Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2021 Civics & CR-Vs with a customer complaint of a inop, blank, or black meter display (gauge cluster) with no prior repairs made to the vehicle. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Honda Civic electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Honda Civic have filed 28 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 11,800 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Civic | 20 |
| 2016 Civic | 98 |
| 2017 Civic | 84 |
| 2018 Civic | 39 |
| 2019 Civic (this page) | 28 |
| 2020 Civic | 28 |
| 2021 Civic | 13 |
| 2022 Civic | 25 |
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 28 electrical complaints filed for the 2019 Honda Civic, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Owners have filed 28 electrical 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 electrical 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 2017-2021 Civics & CR-Vs with a customer complaint of an inop, blank, or black meter display (gauge cluster) with no prior repairs made to the vehicle. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2021 Civics & CR-Vs with a customer complaint of a inop, blank, or black meter display (gauge cluster) with no prior repairs made to the vehicle. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2021 Civics & CR-Vs with a customer complaint of a inop, blank, or black meter display (gauge cluster) with no prior repairs made to the vehicle. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2021 Civics & CR-Vs with a customer complaint of a inop, blank, or black meter display (gauge cluster) with no prior repairs made to the vehicle. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2019 Civic electrical cluster shows a pattern of system-wide failures tied to the Body Control Module and various integrated controllers. Owners consistently report multiple warning lights illuminating at once—brake, power steering, TPMS, lane assist, emergency brake—often while driving. Power steering seizes without warning, wipers stop, and vehicles lose all electrical assist simultaneously. Several owners experienced sudden loss of engine power mid-drive on highways, with one suffering injuries requiring ER care and physical therapy.
Starter and fuel pump issues dominate the complaint volume. Hard starts, no-starts, and complete engine shutdown recur even after recall service (NHTSA recalls 20V314000 and 21V215000). Fuel gauge readings become wildly inaccurate after pump replacement. Battery failures and parasitic drain occur frequently; one owner's vehicle spontaneously set off its alarm at 2:30 am. Electric power steering develops stiffness, clicking, and excessive return force, worsening over time; dealers cite $4,200+ for EPS rack replacement. Infotainment systems—touchscreen, backup cameras, audio—fail or malfunction intermittently. One unnerving incident: a parked Civic with the brake engaged and transmission in Park rolled out of a driveway after the driver exited. Dealers have misdiagnosed electrical problems as mechanical (sway bar coupler) or blamed external causes (tire sticker position, rodent damage) while missing the underlying control module faults. Multiple owners report dealer inability to duplicate or resolve issues after returning multiple times.
Same Honda Civic electrical reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Electric Power Steering (EPS) malfunction with stiffness and notchiness
Steering wheel becomes stiff with audible clicks and groans during turns; excessive effort required to maintain lane position, especially on highways. Issue persists or worsens despite dealer repair attempts. Owners report EPS rack replacement needed at costs exceeding $4,200.
When: Throughout ownership; condition worsens over time
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel stiffness and notchiness; Excessive turning effort; Audible clicks and groans during turns; Difficulty maintaining lane position; Steering wheel returns to center slowly
Repairs/costs cited: EPS rack replacement cited by dealers as necessary repair; cost reported as $4,200+
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Initial misdiagnosis as sway bar issue; later identified as EPS electrical problem; vehicle out of warranty, owner directed to pay out of pocket
Unintended vehicle rollaway with parking brake engaged
Vehicle rolled out of driveway and struck neighbor's car while parked with brake engaged and transmission in park. Red brake light was illuminated and vehicle appeared secure when owner exited. Owner had reported prior stability control and lane assist malfunctions that dealer cleared as non-issues.
When: Approximately 30 seconds after owner exited parked vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolled while in park with brake engaged; Brake light illuminated but brake failed to hold; Prior intermittent stability control activation; Prior erratic lane assist activation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Prior complaints of stability control and lane assist malfunction cleared by dealer as non-issues; no root cause identified
Sudden loss of power and engine shutdown while driving
Vehicle suddenly stopped or shut down mid-acceleration while in motion on highway or state roads at cruise speeds. One owner injured and required emergency room care and physical therapy from sudden stop while traveling 40 mph. Another owner experienced shutdown requiring tow and received fuel pump recall notice P0461 (fuel level sensor) software update from Honda but no confirmation of cause-effect.
When: During highway/state road driving; one incident reported after fuel pump recall service
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power while accelerating; Sudden stop without warning; Engine shutdown mid-drive; Abrupt deceleration causing occupant injury
Codes mentioned: P0461
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump replaced under recall; issue reoccurred; dealer unable to provide concrete answers about root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fuel pump recall issued; software update notice P0461 sent to owner; no determination made whether update resolved shutdown issue
Inaccurate fuel gauge reading
Fuel gauge provides inconsistent readings that do not match actual fuel level. Vehicle normally fills to 300-400 miles range but gauge now reads 191, 150, or 140 miles when full. Owner reports multiple dealership visits with no resolution. Issue follows fuel pump recall service.
When: After fuel pump recall service; recurring issue
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge reading inaccurate; Mismatch between gauge and actual tank level; Inconsistent readings on successive fill-ups
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose root cause despite multiple visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fuel pump recall completed; no subsequent fix applied for gauge issue
Starter or ignition system fault causing hard start or no-start
Engine cranks but fails to fully start; repeated attempts required or removal and reinsertion of ignition key needed to achieve startup. Some vehicles fail to start entirely and require tow service. Owner notes prior NHTSA recalls 20V314000 (May 2020) and 21V215000 (March 2021) addressed this issue; vehicle serviced under recall but problem recurred.
When: Throughout ownership; one owner reported issue after vehicle serviced per recall in 2021; another at 29,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine cranks but will not turn over; Repeated start attempts required; Hard starting or extended cranking; Complete no-start condition; No warning lights prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Starter replacement identified as needed repair by dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 20V314000 (May 2020) and 21V215000 (March 2021) issued and service performed; issue recurred post-recall service
Center console power disconnect and infotainment failure
Center console power intermittently disconnects during driving, disabling infotainment and vehicle controls. Failure recurring since early ownership. Dealer replaced computer system and center console but failure reoccurred. Dealer unable to duplicate failure on subsequent visits and deemed problem unresolvable.
When: Recurring since June 2019; at 7,475 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Center console power loss during driving; Infotainment system shutdown; Intermittent and recurring disconnection
Repairs/costs cited: Computer system replaced; center console replaced; failure persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Computer and console replaced; owner advised not to connect cellphone to console; dealer unable to duplicate failure and declared unresolvable; manufacturer made aware
Backup camera and side camera malfunction
Blind spot assistance camera and backup camera malfunction or fail intermittently. Electronic features including radio screen, windows, and side camera stop working and go black. Honda reports no repair available.
When: Throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera malfunction; Side camera for blind spot assistance malfunction; Camera goes black intermittently; Electronic features (radio, windows) go black
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda states cannot address the camera issue
All warning lights illumination with loss of power steering and simultaneous vehicle slowdown
While driving at highway speed (60 mph), all warning indicators on instrument panel illuminated simultaneously as vehicle began to slow. Power steering seized during slowdown. Vehicle was able to be restarted and driven home. Dealer diagnosis: radar obstructed by accumulated debris. Radar cleaned but vehicle not formally repaired.
When: At 4,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: All warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Loss of power steering while driving; Vehicle slowdown without driver input; Multiple system warnings at once
Repairs/costs cited: Radar cleaned
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer cleaned radar; vehicle returned without formal repair; manufacturer notified
Forward collision avoidance system (FCAS) malfunction with unwanted activation and failure to activate
FCAS activated independently without vehicle in proximity; automatic braking system failed to activate when needed during left turn into parking lot, resulting in collision with median. Vehicle sustained damage to undercarriage, front bumper, and hood.
When: At 11,800 miles
Symptoms owners cite: FCAS activates without nearby vehicles; Automatic braking fails to activate when needed; Unintended collision with median
Repairs/costs cited: Undercarriage, front bumper, hood damage sustained
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer notified; manufacturer not informed of failure
Power steering and brake inoperability
After vehicle startup, both power steering and brakes were completely inoperable. Vehicle required tow. Dealer identified electrical wires damaged by rodent chewing as cause.
When: At 27,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering inoperable after startup; Brakes inoperable after startup; Both systems failed simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Electrical wires eaten by rodents; repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Body Control Module (BCM) electrical malfunction
BCM software or hardware malfunction causing parasitic battery drain, vehicle alarm activation at odd hours (spontaneous 2:30 am alarm), battery failure, key fob lock failure, accessory mode activation, and multiple warning light illumination. Multiple start attempts required; dealer cited fuse box issue but independent mechanic identified BCM as root cause.
When: Throughout ownership; battery failed early
Symptoms owners cite: Spontaneous alarm activation; Battery drain or failure; Multiple start attempts required; Key fob does not lock vehicle; Vehicle enters accessory mode by itself; Multiple warning lights illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced; fuse box issue cited by dealer; BCM failure identified by independent mechanic
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer blamed fuse box; no BCM repair offered
Alternator failure with loss of electrical charging
Alternator failed during highway driving, causing loss of power steering and wipers during heavy rain. All error lights illuminated including tire pressure, brake system, brake hold, and power steering warnings.
When: During highway drive in rain
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard displays '12 volt battery charging system problem'; All error lights illuminate; Power steering loss while driving; Wipers stop working; Multiple system warnings
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator failure confirmed by AAA diagnostics; vehicle towed
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) malfunction
Adaptive cruise control failed to operate while vehicle was parked. ACC light illuminated on instrument panel when transmission shifted to reverse and drive. System would not respond to normal operation.
When: At approximately 56,276 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ACC fails to operate while parked; ACC light illuminates incorrectly
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Appointment scheduled at dealer; vehicle not yet repaired; manufacturer not made aware
Windows and sunroof opening while vehicle parked and off
While vehicle was parked and shut off, all windows rolled down halfway and sunroof opened on its own. Occurs with stalling/hard start issue. Vehicle also exhibits stalling to start problems and stalling upon acceleration.
When: Recurring; one incident documented 7/15/23 after parking
Symptoms owners cite: Windows open while parked and off; Sunroof opens while parked and off; Stalling on startup; Stalling on acceleration
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fuel pump recall issued for 2017-2020 Honda models (NHTSA #23V-858) due to improperly molded fuel pump impeller; unclear if related to window/sunroof malfunction
Multiple simultaneous warning light illumination with no clear cause
Dash displays multiple warning lights (brake system, emergency brake, TPMS, lane departure, brake hold, hill assist, impact sensor, emissions, power steering, information system) illuminating simultaneously indicating multiple systems failing at once. Lights remain illuminated after vehicle restart. No clear diagnostic pattern; occurs suddenly while driving or at startup.
When: At 36,200+ miles; can occur at startup or during driving
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Brake system warning; Emergency brake warning; TPMS warning; Lane departure warning; Brake hold warning; Hill assist warning; Power steering warning; Warnings persist after restart
Audio system overheating with sound loss
Audio amplifier overheats and disables sound output across all channels (Bluetooth, AM, FM, XM, phone calls). Measured temperature reaches 197°F, creating fire risk. Vehicle must be completely shut down and restarted to restore audio. Problem recurs when radio operates at certain volume for extended period.
When: During use after certain operating period
Symptoms owners cite: Audio amplifier temperature reaches 197°F; All audio channels lose sound; Audio disables intermittently; Requires complete vehicle shutdown to restore sound
Touchscreen infotainment system failure
Touchscreen completely non-functional, blocking access to radio, A/C, maps, phone, airbag status, and tire pressure monitoring. Backup camera still functions but all other touchscreen controls disabled.
When: Throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Touchscreen unresponsive; No access to climate control; No access to navigation; No access to phone functions; Tire pressure information unavailable; Airbag information inaccessible
Starting difficulty and brake light malfunction
Vehicle smells like rotten eggs (likely catalytic converter issue) and will not start. Brake light flashes on dashboard during startup attempts and also flashed twice while driving previously.
When: Recurring at startup
Symptoms owners cite: Rotten egg smell; Vehicle fails to start; Brake light flashes on dash; Brake light flashed during driving
Random morning no-start with electrical power-up
Vehicle fails to start randomly in morning hours. All electrical systems power up and screen lights up but vehicle does not turn over or fully power on. Owner suspects fuel pump issue.
When: Random mornings
Symptoms owners cite: Random no-start condition in morning; Electrical systems power up; Screen lights up; Engine does not turn over
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Vehicle fails to start randomly in the morning Everything powers up and the screen lights up, but the car doesn't power up fully Maybe fuel pump issue
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the center console power independently disconnected. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring since June 2019. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer three times previously and the failure was diagnosed. The computer system and the center console were replaced.…
Tl* the contact owns a 2019 Honda civic. While driving 60 MPH, all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel as the vehicle simultaneously slowed down. The power steering also seized as the contact attempted to pull the vehicle off to the shoulder. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive home. The vehicle was towed to Honda cars of boston (100 broadway, everett, ma…
Unknown power train system EVAP leak EVAP stuck open p0455 p0456
Faulty software in Body Control Module (BCM) causing numerous problems with multiple vehicle components including battery, namely: electrical (key fob and headlights) malfunctions, illumination of several warning dash display lights, repeated parasitic battery draining, and security system problems (car alarm activation). Please see attached letter to manufacturer American Honda Motor Co. for…
Had electrical trouble with your 2019 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 electrical problem on the 2019 Honda Civic?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 5,000 and 36,337 miles, with the median around 11,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,000; a quarter make it past 36,337. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2019/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.