Lemon Law Check › 2016 Honda Civic

2016 Honda Civic Problems, Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Honda Civic has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1051 owner complaints filed with federal regulators, with complaints concentrated in steering. Owners whose Civic has needed repeated repairs for the same warranty problem may qualify for a buyback or compensation under state lemon laws.

Most-reported problem areas

Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 1051 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Honda Civic:

Steering423 complaints
Unknown or other199 complaints
Electrical system98 complaints
Engine51 complaints
Service brakes47 complaints
Structure35 complaints

What owners told federal regulators

"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 ar…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2020
"I was driving straight down i-20, the only car close to me was behind me and in the other lane. there were no overpasses or potholes. there was a loud noise like a car backfire or gunshot, and i thought i must have blown a tire. i pulled over to the side of the road and discov…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/30/2019
"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…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/30/2019

NHTSA recall campaigns (5)

Exterior lighting
11/07/2016 · 16V526000
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 ta…
Parking brake
11/10/2016 · 16V725000
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 igniti…
Engine and engine cooling:engine
09/02/2016 · 16V074000
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…
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
18/12/2023 · 23V858000
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, Pa…
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
21/05/2026 · 26V332000
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, 2…

Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.

Has your Civic been in the shop repeatedly?

If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Civic has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.

Check My Civic — Free →

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Honda Civic?

Based on 1051 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2016 Honda Civic are steering, unknown or other, electrical system.

How many recalls does the 2016 Honda Civic have?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Honda Civic. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.

Is the 2016 Honda Civic a lemon?

A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Civic has had steering or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.

Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2016 Honda Civic.

All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.