10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,476 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Honda Civic engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #57

Jun 012020

Civic

  • 48,675 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This car has the infamous 1.5 liter turbocharged earth dreams engine from Honda. Even after the product update applied to the car on Jan 2019 while it was owned by the previous owner, it still has a high amount of oil dilution issue which will severely impact the car in the long run. Parking this car in a garage after a drive makes the whole garage smell like gas. And a point to note is that it's summer here in Ohio now. After a fresh oil change right after I bought it and driving a mere distance of 50 miles already had dumped so much of gas into the engine that the dipstick had high oil level. Taking it to the dealership resulted no resolution as they insisted that it's normal. It's not normal to have that amount of gas in the engine so I strongly believe that Honda should make a recall on this car.

- Concord, NC, USA

problem #56

May 262020

Civic 4-cyl

  • 33,026 miles
Tried to start car (in walmart parking lot) after shopping. Wouldn't start. Instead, all systems warning lights came on: Power steering, parking brake, brake failure, TPMS, traction control system, hill assist system, ABS system, etc. All these warnings kept cycling through on the dashboard when I tried to start car. Tow company came and jump started battery just to see if that would start car. It did! but warnings continued to cycle through all previously mentioned items while I drove car to mechanic. Did not turn car off till I got there for fear it would not start again.

- Wantage, NJ, USA

problem #55

Jan 162020

Civic 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Ac compressor seal 'broke' after 40,000 miles. Honda has had this problem on these cars but haven't issued a recall! they want $2000 to fix their mistake. With no ac my wife was borderline getting heat exhaustion. Stationary.

- Vineyard, UT, USA

problem #54

Apr 172020

Civic 4-cyl

  • 26,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Air compressor needed to be replaced at 26,000 miles and cost $1200 at the dealer. The A/C was blowing hot air. I live in Florida so this is unacceptable and not safe for children or elderly. I have had the car since day one and religiously maintain and take care of the vehicle. The man at the dealer said the condenser is under extended warranty only to find out that it was the compressor. A quick online search shows that 2016 Honda Civics have massive numbers of both condenser and compressor failures, leaking freon into the atmosphere. This needs to be a recall on the part of Honda.

- Hialeah, FL, USA

problem #53

May 012020

Civic 4-cyl

  • 49,100 miles
I have had the vehicle for 4 years and kept up on maintenance; the last maintenance was performed in March 2020. I was driving the vehicle on a city street (2-way street) and started hearing a clicking noise and smelled smoke. The front passenger then noticed flames outside of his window. I tried to stop the vehicle but the breaks wouldn't work. I was able to coast the vehicle to a nearby street opening and we were luckily able to escape. The vehicle went up in flames and exploded at least once before the fire department arrived. The vehicle is a total loss. According to the fire report, the cause of the fire is, "failure of equipment or heat source"; the listed area of fire origin is, "engine area, running".

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #52

Feb 052020

Civic

  • 66,000 miles
I recently purchased my 2016 Honda Civic ex sedan on February 5th, 2020. The ac almost immediately doesn't work and I think nothing of it because I have windows and then when I finally have time to take it to a shop to get checked out, they recharge the ac freon and when it runs it sounds like it's leaking a lot and I didn't think think of it until the ac no longer works after a day, I take it back and they say it all leaked out and to replace the compressor which is leaking it, they want to charge me $1800 and I don't have that kind of money so I've been going along with ac and its getting really hot in cali summer. I just think that's a huge environmental and safety issue and Honda America should definitely pay for it because I'm not the only one complaining, forums all over the states have people complaining about it and some people have even replaced their compressor 2 or 3 times(and payed for it themselves). This is an issue among all of the 10th gen Civic sedans and coupes. You may share all of my info with the manufacturer or all investigative parties for any reason they need if needed.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #51

Mar 142017

Civic

  • 15,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1) the ac only have cool air but it is not cold. It is not even as cold as the outside air. The technician said that the compressor and condenser is working fine, so it has to be the systems leaking air. 2) the front passenger window is occasionally cannot roll down by both buttons from driver or passenger side. It has to take a while and aggressively pushed down the button from passenger side multiple tike to be able to roll the window down. 3) touch screen intermitten automatically flickering like someone pressing on it.

- Garden Grove, CA, USA

problem #50

Feb 282020

Civic

  • miles
My car ac is blowing hot air since January 2019. My car is making sound whenever I turn on. February 28, 2020, my car was suddenly stopped when I was driving on the freeway.

- Alhambra, CA, USA

problem #49

Jan 012018

Civic

  • 5,000 miles
Every time I change or check my oil, there is a strong gasoline smell. When I take the dip stick out and smell it, all I smell is gasoline.

- Palm Harbor, FL, USA

problem #48

Dec 192019

Civic

  • miles
I purchased a 2016 Honda Civic for my son in 2016. I received a notice about ac problems this year. I contacted my son and asked him if he had problems with the A/C. he reported that it doesn't blow very much air and the air never gets cold. So I had him take to dealership. He was told that the recall for A/C affected only one part of the unit which they could fix under no cost...but they said that there was a huge hole in the air compressor and this was not covered. They quoted over $2,000 to replace air compressor. I found this hard to believe and researched to find out what causes a hole in the compressor that makes it beyond repair and the only information I could find were others having the same problem with 2016 Honda Civic faulty air compressors. Again when I tested it myself, it was not blowing cold air and sometimes not blowing air at all. Since I purchased vehicle, it seems like system was not fully capable of defrosting windows in front and back and figured the design was bad.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #47

Nov 152018

Civic

  • 30,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a Honda Civic 2016 and my ac was not working since last year 2018. I took my car to the dealer ship and being told that I need to pay $295 for the diagnosis which I refused to do it. I did some research to see if anyone has the same problem and yess they do and a lot. I took my car to the dealer ship today after I got recalled letter for the condenser. After 6 hrs, they called me and told me that my condenser is good, but my compressor is not and the repair fee will be up to $1200. If I refuse to fix it, I still need to pay $395 for the diagnosis fee which is stupid. I looked it up again and had read a lot of complaint about the compressor. I am paying off my car which I own for almost 4 years and now everything is already broken. This is my first Honda car and I regret that I chose Honda. I hope Honda do some research and read about people complaint and do something about it. Never buy Honda again.

- Alhambra, CA, USA

problem #46

Nov 152019

Civic

  • 86,000 miles
Engine oil level continuously creeping above max fill line after every oil change. Note: Oil measured at same location in garage and at same temperature, and oil allowed sufficient time to drain back into oil pan.

- Drums, PA, USA

problem #45

Oct 312019

Civic

  • 1 miles
On 10-31-19, driving my 2016 Honda Civic 1.5 turbo engine taking my kids to school. Car was driving well, until a reach about 1 mile, while making a left turn the car loss power and can only drive up to 15 mph. I have to drive my car back home and get my other car. The Honda never regains normal power. The same date in the evening, I drove the Honda for about 3 miles around my neighborhood and never loss power. The following date, I drove the car and suddenly again loss power while making a right turn a block away from my house. Drove back my Honda back to my house with the car never regaining normal power. The Honda Civic only drives well for less than a quarter mile and then suddenly loss power, especially when making a turn. This is a safety hazard. When the car loss power it only drives up to 15 mph (which takes several seconds to reach 15 mph) and never regain normal power. This loss of power started on 10-31-19, which was a very cool day about 24-degree Fahrenheit. My car is not driver able any longer. Now that this happen, I research problems with 2016 Civic and found out that Honda had an issue with 1.5 turbo engine since 2017. One month and half prior to this happen, I took my car to the Honda dealer services twice and only want to charge me with things that the warranty did not cover and could not tell me what was wrong with my car. Honda dealer should had known the problems my car has are relate to oil dilution in the engine, but decided not to address it. Now, I have a car that is not driver able and not safe to drive. Honda place my family life in danger, such that the street around our city, cars drives between 55 to 70 mph. This easily could cause a car to re-end or T-bone the car while making a turn on a busy traffic street.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

problem #44

Oct 082019

Civic

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. When the vehicle was started, the contact heard an abnormal tapping noise coming from the passenger side of the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the noise was coming from the engine. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed by Honda. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 16V074000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Escondido, CA, USA

problem #43

Aug 012019

Civic

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. Upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that the engine was leaking freon. The contact informed atlantic Honda (1375 sunrise hwy, bay shore, NY 11706, (631) 665-0005) of the defect and was informed that he would have to pay for diagnostic testing. The contact also notified the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not under warranty; therefore, the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 25,000.

- West Babylon, NY, USA

problem #42

Aug 072019

Civic

  • miles
I have issues that have been reported previously and while the vehicle was under warranty. Now that the warranty is out the problem has been more severe. The 1st problem is the display for the radio, heating and cooling and the speed display has been effected some but not like the radio and cooling/heating display. It has gone blank, it has froze up. It has lost all functioning. The 2nd is the air compressor. It has a leak and apparently this is an issue with a lot of the tourings. People have replaced them and had the same issues. The displays have had problems both in drive modes and parked. I have googled on how to fix those issues and we have disconnected the battery to do the same. The cooling/heating system cools some times but not all the time.

- Liberty, MO, USA

problem #41

Jun 052019

Civic

  • 26,754 miles
Ac compressor leaking

- Rosindale, MA, USA

problem #40

Jul 202019

Civic

  • 35,000 miles
My 2016 Honda Civic ex-T was purchased brand new on 2016. In less than 40,000 miles, my air conditioning unit blows hot air. It is currently in the shop replacing the ac unit. They said there was a leak and I am sure refrigerant is not a safe chemical to be leaking out in the environment.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #39

Jun 072018

Civic

  • miles
Engine oil level above maximum level, and the engine oil smells like gasoline.

- Richmond, CA, USA

problem #38

Jul 112019

Civic

  • 1 miles
Takata recall. I've had this car for 3 yrs. The problem with it is that, when I come to a stop while driving it doesn't wanna take off. It hesitates for about 30 sec. The problem is that its dangerous when I turn left it stays in the middle of the St and I can get hit. At one point I had to put it in emergency lights and turn it off and on. Then it worked. Its been doing it for about 4 months at least twice a day. It started in about April. At first it wasn't that often then it started everyday. It happens anywhere, St highway, fwy, city even when I wanna reverse. Im not sure why its doing it I've taken it to the mechanic about 4 times. I do all oil changes everything, tire changes, rotations, the mechanic can't find anything. He even changed a sensor and it still does it.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

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