2016 Honda Civic visibility and wiper problems
67 of the 1,082 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Honda Civic name the wipers, glass and mirrors (NHTSA’s “Visibility/Wiper” heading — windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters). Filed under the same heading: 42 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the wipers, glass and mirrors
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 67 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 21 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 14 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 2
Half of the 34 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the visibility and wiper problem between 9,000 and 43,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,082 complaints in all about the 2016 Honda Civic, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Visibility/Wiper” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Honda Civic visibility and wiper problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the wipers, glass and mirrors. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Black box holding 3rd brake light is falling and blocking the rear view . It is down by 3 inches and thre's limited visivility when looking at the rear of the car as this box is blocking the view. West covina norm reeves don't have anymore option to fix this problem.
Third brake light cover will not stay up. This causes a visibility issue when driving at night or in rain, as the reflection from the red light covers the entire back window and reflects in the side mirrors. You cannot see. It does not matter if the temp is hot or not.
Third brake light came came loose shortly after driving the car off the dealer lot and persisted after attempting a fix. Dealer replaced the adhesive and it did not fix the issue. Third brake light housing loose severely affects visibility through rear windshield.
Rear brake light hangs down rear window, covering almost 50% visibility. Worsened visibility at night due to the whole rear window being lit up red when brake is applied. Have taken to dealer, they claim they know nothing about the issue, refuse to offer any type of remedy for the issue
The rear third brake light has come undone, it bounces around and obstructs the rear view. It's hard to explain how such a small part could block the view unless you encounter this for yourself. This is especially bad on the highway at a slight down grade where it can obstruct the entire highway behind you.
What is on file about the wipers, glass and mirrors
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications42 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Honda Civic names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Honda Civic
Source: the same files- electrical problems 120 complaints
- engine problems 99 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre visibility and wiper problems common on the 2016 Honda Civic?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 67 owner complaints naming the wipers, glass and mirrors on this model year (6% of everything owners filed about it), and 42 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the wipers, glass and mirrors on the 2016 Honda Civic?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 5 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do visibility and wiper problems show up on the 2016 Honda Civic?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 30,000 miles; half of them between 9,000 and 43,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Visibility/Wiper" heading cover?
Windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.