Honda Civic: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Honda Civic problems by model year, from 6,449 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2015 (63%, 205 drivetrain complaints) and 2014 (55%, 126 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 14 Honda Civic years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2022 (3%), 2023 (5%) and 2021 (10%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2015 (63%) to 2016 (15%), down 48 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2015 drew the most drivetrain complaints (205 of 1,134 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Honda Civic year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Civic | no elevated signal | 12% | 36 | 401 | 11/14 | 8 |
| 2011 Civic | no elevated signal | 18% | 20 | 171 | 9/14 | 9 |
| 2012 Civic | no elevated signal | 30% | 90 | 461 | 4/14 | 3 |
| 2013 Civic | no elevated signal | 26% | 52 | 320 | 5/14 | 0 |
| 2014 Civic | high | 55% | 126 | 291 | 2/14 | 2 |
| 2015 Civic | very high | 63% | 205 | 388 | 1/14 | 1 |
| 2016 Civic | no elevated signal | 15% | 149 | 1,082 | 10/14 | 5 |
| 2017 Civic | no elevated signal | 19% | 106 | 601 | 8/14 | 6 |
| 2018 Civic | no elevated signal | 21% | 120 | 601 | 7/14 | 6 |
| 2019 Civic | no elevated signal | 26% | 112 | 451 | 6/14 | 4 |
| 2020 Civic | no elevated signal | 30% | 60 | 232 | 3/14 | 5 |
| 2021 Civic | no elevated signal | 10% | 14 | 159 | 12/14 | 4 |
| 2022 Civic | no elevated signal | 3% | 27 | 959 | 14/14 | 4 |
| 2023 Civic | no elevated signal | 5% | 17 | 332 | 13/14 | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Honda Civic years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Honda Civic engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns on the Honda Civic involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 32 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2011 | 11V176000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2011 |
| May 2011 | 11V288000 | fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2012 |
| Jun 2012 | 12V256000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2012 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V574000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2014–2015 |
| Feb 2016 | 16V074000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2016 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V706000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2017 |
| May 2020 | 20V314000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V215000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019–2020 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V858000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2016–2021 |
23 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2012 | 12V548000 | steering: column | 2012 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V109000 | tires: bead | 2014 |
| May 2016 | 16V346000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V526000 | exterior lighting | 2016 |
| Oct 2016 | 16V725000 | parking brake | 2016 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V030000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Aug 2017 | 17V545000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V042000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Apr 2018 | 18V266000 | air bags | 2017 |
| Apr 2018 | 18V268000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V421000 | equipment: other: labels | 2018 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V661000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V663000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2017–2018 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V817000 | equipment: other: owners/service/other manual | 2017–2018 |
| May 2019 | 19V378000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V502000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V430000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2023 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V458000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 2020–2021 |
| Oct 2023 | 23V704000 | steering: rack and pinion | 2022–2023 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V064000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2020–2022 |
| Oct 2024 | 24V744000 | steering | 2022–2023 |
| Nov 2024 | 24V859000 | seats: critical fasteners | 2023 |
| May 2026 | 26V332000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2016–2022 |
What the free pages leave out on the Honda Civic
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Honda Civic
What are the worst years for the Honda Civic?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Honda Civic years are the 2015 (63% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2014 (55% of relevant complaints, high). 2 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Honda Civic?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Honda Civic years are the 2022 (3%), the 2023 (5%) and the 2021 (10%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Honda Civic have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 1,134 of 5,853 relevant NHTSA complaints (19%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2014 and 2015.
Is the Honda Civic reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 14 Honda Civic years we score have an elevated complaint share and 12 do not. Pooled across those years, 19% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Honda Civic?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Honda Civic years we track, out of 32 in total: 20V314000 (May 2020, 2018–2019), 21V215000 (Mar 2021, 2019–2020), 23V858000 (Dec 2023, 2016–2021), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.