic fuel system reports on nearby years: 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden stalling while driving
Engine stalls without warning during normal driving at various speeds (15–65 MPH), sometimes repeatedly. No warning lights illuminate at time of failure. Vehicle can usually be restarted but failure recurs.
When: Occurs between 7,860 and 175,000 miles; some owners report first occurrence in 40,000–60,000 mile range
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine power while driving; Vehicle rolls uncontrolled if on slope; No check engine or warning lights at moment of stall; Vehicle restarts but failure repeats; Steering becomes inoperable (power steering failure) in one case
Codes mentioned: Cylinder #3 misfire detected by independent mechanic in one case
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed in narratives reporting stalling. One owner paid out-of-pocket for unknown repair after extended parking failure. Recall parts unavailable.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) issued but parts not in distribution. Honda advised owners to bring vehicle to dealer for diagnosis and repair; parts remained unavailable across multiple contact attempts by owners and dealers.
Hesitation and loss of acceleration
Vehicle hesitates when accelerator is depressed or fails to accelerate as intended. Occurs during normal driving and at traffic lights. Some narratives describe the issue as recurring over weeks or months.
When: Reported between 11,000 and 116,995 miles; often in 40,000–60,000 mile range
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed throttle response or hesitation when pressing accelerator; Failure to accelerate when needed at stop lights; RPM drops to zero momentarily, causing misfire and stall; Vehicle lunges forward when accelerator pressed from stop
Codes mentioned: Fuel and battery warning lights illuminated in some cases, Check engine light in others
Repairs/costs cited: Most vehicles not diagnosed or repaired. One owner had VSA modulator replaced; symptoms worsened afterward (violent shaking, high-pitched sound near tank, forward surge on braking).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall parts unavailable. Manufacturer advised owners to seek dealer diagnosis but provided no path forward due to parts shortage.
Difficulty starting and intermittent no-start
Engine fails to start immediately or requires multiple cranking attempts. Some vehicles fail to start after sitting parked for hours or days. Starts intermittently.
When: Reported between 9,000 and 135,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Failure to crank or very slow crank on first attempt; Vehicle must be left sitting for extended period before restart succeeds; Hesitation during push-to-start button activation; No warning lights at time of no-start event
Repairs/costs cited: One owner jumpstarted vehicle, then multiple warning lights appeared and steering wheel jerked. Most vehicles not diagnosed or repaired; recall parts unavailable.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda confirmed recall 23V858000 parts not yet available. Some dealers noted inability to duplicate failure. Manufacturer stated diagnostic code needed before parts could be ordered.
Abnormal fuel odor
Owner detected strong or abnormally strong fuel smell inside the vehicle.
When: Reported at 11,106 and 84,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormally strong fuel odor detected inside vehicle cabin; Odor present during normal operation
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed. Vehicles not diagnosed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 23V858000 parts unavailable. Manufacturer not made aware in one case.
Engine shuddering and warning light illumination
Vehicle shudders, especially at stops or during acceleration. Check engine or other warning lights illuminate.
When: Reported at 224,000 and 51,990 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking when accelerator pressed, especially above 60 MPH; Check engine warning light illuminated during shuddering; High-pitched sound near gas tank (post-repair in one case)
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle had VSA modulator replaced; shuddering and other symptoms worsened afterward (violent engine shake, high-pitched gas tank sound, forward acceleration surge when braking).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated diagnostic code not shown for parts to be ordered. Manufacturer created case file in one instance but no repair assistance provided.
Synthesized from 88 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
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, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact…
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked for five days while she was out of town however, after returning home and attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The local Honda dealer was contacted by phone and the contact was informed that there was a recall for the fuel pump motor however, the parts were not available. The VIN was…
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The…
Common questions
How serious is the fuel system problem on the 2018 Honda Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 88 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,200 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Across the 35 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most fuel system failures cluster between 45,000 and 94,000 miles, with the median around 57,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 94,000. 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 $1,200 for fuel system 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 fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system 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.