Traction Control complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 1% | 3,000 miles |
| 2018 | 6 | 1% | 14,000 miles |
| 2017 | 11 | 2% | 23,000 miles |
| 2016 | 27 | 2% | 13,000 miles |
| 2015 | 3 | 1% | 76,000 miles |
| 2014 | 4 | 1% | 44,000 miles |
| 2013 | 9 | 3% | 33,000 miles |
| 2012 | 10 | 2% | 41,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% | 19,000 miles |
| 2010 | 4 | 1% | 90,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2008 | 4 | 0% | 35,000 miles |
| 2007 | 4 | 0% | 92,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 0% | 61,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% | 233,000 miles |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% | 82,000 miles |
| 2003 | 5 | 1% | 127,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 0% | 170,000 miles |
| 2001 | 3 | 0% | 17,000 miles |
| 1999 | 2 | 1% | 160,000 miles |
| 1998 | 2 | 0% | 153,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (electronic stability control and traction control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I parked my car in the driveway and put the brake on and the car in park. I sat in my car while off for a minute while calling my son to ask him a question. About 30 seconds after I got out of the car and shut the door (there was no noise indication there was an issue), the car rolled out of my driveway and hit my neighbors car. When I went to check my car, the car was still in park and the red brake light was still glowing. I had brought my car in 2 times before this happened to complain that the electrical system with the stability control wasn't working properly. The car was braking on its on and lane assist kept coming on when it shouldn't have. Honda said all was good. The last time I brought it in, for the tire lights coming on, they said the tire sticker was too close to the rim and that's why there was an issue. …
While driving (50+/- MPH) on a two lane state road, my 2019 Honda Civic hatchback sport cmbs (collision mitigation braking system) automatically engaged, bringing my vehicle very close to a complete stop for no reason I could see. There were no vehicles in front of me in either direction and fortunately no vehicle following or I would have been rear-ended. Clear morning, nothing on the roadway, no wildlife I saw. Dry and sunny, no leaves, no breeze, bare pavement. A sweet June morning in dutchess county, ny. Out of the blue the cmbs engaged automatically applying the brakes so hard I could feel the ABS kicking on and in moments I was at a crawl, then the car simply behaved normally again. I've owned this car less than a week. There is no means provided to shut this feature off permanently. The only way to override the cmbs is to manually turn it off every time I restart the car. …
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the power steering had failed and the vehicle was difficult to steer. The tire pressure monitoring, brake system, electronic power steering, and stability assist warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to drive to her residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to turn off the vehicle and turn it back on to correct the failure. The power steering was corrected after restarting the vehicle; however, the warning lights were still illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with lost communication with the steering angle sensor. The dealer calibrated the steering angle sensor and cleared the DTC, then test drove the vehicle. The failure recurred a week later with an additional unknown warning light. …
On March 27, 2020, I was driving to work when my car's ABS lights, brake system lights, stability control lights, and another light I did not recognize all lit up at the same time. My car began to swerve and suddenly my car's steering wheel and front wheels locked up. I lost control of the car and wasn't able to correct anything because the steering wheel and front wheels were both locked. I hit a farm fence with the left side of my car, and slid across the road into a ditch. My airbags did not deploy despite the sudden impact to the driver's side door. The car wheels were so locked up that the tow truck drivers had difficulty loading the car on/off the tow truck. The emergency lights stayed on, even when the car was turned off and back on. …
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle stability assist (VSA), the electric power steering (EPS), the TPMS and the brake warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as needed. The warning lights were no longer illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 50-65 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact was able to continue driving by using physical force to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that he arrived at the residence, parked, and turned off the vehicle; however, upon restarting the vehicle approximately 6 hours later, the failure persisted. The vehicle stability assist (VSA), the electric power steering (EPS), and the TPMS warning lights were illuminated. …
My 2017 Honda Civic hatchback, with 13,015 miles on it, was in my carport and had only been sitting 2 days without being driven when I turned the car on and the car began throwing warnings of all electrical systems having problems. For example the TPMS, electric parking break, brake system, electric power steering, hill start assist and more. And I had no power steering. I had my car towed to surprise Honda (big mistake) and they saw that my harness (part number 53682-tsa-a01) was chewed by rodents which caused the problem. Honda says and knows this wiring is made from soy based material which attracts rodents. Honda even has a special spicy tape, which they charge for as well, that they can use to wrap the wiring to deter the rodents (which the service mgr said really doesn't work.) Honda says it is not covered under their warranty. …
I pressed my automatic start key from the window of the building , while I was getting ready ,(washing my face, brushing teeth) after a couple seconds later I heard the sound of the alarm , which would usually turn on if there is a hit or impact or loud sound . When I came downstairs, about 5-10 minutes later . I noticed the front window was shattered , I figured maybe one the neighbors was playing ball and hit my window, when I opened my door I realized there was a fire inside coming directly from the dashboard, everything was melted and my dashboard was also sunk in. I checked if there was an outlet connected or USB ports and did not find an answer. …
The front wheels are going to fall off..throwing codes for stability malfunction assist, electric parking brake, electric power steering..I have been treated awful by 3 Honda dealership and I refuse to pay for this vehicle that I'm going to die in..brush guard fell down being held with bailing twine
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Civic years have traction control problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (27), 2017 (11), 2012 (10), 2013 (9) and 2018 (6) model years. Traction Control complaints make up 2% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Honda Civic traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for any Honda Civic model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Honda Civic traction control problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 46,000 miles; 71% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic (asc) (1 mentions).
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.