NHTSA data checked October 31, 2026 · counts are computed from NHTSA's public APIs, not estimated
Summary
NHTSA's public complaint database lists 1,082 owner complaints for the 2016 Honda Civic, and its recall database lists 5 safety recall campaigns for it.
Leaving out "unknown or other", the component group owners named most often is steering (446 complaints, 41%), followed by electrical system (119) and engine (95). A complaint can name more than one group, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
36 complaints say a crash happened and 4 mention a fire; together the complaints report 16 injuries and 0 deaths.
Among Honda Civic model years 2010–2020 in NHTSA's data, 2016 has the most complaints (1,082, against a median of 363 for the other years).
The newest recall is 26V332000, received May 22, 2026, for air bags.
1,082owner complaints
5recall campaigns
36complaints reporting a crash
4complaints reporting a fire
16injuries reported
0deaths reported
Complaints by component
Owners pick one or more component groups when they file. Share is the percent of the 1,082 complaints that name the group.
Component group (NHTSA label)
Complaints
Share
Steeringsteering column, rack and power steering: loss of assist, wander
446
41%
Unknown or Otherowner did not pick a component group
253
23%
Electrical Systembattery, wiring, alternator, lights on the dash, infotainment faults
Back Over Preventionrear-view camera and rear sensors
1
<1%
Service Brakes, Hydraulicthe main hydraulic brakes: pedal feel, ABS, brake lines
1
<1%
Recalls (5)
Newest first. Summary, risk and remedy are NHTSA's own recall text (a U.S. government record), shown as published. A recall applies only to the vehicles its notice names; your VIN lookup is the final word.
NHTSA campaign 26V332000
Received May 22, 2026 · Air Bags (sensor: occupant classification: front passenger)
What's wrong: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V858000
Received December 19, 2023 · Fuel System, Gasoline (delivery: fuel pump)
What's wrong: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V725000
Received October 11, 2016 · Parking Brake
What's wrong: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Civic two door and four door 1.5L turbo and 2.0L vehicles. The electric parking brake (EPB) may not engage if it is applied immediately after turning the ignition off.
Risk: If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V526000
Received July 11, 2016 · Exterior Lighting
What's wrong: American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic 2-Door vehicles manufactured February 23, 2016, through May 20, 2016. The affected vehicles may have a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly, making the marker light inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
Risk: If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect both the taillight assemblies, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KB8.
NHTSA campaign 16V074000
Received February 9, 2016 · Engine and Engine Cooling (engine)
What's wrong: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic vehicles manufactured September 22, 2015, to February 3, 2016 and equipped with 2.0L engines. The affected vehicles have engines with piston assemblies that may have been manufactured without a piston wrist pin circlip or with an incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip.
Risk: If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in the Summer of 2016. Owners were mailed an interim notification beginning March 31, 2016, and will be mailed a second notice when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JX9.
When the complaints were filed
By the year the complaint reached NHTSA. A late rise often means a part wearing out with age or a problem drawing attention after a recall.
How many complaints has NHTSA received about the 2016 Honda Civic?
1,082 owner complaints as of October 31, 2026, per NHTSA's complaints API.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2016 Honda Civic?
Steering is named in 446 of 1,082 complaints (41%); NHTSA's group covers steering column, rack and power steering: loss of assist, wander.
How many recalls does the 2016 Honda Civic have?
5 recall campaigns in NHTSA's recall database, most recently 26V332000 (May 22, 2026). Check a specific car's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is 2016 a bad year for the Honda Civic?
By complaint count, 2016 ranks 1st of 11 Civic model years 2010–2020 in NHTSA's data. Raw counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how old they are.
How to read these numbers
Complaints are reports owners file with NHTSA. NHTSA does not confirm each one, and one problem can be reported more than once.
Counts are not adjusted for sales: a model that sold twice as many cars can collect twice the complaints without being worse per car.
Older model years have had more time to collect complaints.
A recall listed here may not cover every car of this model year. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.