2016 Honda Civic Complaint Log

Driving on highway steering wheel is sticky requires extra effort to control steering has gotten worse since 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for service, the contact was informed that both CV axles were fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under an unknown recall. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000. The VIN was not available.

ALL LIGHT ARE COMING IN OFF AND ON IN MY CAR , KEYS WILL LOCK MY CAR BUT WHEN I WALK AWAY IT UNLOCKS AND ROLLS ALL MY WINDOWS DOWN ON ITS OWN. HAD TO REMOVE KEY BATTERIES FOR IT TO STOP AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RAN AND IT SHOWS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE IS MISFIRING AND HAVING ISSUES. WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON 10TH GEN HONDA CIVICS BUT YOU SIGHT DOESNT SHOW IT

The weld on the front drivers seat failed and the seat frame has come apart. The seat is unstable and could in an accident not keep me safe in the vehicle.

I have been experiencing engine and transmission issues for nearly 2 years. I have under 90k miles and am the 2nd owner since 2017. There is lack of power, speed inconsistencies, sputtering and hesitation upon acceleration. It feels unsafe. I have taken the vehicle in for a diagnosis and they stated it was an issue with the turbo and it has failed. This should not have occurred as the vehicle is under 120k miles. I have since paid to have it repaired at the cost of $5678.00

Driving on highway to work when check engine light came on in addition to "Emissions System Problem", "Hill Start Assist", "Power Steering Issue", etc. When scanned for codes it showed misfire codes P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304. When spark plugs and coils were changed one set showed signs of rust. The misfires persisted after changing out these parts. When taken to the dealership they stated that the powertrain warranty had been extended to 6yrs from the original date of purchase because of an oil dilution issue. My car was outside of this warranty and the dealer did not offer to help with repairs. I called Honda of America and explained the situation - they also stated that it was outside of warranty. My mechanic has recommended an engine replacement and estimates repair costs over $4000+ for a used engine. Radiator fluid had been topped off 3-4 times this year but we did not realize it was leaking into the engine. A full recall should be issued for this, it is a known issue and Honda is aware of it. The warranty extension is not enough if the issue is going to keep occurring.

Steering is very stiff and fights you while trying to make minor corrections at highway speeds (45mph+). Not safe to drive the vehicle on road trips or for extended periods of time on the highway. As I understand it, the 11th generation civics have a recall on the same component. It seems the recall needs to be extended to the 10th generation civics as well.

Lean fuel code All lights come on -on dashboard Coming on and off

The A/C unit is continuously giving out. The condenser and compression shaft have been replaced twice and have now damaged the evaporator causing it to leak. Due to the A/C system blowing hot air, driving in the high degree weather has became a risk to myself and passengers. Dealership has checked if the parts affected were under warranty to resolve issue, however, Honda does not cover evaporator leak problem even though multiple owners have complained about issue. The repair quote is costing owners more than $2k out of pocket that they may have to replace again in a short time. Causing financial burden from the brand's negligence. Issue will first blow hot air on the driver side and the passenger side will soon follow suit.

These vehicles have major paint issues. I experienced the paint flaking off the side back panel near the window and had to go through a somewhat annoying process to have the dealer look into it. After I had this issue I looked online to see if anyone has this same problem and it came to my attention that it is a nationwide issue that is not being addressed. Here is a link of other people who have experienced this issue, [XXX] . The paint is too thin and loses it's clear coat easily then the color breaks and flakes off. I honestly believe this is a manufacture defect as so many cars are affected with the exact same issue. Now my car paint is peeling near the top of the window and I would like an investigation done. I have taken very good car of the vehicle, hand washes and it only has 15k miles. I paid over 28k for this car and didn't expect the paint to be so thin or poor. Please help myself and the many others that are having this issue by formally opening an investigation. I appreciate your time and your assistance. Take care! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I have had to replace my steering rack twice in eight months. The first replacement my tie rod had to be replaced twice as well. I see other Honda models have had this similar problem I think it’s time to include my model as well. This is a very expensive problem once is enough but now twice is absurd.

Steering becomes noticeably "sticky" at highway speeds (50+). Steering wheel "sticks/freezes" near the center point and it takes some force to turn/unstick it ... then I am forced to over/re-correct the opposite direction making the car swerve right/left or vice versa. On a slick road this could cause a complete loss of control ... luckily I don't drive at highway speed on a daily basis. Car mileage is currently 57,860. This has been happening for at least a year, and I just finally remembered to Google it last night and discovered that this is a known issue with Civics.

When driving at highway speeds (generally around 50 to 80 mph), the steering wheel has a "sticky" feeling when trying to maintain a straight line. Making minor adjustments with the steering wheel requires excessive force to correct minor lane adjustments. This, in turn, creates a very unpleasant and unsafe driving condition as it feels like you are constantly fighting the steering wheel, just to maintain the center of your lane. Driving long periods like this also causes the driver to some what "fight" against the issue causing fatigue in the drivers hands, wrists, and arms. The larger concern is if this issue continues, or gets worse, this could easily lead to an increased risk of loss of control of the vehicle and/or crash. This seems related to a similar recall just issued by Honda for 1.7 million vehicles (including Civics) for 2022 - 2025 models by NHTSA.

My AC gave me problems 2years ago, after a couple times at dealer finally, needs to replace Compresor and condenser and hoses. Honda put me in waiting list for the replacement of the parts. (covered under 10 years extended warranty) finally got call to repair the car. Now my AC again stop working only hot air. Took the car to Honda, now the evaporator is leaking. They want $ 2,450 to replace.

Steering issues. During highway speeds driver(s) has to keep adjusting steering to make the car drive straight.

The differential inside the transmission is making a knocking noise and shakes really badly check engine light came on and traction control light both are on and break system light and I have not even had it for a year

The vehicle had a light for emissions. Brought to Honda dealer. Charged me for two diagnosis fees. The tank / neck and fuel pump all rusted out at connection. No rust under or on the vehicle. Obviously the manufacturer has poor quality tank. This does not happen on 8 yr old vehicle and they want $4500 to fix.

For a while now (months), we have noticed our 2016 Honda Civic has had a "sticky" (a click or jerk) feeling when handling the steering wheel, particularly while driving on the freeway, holding long turns, or when even reversing (from an angle) into a parking stall (for the parking, a click/pop is audibly heard). Basically, the steering wheel will suddenly shift/jerk slightly left/right, which causes you to no longer be steering in the exact line you were on. Driver has to then correct by making an opposing shift in the opposite direction to return to the exact line that was being driven. It is a bit of a nuisance, and produces anxiety on the driver's part, leaving one wondering if/when the shift/jerk will cause even larger of an issue, potentially posing risk of harm to the vehicle's and neighboring vehicles' riders via a collision. Our Honda service technician recently confirmed, after our recent big maintenance service, that this issue is present and has something to do with some steering mechanism (I don't recall the correct term of the equipment/device), and that an estimated repair cost would be $3,000-$4,000. For now, we have been advised to monitor, and that basically it is up to us to decide if/when we would like to spend $3,000-$4,000 to have this repaired at our own expense. We are not aware of how this issue arose (what the exact cause is), but is potentially due manufacturing. There are no dashboard warning lights that illuminate during the shifting/jerking of the steering. We just feel it, moreso if you are the one driving. This issue is experienced daily. Our primary concern is prevention of a collision. We do not want it to get to the point of having had a collision/emergency, then reactively reporting the issue to NHTSA. And we do not have funds to purchase a new vehicle. Can we possibly have more confidence in this vehicle being able to transport our family safely without fear of steering issues? Thank you for your support.

The steering locks and sticks when driving especially on a highway. It appears the rack and pinion sticks

I have a 2016 Civic LX, and the steering is sticking when on center when the vehicle has been driving for a while/is warmed up. I have read multiple instances and reports of this issue and the EPS/rack being the culprit even when this car was released 10 years ago. There was never a bulletin or a recall for this model year but it is the same issue for the 2022-2025 model years, and it is frustrating that it is still occurring. It requires more pressure than needed to move the wheel and then it jerks as it comes loose causing need to over correction. This is very unsettling when traveling at highway speeds. I purchased the vehicle in late September of 2024, and I believe the vehicle was doing it then but i did not recognize the issue and it wasn't consistent, especially as temps were cold. The issue has gotten worse, especially as the warm weather is coming around.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the white paint was peeling off the vehicle. Large white pieces from the rear hood started to peel off first. Then, the white paint from the rear and later both rear sides, the paint was peeling off, stemming from manufacturing defects in the application of its three-stage finish, leading to peeling and flaking that can impact resale value and cause rust. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

There is an active recall on the fuel pump for Honda Civics. My car fits within the range of time of manufacture, but my VIN does not appear with any recalls. The vehicle shakes when starting and will stall most of the time. I can turn it off and turn it back on and the car will start okay, but if I accelerate too quickly or drive too fast or for too long the engine will stall. I have been driving on the highway before and the engine stalls and I have to pull over. The car can be turned off and started again okay, but it’s a safety concern when it happens randomly on the highway with plenty of other cars around.

While driving the steering wheel is sticking and have to jerk the steering wheel to prevent going into another lane. Contact Honda dealer ships and Honda corporate office and asked if there was a recall for this, they said not on my particular vehicle, but some of the Honda civics. There is no warnings, it just happens periodically.

The evaporator core is leaking, which is causing reduced visibablility out of the windows due to condensation on the windows, mold-like smells from moisture from the interior cabin (it is available upon request). I took it into the dealer - they examined the issue (the shaft seal had just been replaced in April of this year) and let me know that this time the evaporator core was leaking. For context and why I bring it to the attention of the NHTSA is in early to mid-August of this year my AC not only took an extended time to get cool, it only got cooler, and not cold. Unfortunately, I am now well acclimated to the signs of a faltering air conditioning system after dealing with three like episodes on the same vehicle, occurring within 2 to 3 years of each other (the car isn’t even nine years old). In fact, this vehicle’s air conditioning has been in a rhythmic pattern of failing ever since I purchased the vehicle. Over 8 years there have only been a few summers which haven’t been negatively impacted by this inconvenience. Honda is aware of the issue, because they have offered "good-will" subsidies which sometimes cover partial replacements of these components. But, they have yet to take responsibility for anything outside of the condenser. Hence, the consumer is on the hook to pay for a vital piece of the car (not just the convenience) that removes moisture out of the car.

Steering sticks when driving on interstate. Causes over correction and potentially can cause lead to swerving and hitting someone

Feels like steering wheel gets stuck when going highway speeds, takes more effort than usual to turn/ unlock to change lanes. Happens every time i drive 60+mph

At highway speeds or after driving longer distances there is an increased amount of effort needed to turn the steering wheel. When making slight adjustments the steering wheel “sticks” and then overcorrects sometimes causing my car to shift into the other lane. I have had several others drive my car and notice the same issue.

My 2016 Honda Civic has a recurring safety-critical defect that began approximately 2–3 weeks after purchase. While turning (most often left turns), the vehicle suddenly shuts off without warning. When this occurs, the power steering assist locks, brake assist is lost, and the electrical system cuts off and then reboots. This has happened more than 5–6 times and nearly caused collisions. I had to apply extreme brake pressure to avoid hitting another vehicle during one incident. The steering becomes rigid, the dashboard goes dark, and the car restarts on its own while still in motion. Before I purchased the vehicle, a diagnostic inspection was performed and no issues were reported. Since owning the car, it has also been taken to a mechanic multiple times, and no diagnostic code or mechanical explanation for this shutdown issue has ever been identified. The defect appears intermittently and leaves no trace or error codes, making it extremely difficult to detect or repair. This is a serious safety hazard that could cause injury or death. The problem appears to be a latent defect that was present at the time of vehicle sale. I am reporting this so NHTSA can investigate whether this is a known issue with this model or whether other consumers have experienced similar sudden shutdowns.

Alarm sounded, went outside with fob to shut off . Still alarm on . Tried to get in car with fob . Had to use key in door to get in . Stepped on brake and pushed start/stop button . Alarm now silent. Push start/stop button to shut off engine and message on dash read Keyless Start System Error. Engine still running. Pushed button again and AC shuts off , engine still running and dash still reading error. Put in driver, then reverse to park and pushed button again and engine shut off finally. Disconnect negative from battery and let sit overnight. Tried to start, but just kept cranking. Disconnect battery again, tried starting again and it started. This time it took me 10 minutes before I could shut off engine. Disconnect battery again and haven’t tried again. I’ve read about other people having the same issues. Most say start/stop switch. Mine is on order, will install asap and see what happens. Fingers crossed.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, frequently becoming stuck in position, requiring that the steering wheel be manually returned to center. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available.

PURCHASED AS CERTIFIED USED HONDA. I FEEL THIS VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE IN OTHER 2016 HONDA CIVIC STEERING GEAR BAX FAILURE RECALLS AND HONDA SHOULD HAVE TO RECTIFY THE FAILURE. 1 YEAR AGO MY CAR STEERING SEEMED TO BE STICKING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY SWAY BAR WAS LEAKING. I HAD THAT REPLACED AND THE ISSUE SEEMED TO NOT BE NOTICED. AGAIN THIS YEAR IT BECAME MUSH MORE PRONOUNCED ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE STEERING SEEMS TO GET IN A GROVE AND THE STEETING WHEEL NEEDS TO BE ALMOST JERKED TO GET IT FROM VEERING IN A SPECIFIC DIRECTION. (RIGHT) IF I CONTINUALLY JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL IT DOES NOT HAPPEN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND UPON DIAGNOSIS THEY DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX IS FAILING. I DID RESEARCH AND SOME 2016 HONDA CIVIC MODELS HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I REACHED OUT TO HONDA AND THEY SAID THAT MINE WAS NOT IN THAT RECALL. I FIND IT HARD TO THINK THAT IT SHOULD NOT SINCE IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR OTHER VEHICLES. MY TIRES ARE WEARING FAST DUE TO THE ISSUE AS WELL. HONDA STATED I WOULD HAVE TO FILE A REPORT WITH YOU.

2016 Honda civic has 28 000 miles and the air conditioning went out. took it to Honda dealership, compressor, and evaporator and gasket is not working. everything but the evaporator is covered. Been driving in hot weather and unable to maintain comfortable temperature. Unsafe during hot weather to be driving in a car that has no air conditioning, may lead to heat related illness such as heat stoke in long drives. this is a well documented issue with these Hondas. Has been inspected by Honda dealership. unknown.

The steering wheel has a tendency to “catch” or "stick" at the center line when driving. To overcome this resistance, you have to apply extra pressure, which could lead to oversteering and the car swerving out of your intended direction of steering. This is a known problem, referred to as "sticky steering" in many online searches. The only solution seems to be a complete replacement of the EPS steering rack which is on back order due to demand and I've been quoted a range of $3500 to $5000 to replace by several Honda dealers in my area. This is a serious safety issue with the vehicle and should be recalled for the replacement.

when long distance driving it has sticky steering which cause over correction left and right making it feel unsafe to drive

Sticky steering when on center and in warmer weather. Cannot make minor steering adjustments without overcorrecting left or right. This is an ongoing issue for the past few years.

When driving on a straight road (highway, avenue, etc.) steering wheel tends to stay “sticky” at the 12 o clock position and takes some force to get it to move to make minor adjustments in steering. This makes it overcorrect and causes me to constantly gave to be adjusting to keep the car straight

power steering rack ( part # 53560-TBA-A01. Steering is sticking when on highway driving 55+ and hard to correct. Noone at dealership can duplicate issue, however my daughter and husband have also experienced sticky steering and hard to correct. No warning lights. Diagnostic tests show nothing wrong. Honda Forums helped me figure out issue.

While driving to keep the car center the steering becomes sticky or notchy as if needing slightly extra force to microcorrect left or right to stay center. It results in slight overcorrection and some slight swaying, but feels as if control of the car is compromised, specifically at freeway speeds.

Sticky steering wheel. Wheel will get stuck when making minor steering adjustments while driving. it’s sticky and jerky feeling when driving, causing to have to overcorrect left or right when making slight adjustments to center.

A sticky hard steering feeling from the steering wheel. Results in a labored, exausting feeling from fighting the steering wheel. Results in an over correction of steering at times.

My transmission light has been on for over a year. After visiting to private mechanics- diagnostic testing from both confirm an EVAP leak. They did smoke tests and nothing came back. After visiting credit karma. Under property, as I own my vehicle it states that there is a “Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump recall” documented on March 29, 2024. After contacting Honda directly they have stated that my VIN is not under the recall. After fueling up at the gas station. My vehicle inside and outside smells of gasoline for over 2-3 days. Which is not the norm. I’m pregnant and this is extremely dangerous. I am not going to bring my vehicle into a dealership to be told what I already know and be charged.

There was white padding between my speakers and trunk that had a malodorous smell.

My 2016 Honda Civic recently started having a problem with the air conditioner. The air blowing through is not cold and also smells strange. After taking it to an official Honda dealer, they've confirmed it's a problem with the evaporator and it needs to be replaced. An extended warranty exists for the compressor and condenser but not the evaporator. I believe the three are related and the evaporator should also be covered under warranty. This problem affects the air being pushed through the AC unit and could harm the passenger's well being.

Power steering sticks making small lane maintaining adjustments difficult. Usually happens after the vehicle has been outside in warm weather. Often results in over-correcting, causing vehicle to veer too far within the lane resulting in another correction in the opposite direction. It makes maintaining safe distance from other vehicles or barriers difficult. There are no warning lamps, check engine light, or messages prior to or after the problem. The vehicle is in otherwise excellent condition and has not been inspected by a dealer or mechanic for this problem.

- HONDA CVT TRANSMISSION: 4356 - Went out. Is available for inspection within the week. - My daughter was driving on the freeway in the fast lane when vehicle started making loud hum noise then, came to a stop. She had to coast to the side of the road, where she was almost hit by multiple vehicles. - Yes Vehicle has been inspected by a independent service center - towed by USAA insurance. - Has been inspected by other: Davis Auto Clinic, Davis, CA 95616 - No warning lights came on, or symptoms of the problem. Only hum noise which began 5 minutes before car stalled in middle of freeway. First appeared at time of stall, no warning at all.

Steering "sticks" when moving the wheel from center in order to make minor corrections at highway speeds. Overcoming the "stick" requires using additional force resulting in overcorrection and swerving. This is a serious safety concern.

Steering feels sticky when driving on highways. It required some force to move it slightly.

Lost Transmission fluid cap, don’t turn on any sensor light. I realized only because a friend just replace his. He shared the information I check it was gone. I had to buy a new one at Honda. High risk since temperature is super high in California, potential risk to lose all the transmission oil and brake.

I began to experience 'sticky steering' before reaching 90k miles on my vehicle. At its worst, the steering issue would cause the driver to overcorrect when attempting to overcome the notch in the steering while simply trying to stay in the center of a lane on the interstate. Because it is a steering issue I had the vehicle inspected at a cost of $236.34, at which time it was recommended that the eps rack and gearbox be replaced at a cost of over $3000 dollars. I declined at that time and went back to my home dealership where the repair was done at a cost of $2055. The rack and gearbox were faulty and the service manager affirmed that it was a known issue on these models, but that Honda had yet to do a recall even though they have done recalls on later models.

Steering becomes “sticky” when ambient temperature is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit or after driving from 30 minutes. Small adjustments in steering can not be done because steering sticks in position and causes more force to move it. This causes an over adjustment and swerving to keep the car in the lane.