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).
Air conditioner in my 2016 Honda Civic has never worked. Condenser or compressor needs to be replaced continues to leak throughout system and is defective. Emergency Brake malfunction does not work and poses as a safety issue. Left head lamp doesn't work due to excessive heat exposure in Nevada.
I was driving my car home from work and many warning lights lit up on my car dashboard (brake problem, engine problem, uphill start, steering problem) etc.. I got off the freeway and my car dashboard lit up and notified me "to pull over to a safe location because my car needle (temperature) was on high. I pulled over to a safe location and opened the hood and noticed that the antifreeze coolant compartment was empty) my car could have caught on fire because there was no coolant inside the compartment. After I got home and filled the car with coolant I placed cardboard under the car engine to see if the coolant would leak. There are no signs of leakage. I took my car to my mechanic and he told me that he couldn't fix the problem and suggested I call Honda USA customer service. …
no one was hurt. just a finder binder to my car only. the other drivrr had a truck and it didnt do any damage to back bumper.
The 3rd brake light that's on the inside of the rear window (I have the coupe) has a cover which keeps the light directed outside of the car and attaches to the window. The glue holding it to the window isn't strong enough, so the cover hangs down, blocking some of the rear window, reducing visibility. Also, at night the light itself washes out the rear window, making it difficult to see out the back at all. This problem is affecting 100% of the 2016 coupes that have ever been out on a warm day (heat melts the glue), and Honda isn't fixing it. They've been stringing us along for 5 months now, promising a fix in "a month" or "a couple weeks", with no resolution. Last I heard, they said on November 7th that it would be released in 8-12 weeks. …
Third brake light housing came undone. I've researched several Honda Civic forums and this seems to be a wide spread problem. One complaint even read that when they contacted their dealer they said that every single 2016 Civic coupe they had in the lot is having this issue. Mind you those vehicles haven't even been driven yet. While for me this is mildly annoying I can see how this can cause real visibility issues. So far there are no permanent fixes by Honda for this. I fully expect a recall once a permanent fix is made by Honda and there should be one. Not only is this annoying but it is a safety issue as well.
The cover on the third brake light at the top center of the rear window on the coupe version of this car does not stay adhered to the window. This causes a safety issue in visibility in the rear view mirror. Besides reducing visual sight area, at night the red light upon brake application is both distracting and obliterates any other viewing out of the rear window. Dealer attempt to fix was unsuccessful. Part needs to be redesigned for a better installation method than double sided tape on the edge of the part. Many other coupe owners have complained online about this same issue.
The third brake light cover (inside top center of rear window) on my 2016 Honda Civic coupe is loose/drooping/falling off on the back passenger side with right-rear of cover separated by about 1/4" gap from inside of rear window. This condition has existed since I purchased the car on September 30, 2016. This allows distracting light leak while driving at night and impairs visibility through the rear window. Based upon information online Honda does not yet have a fix for this even though it has been widely reported occurring on the 2016 Civic coupes since June 2016..
The high-mounted brake light cover, mounted on the rear window, has detached itself from the window. This has resulted in a loss of visibility due to the plastic cover blocking important visual information from outside the car. In addition, red light from the brake light illuminates the rear window, making it almost impossible to see outside at night. I report this to the dealer (roberts Honda in downingtown, pa) who said that "all Civic coupes have had this problem, Honda America is aware, but has not provided a fix"
The cover on the third brake light has fallen off. The Honda dealership has tried to fix it four times and now says there is nothing they can do because this is a known issue at Honda and there is no fix. This is a serious safety issue. There is no way to see out the back window in the dark or when condensation is on the window, if the brake is engaged. All you see is a reflection of the brake light. Without the backup camera, the car would not be drivable. This occurs when stationary or in motion. It
I have been experiencing multiple electrical issues since about 6 months after purchase with brake light bulbs repeatedly burning out along with every system icon on the dash flashing off and on while driving the car it will not start always and at times it will not open with the key or the remote fob all being taken in to shops for repairs and within weeks I can be back to the shop with yet another so called fix this recurring problem is a big safety issue
Related recalls
Exterior lighting
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.
Remedy: 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.
Headlight complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2016 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the lights of the 2016 Honda Civic, 3% of the model year's 1,082 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Honda Civic headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-526 (exterior lighting, Jul 11, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Honda Civic headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 1,000 miles, and 100% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to lights 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.