2016 Honda Civic: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Honda Civic: 5 recalls, 1081 owner complaints and up to 35 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #16V074000 · 2016 · 42,129 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin May not be secure and May drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in the summer of 2016. Owners were mailed an interim notification beginning March 31, 2016, and will be mailed a…
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #16V526000 · 2016 · 11,846 vehicles
What's wrong: American Honda motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 civic 2-door vehicles manufactured February 23, 2016, through May 20, 2016. The affected vehicles May have a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly, making the marker light inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps,…
Why it matters: If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect both the taillight assemblies, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2016.
Parking brake Vehicle recall #16V725000 · 2016 · 350,083 vehicles
What's wrong: Honda (american Honda motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda civic two door and four door 1.5l turbo and 2.0l vehicles. The electric parking brake (epb) May not engage if it is applied immediately after turning the ignition off.
Why it matters: If the epb is not applied, the vehicle May roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to allow the epb to engage immediately after the ignition is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2016.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #23V858000 · 2023 · 2,490,460 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024.
Airbags Vehicle recall #26V332000 · 2026 · 98,892 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 16 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Steering (445): the most common themes are steering problems (434), warning light on (56).
- Other / unknown (253): the most common themes are leaks (62), electrical failure (20).
- Electrical (119): the most common themes are electrical failure (38), door / lock issues (27).
- Engine (95): the most common themes are leaks (21), stalls / loses power (17), warning light on (14).
The 2016 Honda Civic has 1081 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 37 Civic model years for complaints (2.5× the average Civic year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (144 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 30,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (380 complaints, 1 recalls), 2017 (599 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 42 | 35 | Regular |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 41 | 35 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 40 | 34 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 39 | 34 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 38 | 31 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 37 | 30 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Honda Civic.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Honda Civic have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Honda Civic. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Honda Civic problems?
Owners have filed 1081 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are steering (445), other / unknown (253), electrical (119).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Honda Civic get?
EPA ratings run up to 35 mpg combined (1.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Honda Civic repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.