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Your vehicleHome›Honda›Civic› 2020
Honda · Midsize Sedan

2020 Honda Civic

Gas
Midsize Cars
16 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
63 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 5
Complaints15 crash · 1 fire · 12 injured reported 237
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 36 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Honda Civic is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 16 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Civic 4Dr, is EPA-rated at 36 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 237 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

2020 Honda Civic

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Civic 4DrGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo324236$1,850
Civic 2DrGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo314035$1,900
Civic 5DrGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo314034$1,950
Civic 2DrGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo303733$2,050
Civic 2DrGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl303833$2,050
Civic 4DrGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo303833$2,050
Civic 4DrGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl303833$2,050
Civic 2DrGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl293632$2,100
Civic 4DrGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl293732$2,100
Civic 5DrGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo293732$2,550
Civic 5DrGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo293532$2,550
Civic 2DrGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo263630$2,750
Civic 4DrGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo263630$2,750
Civic 2DrGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl253529$2,300
Civic 4DrGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl253629$2,300
Civic 5DrGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo222825$3,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42150, 42141, 41748, 42140, 42144, 42149, 42153, 42143, 42152, 41747.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Civic 2Dr, Civic 4Dr, Civic 5Dr3–7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III ULEV125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Civic 2Dr, Civic 4Dr, Civic 5Dr3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower158 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2
TransmissionContinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Transmission speeds6

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: EX, LX, SPORT, Si/Si HPT). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length176.8–182.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)74.0 in
Height54.7–56.3 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Track, front61.0 in
Track, rear61.4 in
Curb weight2,760–3,120 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear61/39 to 62/38

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 6 configurations: 5-door Hatch, Dx/Lx/Ex 4-door Sedan, LX 2-door Coupe, Sport/Touring 4-door Sedan, Sport/Touring/Si 2-door Coupe, Type R 5-door Hatch. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2020 Civic
Other years The 2026 Civic Recalls Honda recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Honda Civic is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

98,892 vehicles 32% reported repaired
Problem 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFDealer notice PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V332000 reported May 21, 2026 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

XHP, VHQ
750,114 vehicles 58% reported repaired
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended. Risk An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V064000 reported Feb 1, 2024 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

KGC, KGD
2,490,460 vehicles 79% reported repaired
Problem 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V858000 reported Dec 18, 2023 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEU, AEV, ZET
124,077 vehicles 88% reported repaired
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly. Risk Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V458000 reported Jun 29, 2023 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

Multiple Codes
624,552 vehicles 95% reported repaired
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure 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. Fix Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V215000 reported Mar 25, 2021 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Civic

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Honda publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Honda’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Honda Civic, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2020 Honda Civic

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Civic →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
237complaints filed

15 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 12 injuries · 0 deaths reported

8.6 per 10,000 built · Honda reported 275,448 Civic built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 13 · 2021: 29 · 2022: 28 · 2023: 30 · 2024: 51 · 2025: 51 · 2026: 34

Most-cited components

Electrical System 38
Unspecified 37
Fuel/Propulsion System 33
Steering 32
Power Train 32
Forward Collision Avoidance 30

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and was unable to accelerate above 30 MPH. After arriving to the destination, the vehicle stalled and was unable to restart. No warning lights were illuminated.
Fuel/Propulsion System at 60,000 miles May 6, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11659309
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V064000 (Air Bags) and 23V458000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.
Air Bags Jul 8, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11600100
The navigation on the civic would reset and cut out for no reason and sometimes takes a long time to come back on or it never reboots and the screen stays black until you have to turn off the car and wait and then turn it back on. My experience was I was on a trip 2 hours away and I had my family in the car.
Electrical System Nov 23, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11701031
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic Si. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the clutch became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the clutch failed, and transmission slipped out of gear.
Power Train at 70,000 miles Apr 30, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11657852
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated while stationary, the vehicle rolled backwards and hit a wall. The contact stated that the vehicle was equipped with a manual transmission. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with the parking brakes. The vehicle was towed and diagnosed but not yet repaired.
Parking Brake at 9,000 miles Jun 2, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11419406
Rear electronic parking brake failed while in park. The vehicle had the parking brake engaged, and the vehicle rolled down a hill into trees, damaging the rear bumper and hatch. This parking brake issue was also documented on earlier Civic models from this generation
Service Brakes at 20,000 miles Jan 16, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11388484

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Honda itself: 110 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 141 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 40 per 100,000 built. Every Civic model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 16k

miles, typically

Half the 54 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 5,000 and 52,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 21
10k–20k 8
20k–30k 6
30k–40k 0
40k–50k 5
50k–60k 3
60k–70k 4
70k–80k 3
80k–90k 0
90k–100k 0
100k–150k 2
150k + 2

Across 2018–2022 model years the Honda Civic ranks 44 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.16× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 28,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
2 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9%
2 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%
5 HB FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%
5 HB FWDnot ratednot rated★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning.

Driver-assist crash reports (8)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
8reports filed

1 minor · 3 no injury reported · 4 severity unknown

Aug 2021 to Jul 2022 · 4 with an air bag deployment · 5 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: not named in the filings

Crash partner: Unknown 5 · Heavy Truck 1 · Passenger Car 1 · Pickup Truck 1

Filed by: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

IncidentSystemStruckInjury allegedStateSpeedReport
Jul 2022Level 2Pickup Truckno injury reportedIL—62-3538
Jun 2022Level 2Unknownno injury reportedPA—62-3514
Apr 2022Level 2Unknownno injury reportedPA—62-2783
Mar 2022Level 2UnknownminorCA—62-2634
Feb 2022Level 2UnknownunknownCA—62-2449
Oct 2021Level 2UnknownunknownCA—62-1607
Oct 2021Level 2Passenger CarunknownIL—62-1525
Aug 2021Level 2Heavy TruckunknownPA—62-1552

From the manufacturer’s own filing

The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.

The customer was exiting on an off-ramp when another driver merged into the customer's lane and causing a crash. The customer alleges that the Lane Keep Assist System and Adaptive Cruise Control were engaged
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) report 62-2783 Apr 2022 NHTSA SGO filing
The customer was stopped at an intersection and began driving through the intersection on a green light. When entering the intersection, another driver T-boned the customer on the driver-side of the vehicle. The customer alleges that the Lane Keep Assist System and Adaptive Cruise Control were engaged
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) report 62-2634 Mar 2022 NHTSA SGO filing
The customer reported that a speeding truck rear-ended him while driving on a highway. The customer alleges that the Lane Keep Assist System and Adaptive Cruise Control were engaged
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) report 62-3538 Jul 2022 NHTSA SGO filing

A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 7 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

1 more in this page’s JSON.

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Honda warranty extension (66) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 196
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-25
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 183 service bulletins, 13 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Visibility/Wiper, Equipment, Engine, Service Brakes.

  • A26-009 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through P0304 may also be stored (DTCs are not required for repair).
  • A26-008 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through P0304 may also be stored (DTCs are not required for repair).
  • 2026-08-26 · Engine
  • Dealer Message - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire, and/or DTCs P0300 through P0304 stored.
  • A26-009 Service bulletin
    2026-08-26 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire and/or DTCs P0300 thru P0304 stored.
  • A26-008 Service bulletin
    2026-08-26 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire and/or DTCs P0300 thru P0304 stored.
  • A25-062 Service bulletin
    2025-10-13 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Water could enter the hood scoop and accumulate down inside the no. 4 spark plug hole. This can corrode the ignition coil, plug tube, and spark plug, leading to a misfire to the no. 4 cylinder. If a misfire is detected, DTC P0304 is stored.
  • A25-089 Service bulletin
    2025-09-17 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Oil leak at the cam chain tensioner inspection cover due to and insufficient sealant adhesion on the inspection cover.
  • A25-062 Service bulletin
    2025-08-19 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Water could enter the hood scoop and accumulate down inside the no. 4 spark plug hole. This can corrode the ignition coil, plug tube, and spark plug, leading to a misfire to the no. 4 cylinder. If a misfire is detected, DTC P0304 is stored.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0304
P0304 on Honda →		Cylinder 4 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →13 bulletins
P0300
P0300 on Honda →		Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →11 bulletins
P0172
P0172 on Honda →		The engine is running rich on bank 1: too much fuel for the air going in.Fuel/Propulsion System · Oxygen sensor →7 bulletins
P0087
P0087 on Honda →		Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →4 bulletins · 1 owner report

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Honda Civic failed the emissions check on 1.8% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.0% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).

New York inspections 1.8%

failed emissions

9,901 initial inspections of 9,726 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2020 CivicEvery 2020 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.8%2.2%9,883
Failed the safety inspection2.0%1.6%9,901
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.26%0.19%9,901
Miles driven a year9,3009,980odometer at inspection
Average odometer58,39562,630odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Civic by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 A 1 32 49 mpg2025 B 2 105 49 mpg2024 C 3 142 36 mpg2023 C 5 336 36 mpg2022 C 4 961 36 mpg2021 D 4 161 36 mpg2020 this page D 5 237 36 mpg2019 C 4 456 36 mpg2018 D 6 756 36 mpg2017 D 6 606 36 mpg2016 C 5 1,083 35 mpg

Common questions about the 2020 Civic

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Honda Civic have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2020 Honda Civic, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 23V458000, covering Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 1 campaign is phased, so the repair reached some model years before others. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Honda Civic?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Honda Civic 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (63/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Honda Civic?

Across the 16 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Honda Civic, the best EPA combined figure is 36 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Honda Civic?

Transport Canada measured it at 176.8–182.3 in long, 74.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 54.7–56.3 in tall, on a 106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,760–3,120 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Honda Civic?

Owners have filed 237 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Honda Civic, most often about electrical system, unspecified, fuel/propulsion system. Of those, 15 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 12 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Honda Civic?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Honda Civic runs 3 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Honda Civic?

The manufacturer has filed 196 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Honda Civic, most often covering electrical system, visibility/wiper, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-09-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Honda Civic do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Honda Civic failed the emissions check on 1.8% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.0% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations16 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates16 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints237NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings6 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins196NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports8NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes.
Specifications filed with NHTSA13 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2026 Civic The Civic model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 1 recall.Recalls Every Honda recall on file All campaigns filed against Honda vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Civic by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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