Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (air conditioning, heater, defroster, HVAC controls).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
A/C system.- compressor &/or shaft seal leak- As we were driving our BRAND NEW Honda civic to Las Vegas for our daughter's wedding on July 12, 2019 in the heat of 115 degrees, the AC stopped working & started blowing hot air, we were forced to continue our 5 hour journey in this unsafe driving condition since it was our daughter's wedding. This was at 36,100 miles, just 100 miles out of warranty. The recall had not happened yet & we were unaware other people were experiencing the same issues with this same AC system Honda used. I Took it to my local Honda dealer upon return of the torturous unsafe trip and they wanted $3000 to fix the problem they took no blame for it. I immediately filed a complaint with safecar.gov #11322455. …
In late winter of 2022, the car's A/C system failed for the fourth time. The car A/C system stopped functioning; it was no longer blowing cool air into the car. The diagnosis was that the A/C compressor was leaking. The A/C compressor was replaced and we were charged $2027. We paid the bill and asked Honda to reimburse us for the amount because after 4 failures in 3 years it was obvious that the Civic A/C system design was flawed. Honda refused to pay for the compressor replacement.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the air conditioner was distributing hot air through the vents. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was unknown. The contact was concerned about driving a vehicle without air conditioning in a hot climate state.
Our car's A/C system failed for the third time. It was no longer blowing cool air into the car interior. The diagnosis was, the A/C O-ring was leaking. The O-ring was replaced. We were charged for the O-ring replacement $541. After paying the bill Honda reimbursed us for the amount.
The air conditioning system has failed. Safety is at risk due to elevated temperatures. Thousands of people have complained about these issues. HSB 19-091 does not go far enough, Honda needs to recall the entire a/c system and repair these manufacturer defects.
My 2016 Honda Civic started blowing warm air and within 24 hours I took it to my local Honda Dealership and had it inspected. I was told that there were two TRBs which may be related to the A/C system. After dealer inspection I was told that the mechanics noted leaks in both the Condenser and the Compressor shaft seal. The result of the leaks was that the these components would need to be replaced along with the A/C compressor. Unfortunately I was told that the extended warranties on both of these components (10 yr unlimited mileage) would not cover the compressor replacement despite the dealership telling me that the leaks likely caused the A/C Compressor failure. …
My 2016 Honda has began to blown hot air through my air conditioning unit while I'm driving making it very difficult to breath.this begun on 4/2020 while driving on the highway. I took my car to norm reeves Honda in the city of cerritos, ca and they said that the condensor is leaking as well as the evaporator. The condensors that Honda has been using on there 2016 - 2018 Honda civics have a history of failing and that is why Honda is now extending there warrant of them for an extra two years however Honda also know that the evaporators are defected also. I have spoke with American Honda and they are aware of my problem and refuse to help. Honda also knows that you can't replace the condensor without servicing the evaporator and that is the way that they avoid having to repair the defected part on your vehicle. …
Air conditioner on driver's side not cooling/blowing warm air. Honda dealer performed diagnosis and found system slightly low, and found ac compressor is leaking. Cost to repair is $1900.00. Our 2016 Honda Civic had 33K miles and is garage kept and well maintained. I searched the internet and found the compressor leaking is a common problem! This should not be happening on a car with 33K miles on it!!! I have been a Honda owner for over 20 years and expect Honda to issue a recall or extend the warranty on the compressor/cooling system for this known defect. This system has not lived up to the reasonable expectation of reliability of Honda cars, and that an ac compressor should last more than just a few years with low mileage. This is well beyond what would be considered as normal wear and tear! …
2016 Honda Civic. Problem with air conditioning blowing hot air both when vehicle is in motion and stationary. I took to the car to the dealership and was told both condenser and compressor had leaks. Condenser is covered under extended warranty but the compressor was not costing in excess of $1100 to repair. Was informed by dealership they are receiving 3-4 vehicles per week with this issue. It is clearly a defect in the manufacture of the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the windshield defroster was inoperable due to the air conditioner being inoperable. The contact stated that the windshield and windows fogged up while driving. The vehicle was taken to penske Honda (4140 e 96th st, indianapolis, in 46240 [phone], but was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.
AC & Heater complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are ac & heater problems on the 2016 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the a/c & heater of the 2016 Honda Civic, 2% of the model year's 1,082 complaints. The component named most often is appliance › air conditioner (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Honda Civic ac & heater problems?
No. NHTSA lists no a/c & heater recall for the 2016 Honda Civic, though it has 5 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 2016 Honda Civic ac & heater problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 39,000 miles.
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.