Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 Honda Civic. The contact stated that upon checking the fluids in the vehicle, she noticed that coolant had leaked onto the ground. Upon inspecting under the hood of the vehicle, the contact then noticed that coolant was located at the bottom of the engine and a small crack in the coolant reservoir. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximate 208,000.
*****BOTH KEY TRANSPONDERS WERE RESPONSIVE TO THE CAR TODAY, IE GREEN KEY LIGHT LIT WHEN BOTH KEYS WERE INSERTED AND TURNED TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE ALLOWING THE CAR RADIO AND WINDOWS TO BE CONTROLLED, UNLIKE OTHER DAYS WHERE FRAUD OCCURRED SO THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE BOTH AND ONLY ONE OR THE OTHER***** Unidentified party, most likely remotely, Stole control of my vehicle through manipulating non factory installed equipment that was installed after market and using factory installed equipment in a manner not openly discussed with the purchaser and owner. If it's the police again or the manufacturer/ dealership or any court, has never disclosed or notified ownership or responsibility of such activities for now ten years. …
- What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? My 2006 Honda Civic engine overheated. Upon diagnosis it was found that radiator coolant had leaked out due to cracks in the engine block (short block). Engine malfunction. - How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My teenage son drives this car and initially he did not notice coolant leak. Engine can stop working while driving on a freeway (seized engine) which is a very serious safety risk. - Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, local Honda dealer confirmed the problem and pointed me to a service bulletin 10-048 from American Honda [redacted] ) that noted this exact manufacturing defect. American Honda had provided extended warranty to allay customer fears at the time but without a recall. …
13 December, 2021 VIN: [redacted] Background: 30 June, 2015 - Took Our 2006 Honda Civic 4 door sedan (LX) in for service (odometer reading 75,801) in order to address coolant leaks. The OEM dealership indicated there was a recall on this specific engine and Honda USA replaced the short block and gaskets ( exhibit H0CS10872 - replacement engine ID number D67141432M ) to correct this problem. Issue: 10 December, 2021 - While driving home (8 miles on local errands) the engine began making a rattling noise. No warranting indicators appeared on the dashboard alerts. Parked the in garage, inspected the garage floor for fluid leaks - there were none. Immediately arranged to take can in for service. 12 December, 2021 - Left residence to take the car in for an inspection and / or service. Without warranting the engine failed, lost steering and braking. Had car towed for inspection. …
I am a loyal 35 year honda Car owner I own a 2006 Civic ex 1.8 Coupe I take every care and keep maint. up to date and even have done a 100k service at it's now low 38,000 miles as of july 2022 I have the fear that this vehicle because of such low miles will go bad because of honda faulty porrus engine blocks they know it was and is still a major problem. Problem with my car is not feeling safe to drive long distance in fear of engine block suddenly leaks and overheats engine. honda refuses to recall all 2006-2008 civics. So why own such a nice perfectly upkept honda that my family' feels unsafe to drive across country, PLEASE MAKE THEM RECALL ALL ENGINES FROM 2006-2008 CIVICS COME ON WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL AND BUYING YOUR PRODUCTS NOW DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL A MOTOR THAT IF HONDA HADNT CHEAPED OUT AND MDE BLOCKS SO THIN THEY FAIL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. …
The accessory serpentine belt produced by gates triggers misfires faults. The part is available for inspection. The misfires escalated to a point where the MIL lamp flashed and the vehicle derated while operating on a roadway. Had to emergency stop. After key off/on the vehicle acted normally. I was able to be confirm the misfire with datalogging. Gates has not responded to my communication effort. The vehicle had no issue previous to the belt change. It was running the OEM belt and was only replaced due to maintenance interval. After the misfire was confirmed with data monitoring a new OEM belt was installed and the misfire was confirmed to be gone.
Engine overheats due to a crack in the engine block causing the coolant to leak.Overheated engine smokes and has the potential for fire. I did my research and spoke to handful of certified mechanics, the solution is as I understand is to replace the engine. there was a recall notice sent September 2014 to address this issue which I did not receive nor I had a problem at the time of notice. Could someone please look into this for us, it would greatly help me and my family to be safe on the road while driving this vehicle. Thank you,
cracked engine block leaking coolant. Honda says it's not covered after the extended warranty expired. The issue starts happening in many vehicles after 100K miles and my car started seeing the issue at 135K miles . Dealer will not help, Honda of America won't help. this needs to turn into a recall please. Honda must reimburse or have the crack fixed.
The car developed a crack in the engine block resulting in coolant leaks. This is unsafe and produces a toxic smell. The car is only at 119,000 miles and Honda will not cover it because it is 10 years past the warranty date. This warranty needs to be extended further. 119,000 miles is not a good quality Honda product.
I have the common issue the 2006 Civic. My engine block cracked. There was already a class action lawsuit on this matter but of course it only went 10 years. Honda was in the wrong here. Why was this not a recall? I'm super frustrated. Car is available for inspection. It is at the Honda dealership right. Now.
Engine complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2006 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 377 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2006 Honda Civic, 27% of the model year's 1,403 complaints. The component named most often is engine (45 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Honda Civic engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2006 Honda Civic, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Honda Civic engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 17 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.