Honda Civic engine problems, 2016–2026
284 of the 4,836 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda Civic 2016–2026 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2016 (99), 2017 (71), 2018 (58). Filed under the same heading across these years: 11 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall campaign. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Honda Civic engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 17% | — | 22 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | 28 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% | — | 16 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 11 | 3% | — | 39 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 0 | — | — | 27 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 3 | 2% | — | 26 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 | 0 | — | — | 37 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 | 36 | 8% | 14k | 50 TSBs | the year → |
| 2018 in depth | 58 | 8% | 11k | 70 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 71 | 12% | 22k | 77 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 99 | 9% | 30k | 67 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 16 · 2017: 11 · 2018: 21 · 2019: 46 · 2020: 41 · 2021: 20 · 2022: 14 · 2023: 22 · 2024: 41 · 2025: 25 · 2026: 27
Across the model years, half of the 143 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 10,000 and 49,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I have a brand new 2016 Civic 1.5t ex-l with 1,000 miles and a cracked engine block. We noticed the engine oil all over our garage. It's been leaking for a while, probably since we got it, but we didn't realize until today that the oil was coming from our brand new car.
I leased a brand new 2016 Honda Civic on friday, february 26, 2016 and drove off the lot with 5 miles on the odometer. On monday, february 29, 2016, my car started to shake, the engine light came on as well as other indicators on the car, I was not able to accelerate or properly operate the vehicle.
Vehicle hesitating, failing to achieve more than 25 MPH. Vehicle has lost driven gear at high speed and abruptly returned. Transmission was replaced, vehicle exhibiting similar symptoms. Transmission related grinding noise on warm-start, engine rattles on cold start.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted; however, the failure recurred intermittently and could potentially result in a crash. The contact planned to take the vehicle back to the dealer for further diagnostic testing.
It is a common issue on the Honda Civic Type R from 2017 to 2021 in which water will leak through the hood scoop causing water to drip onto cylinder 4 causing a misfire. Misfire No. 4 Cylinder (DTC P0304). There is a TSB for it under 25-062 for this same issue. Water could enter the hood scoop and accumulate down inside the no.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 16V074000 HighFeb 9, 2016 · 42,129 vehicles
- 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.
11 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 25, 2026
- 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).
- Sep 25, 2026
- 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).
- Sep 25, 2026
- 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).
- Sep 25, 2026
- 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).
- Sep 25, 2026
- 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).
- Sep 25, 2026
- 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).
- Sep 25, 2026
- 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).
- Sep 25, 2026
- 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).
The 8 newest are listed; each model year’s page lists every one filed on that year. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Honda Civic
Source: the same files- steering problems
- automatic emergency braking problems
- fuel system problems
- electrical problems
- visibility and wiper problems
Every system, every model year: Honda Civic problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Honda Civic years have the most engine complaints?
2016, 99; 2017, 71; 2018, 58. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2026 (17%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Honda Civic?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 16V074000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the Honda Civic?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 26,754 miles across the model years; half of them between 10,000 and 49,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.