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).
The contact owned a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended, it caught fire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. There were no reported injuries. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 16V074000 (Engine and Engine Cooling).
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while the vehicle was idling or driving at various speeds, she depressed the accelerator pedal however, the RPM's increased and the engine revved; however, there was an extended delay before the vehicle responded. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure, and an appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 5 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact returned the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the catalytic convertor had failed and that the inner cooler with gaskets was defective. The catalytic converter was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact had returned the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 236,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was running with the A/C unit activated, there was an abnormal odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. Additionally, while the A/C unit was activated, only hot air was coming from the vents. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the A/C evaporator needed to be replaced because of leaks in three places. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Over a several month period the car was losing radiator fluid. I figured it was probably a stuck thermostat and the fluid was coming from the overflow. But only once did I see a minimal amount of fluid. Not near the amount that had been lost in the cooling system. Fast forward a few months and I am driving home. Top speed starts out at the speed limit of 70 and slowly slips to 65 then 60. Giving it more gas would increase the rpms but no power or forward thrust was making to the tires. It was as if, it was falling into neutral. The next morning drive to work was much worse. starting with a top speed of 65 within 10 miles on the highway the top speed went to 55 then to 45 then 35. When the top speed was 45 mph I took the first exit and made it through a stop sign on the service road. With a crawling speed of 10 mph it limped into a strip-center parking lot. …
- The engine failed. The engine block warped and both had to be replaced. I have pictures from the dealer. The cost was $8,194.56 at the dealer for a replacement engine with 89K miles on it. - My son's safety was put at risk because he is in a rural area. Every warning lamp on the dashboard turned on after Indy Honda replaced the coolant (Maintenance minder A125). Then the lights would turn off. Then Andy Mohr Honda inspected it (for the first time) and their diagnosis was a pvc pipe crack. We paid for that repair. The second time was the head gasket and the engine was destroyed. - The problem was confirmed by Andy Mohr Honda and Indy Honda in the state of Indiana. Andy Mohr confirmed the turbo engine for the Honda Civic has a known issue and than we should have purchased the 2.0 liter instead of the 1.5 liter because of the load the turbo puts on the engine. …
My 2016 Honda Civic has a recurring safety-critical defect that began approximately 2-3 weeks after purchase. While turning (most often left turns), the vehicle suddenly shuts off without warning. When this occurs, the power steering assist locks, brake assist is lost, and the electrical system cuts off and then reboots. This has happened more than 5-6 times and nearly caused collisions. I had to apply extreme brake pressure to avoid hitting another vehicle during one incident. The steering becomes rigid, the dashboard goes dark, and the car restarts on its own while still in motion. Before I purchased the vehicle, a diagnostic inspection was performed and no issues were reported. Since owning the car, it has also been taken to a mechanic multiple times, and no diagnostic code or mechanical explanation for this shutdown issue has ever been identified. …
This car has given me the same repeating issues. Winter time the screen blinks blank. AC issues because of the design. Feeling the car with my foot on the break at a red light makes me want to puke. And the big one the steering. After driving on the highway for a bit, I notice the steering has a sticky kind of groove it likes to be in. I have not found a solution to the problem. Safety-camera screen blinking but you're used to using it, could potentially hit something. Nausea in traffic not good for any one. Steering-trying to maintain a lane while the steering gets stuck to the left but the road is veering to the right, it's terrifying. The car has a mind of its own and only performs when it wants...no official dealer report. I don't believe there are any official reports in regards to my vehicle. There have been NO lights or any kind of warning or messages about this. …
Driving on highway to work when check engine light came on in addition to "Emissions System Problem", "Hill Start Assist", "Power Steering Issue", etc. When scanned for codes it showed misfire codes P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304. When spark plugs and coils were changed one set showed signs of rust. The misfires persisted after changing out these parts. When taken to the dealership they stated that the powertrain warranty had been extended to 6yrs from the original date of purchase because of an oil dilution issue. My car was outside of this warranty and the dealer did not offer to help with repairs. I called Honda of America and explained the situation - they also stated that it was outside of warranty. My mechanic has recommended an engine replacement and estimates repair costs over $4000+ for a used engine. …
I bought my 2016 Honda Civic and never had issues with it besides the AC unit not working which was resolved because of the recalls and was repaired by my local dealership. Now I am having issues when it comes to accelerating. There is an accelerating delay/ stall when completing a stop and there's a delay to get the car to move after pressing on the gas pedal or when reversing when getting out of th driveway. The most dangerous event is when I'm driving and i come to a stop to make a right turn and right after ensuring there is no upcoming traffic to make the right turn my car does not accelerate and it's very scary because I can get hit by another car. There's times where I'm driving and the car can turn off. I feel like my life and other drivers life's are at risk. Honda has recalls for fuel pumps for other year/models but not for mine. …
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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…
Remedy: 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.
Engine complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2016 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 99 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2016 Honda Civic, 9% of the model year's 1,082 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Honda Civic engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-074 (engine, Feb 9, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Honda Civic engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 29,000 miles, and 43% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 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.