Home · 2013 Honda Civic · Complaints

What 314 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Honda Civic

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (314)Crash / fire / injury (36)Airbags (110)Electrical system (39)Brakes (37)Steering (37)Body & structure (23)Engine (22)Transmission & drivetrain (22)Speed control (20)Fuel system (17)Seats (16)

22 of 314 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters

Apr 22, 2026Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

car inverter failure, 2013 civic hybrid inverter recall for said year but refuse to include in recall lemon

NHTSA ODI 11732997

Apr 24, 2025Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond. The check emission system and check transmission system warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 65 MPH, the vehicle was losing motive power, jerking, and was slow to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who removed and replaced the speed sensor. The vehicle was then taken to another independent mechanic who sprayed the wires and thought it would repair the vehicle; however, the warning light illuminated again. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,156.

NHTSA ODI 11656543

Jul 20, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

I have to turn on my car start driving it no more than like 15 to 10 mph and then it shakes it jerks and cut off and it does that repeatedly until I pass second gear

NHTSA ODI 11533412

Jun 30, 2023SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

Dash looks like a Christmas tree. All came on at one time. Changed everything we can think of

NHTSA ODI 11529853

May 21, 2023SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBrakes

Traveling down Interstate 49 in Arkansas. Hit a patch of "chicken byproduct" that was spilled on the highway. My car fishtailed. VSA module out of service. Did a vehicle diagnostic scan on it. Scanner said VSA module malfunctioning. No ABS past 30 mph. Took vehicle to shop. They said VSA module needed to be replaced. VSA is suppose to be a safety mechanism in the 2013 Honda Civic. I have read that I am not the only owner to have this problem. Should be a recall. They are expensive to replace.

NHTSA ODI 11523064

Jul 26, 2022SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBrakes

Check brake system, check powertrain system, check VAS system keeps making notifications to be checked.

NHTSA ODI 11475976

Jul 9, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

Put the car into reverse, backed up, put the car into drive, applied pressure to the gas peddle, then car then jerked, shook, had to pull over to let car rest, drove slow back home. Since then around 3000 rpm the car will hesitate. Replaced spark plugs, put in Sea Foam engine cleaning solution Diagnostic computer does not show anything wrong.

NHTSA ODI 11424066

May 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

HI, AN EVENT HAPPENED WHERE THE CIVIC WAS NOT STARTED (KEYS WERE IN IGNITION BUT THE CAR WASN'T ACTUALLY STARTED UNBEKNOWNST TO THE DRIVER, AS IT WAS IN A LOUD ENVIRONMENT AND THE CAR IS QUIET WHEN IT IS RUNNING). IT WAS ON A VERY SLIGHT HILL. WHEN THE DRIVER PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, THE CAR REVERSED ALL THE WAY INTO THE STREET AND DIDN'T RESPOND TO BRAKING, NARROWLY MISSING A CAR THAT PASSED. ONCE IT WAS IN THE STREET; IT TOOK TRYING A FEW THINGS TO GET THE CAR TO START AGAIN OR RELEASE THE KEYS. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A SAFETY MECHANISM THAT WOULD PREVENT A CAR FROM REVERSING WHEN IT ISN'T ACTUALLY RUNNING? OR SOMETHING THAR WOULD ALLOW THE BRAKES TO STILL FUNCTION IN AN EVENT LIKE THAT? THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11207912

Nov 30, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 14,000 MILES. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 53,000 MILES. FAILURES WERE DETERMINED WHILE TRAVEL AT SPEEDS FROM 30 MPH TO 70 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT AND LEFT.

NHTSA ODI 11051558

Aug 15, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

CV JOINT NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT - A CLICKING OR KNOCKING SOUND WHICH MATCHES THE SPEED OF THE WHEELS. THIS CAR IS FOUR YEARS OLD AND HAS 12000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11015291

Jul 22, 2016SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainBrakes

I HAD A TOTAL HUB FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 9MPH IN A PARKING LOT MAKING A SLIGHT TURN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. I HAD TO HAVE THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE KNUCKLE, HUB, BEARING, CALIPER AND BRACKET ALONG WITH ABS SENSOR. IF I WOULD'VE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY IT WOULD'VE BEEN REALLY BAD. THE CAR HAS 95K MILES AND MAINTENANCES REGULARLY.

NHTSA ODI 10887634

May 13, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

CVT - ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION - MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME RECENTLY AND I BELIEVE IT'S THE CV TRANSMISSION. WHEN I DRIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS (SUCH AS 50MPH OR MORE, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE STUCK IN A LOWER GEAR). THE CAR RUNS ROUGH AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOWER GEAR WHEN IT DRIVES. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (AVENTURA HONDA IN FLORIDA) AND THEY SAW NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH JUST TO BE SAFE AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I SAW THAT HONDA HAD A RECALL ON THE CVT TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2014 AND 2015 HONDA CIVIC MODELS. I CAN ONLY BEGIN TO WONDER IF THE 2013 MODEL ALSO HAS DEFECTS. I HAVE ABOUT 47,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE 2013 HONDA CIVIC MODEL FOR POSSIBLE DEFECTS IN THE CVT. I SPENT $149 FOR A FLUSH THAT DID NOTING TO ALLEVIATE THE NOISY AND ROUGH TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR $65 WHILE I WAITED FOR THE SERVICE TO BE DONE.

NHTSA ODI 10864804

Aug 22, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlFuel system

WTHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT INTERSECTION AND BEING AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, I DRIVE TWO FOOTED, FOR QUICKER RESPONSE TIME. UPON STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE PICKING UP SPEED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, I AM TOLD IT IS A 2 FOOTED DRIVER ISSUE AND NOTHING THEY CAN BE DONE. I HAVE LEFT IT 24 HOURS AND BEEN TOLD, 'NO PROBLEM FOUND'. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY HABITS TO ALLOW FOR IT. IT IS INTERMITTENT, AND IF IT IS A 2 FOOTED ISSUE, WHY INTERMITTENT? I HAVE NOT HAVE NOT CHANGED TO 1 FOOT DRIVING? SHOULD BE ALWAYS. I AM HIGHLY CONSIDERING GETTING A DIFFERENT BRAND VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS ONE.

NHTSA ODI 10758502

Jul 9, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WE WERE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I HEARD THIS HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE TIRES. IT WILL SOUND VERY LOUD WHEN IT IS MOVING AND STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING BUT ENGINE STILL RUNNING. I FELT THE VEHICLE IS LOSING SPEED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM AUTOSPORT HONDA DEALER IN BRIDGEWATER NJ. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AFTER A YEAR THE STARTER UNIT OF THE ENGINE IS NOT WORKING. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY. THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW IS DEFECTIVE IT MOVE LIKE ZIGZAG WHEN IT MOVES UP AND DOWN. I BELIEVED THIS IS ALSO COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10732850

Mar 20, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEquipment Adaptive/mobilityFuel system

BEING MALE AND CAPABLE OF DRIVING STANDARD SHIFT, I DRIVE 2 FOOTED. THIS VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH DRIVE BY WIRE FEATURE. LEFT ON BRAKE,RIGHT ON ACCELERATOR. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR A SLOW TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE AS EXPECTED, IT SEEMS TO DELAY COMPETING THE TURN, AND EVEN DOES IT WHEN TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE FWY. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT OCCURRENCE. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE IT WITH THEM FOR ONE WEEK AND HAVE THE MECHANIC DRIVE IT FOR ONE WEEK TO AND FROM WORK. BUT I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR A RENTAL DURING THE TIME. I WILL DO SO IF THERE IS NO TROUBLE FOUND BY THE REGION SERVICE MANAGER. BUT OTHERWISE I WOULD LIKE THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK UP THE RENTAL. I NOW HAVE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 16 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD TO ADJUST MY DRIVING HABITS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DELAY IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH. OTHER WISE I HAVE HAD GOOD SERVICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 10, 300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10695535

Feb 23, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2013 HONDA CIVIC HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN IN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. IT OCCURS MUCH MORE OFTEN IN 3RD GEAR AND HAPPENED TWICE JUST TODAY; IT HAS NEVER DONE THIS IN 1ST, 4TH, OR 5TH GEARS. I DON'T USE CRUISE CONTROL SO, UNLESS THE CRUISE CONTROL IS KICKING IN ON ITS OWN SOMEHOW, THAT IS NOT THE CAUSE. WHEN THE CAR STARTS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, I AM UNABLE TO EASILY MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM 2ND OR 3RD INTO NEUTRAL AND HAVE TO EITHER APPLY ALOT OF PRESSURE TO MOVE IT INTO NEUTRAL OR USE THE CLUTCH. BREAKING WILL SOMETIMES STOP THE ACCELERATION BUT NOT ALWAYS AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN I USE THE BRAKE, WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR WILL CONTINUE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THIS HAS OCCURRED MOST OFTEN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 35. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10689930

Nov 28, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

DRIVING HOME UP 50 DEGREE HILL. APPROXIMATE SPEED 35 MPH. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR BECAUSE I LIKE TO COAST THE LAST 1/4 OF THE HILL FOR SAFETY, SLOWING DOWN FOR ANY POTENTIAL IDIOTS WHO MIGHT SAIL AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE FLAT CROSS STREET, CUTTING OFF THE PART OF THE STREET THAT, BY LAW, SHOULD BE LEFT CLEAR FOR THE CAR COMING UPHILL. IN A SPLIT SECOND, MY CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY, AS THOUGH I HAD STOMPED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN. NOW WHAT DO I DO? MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC HAD PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE THAT IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. DO I GET RID OF THIS "NEW" HONDA THAT TURNED ONE MID-OCTOBER??? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, GIVEN THE OTHER STORIES ABOUT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN NEW HONDAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10661215

Nov 27, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

VEHICLE HESITATES OCCASIONALLY ON START UP. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE AND REQUIRES PUSHING HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR, WHICH RESULTS IN A VERY FAST TAKEOFF. IF YOU LEAVE AN EVEN PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE OFF, BUT THIS UNPREDICTABILITY CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO A STREAM OF MOVING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10661145

Mar 24, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

ON 22ND MARCH 2014, I WAS DRIVING MY ONE YEAR OLD CIVIC ON INTERSTATE 55 FROM JACKSON TOWARDS BATON ROUGE. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES WITH AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 65 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR, I SUDDENLY FACED PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. THE ACCELERATION WENT CRAZY SPIKING THE TACHOMETER BETWEEN 4000 AND 6000 RPM AND THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN THOUGH I GAVE THE ACCELERATION. WHEN I GAVE THE ACCELERATION, IT WAS MAKING ROARING SOUND AND RPM ON TACHOMETER IS SPIKING BETWEEN 4000 AND 6000 RPM. CAR WAS COMING TO STALL SLOWLY FROM 65 MPH, BEFORE IT COULD COME DOWN TO STANDSTILL I TURNED ON EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND PULLED THE VEHICLE ON TO THE SHOULDER. FORTUNATELY TWO VEHICLES BEHIND ME PAST MY CAR MERGING TO LEFT LANE SEEING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. AFTER PULLING THE CAR ON TO THE SHOULDER, I HAVE PUT THE CAR ON TO PARKING GEAR FOR FEW MINUTES AND THEN AGAIN SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE. FROM THEREON I DID NOT FACE ANY ACCELERATION PROBLEM AGAIN FOR THE REST OF MY 2.5 HOURS JOURNEY. FOR SAFETY, I JUST STAYED ON RIGHT LANE AND DROVE WITH CONSTANT SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MPH THROUGH OUT MY JOURNEY. IT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATOR NOT WORKING AND GOING BERSERK AND CAR SLOWING DOWN ON INTERSTATE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND IF THERE ARE ANY SOLUTIONS FOR THIS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW, I AM REALLY WORRIED NOW TO DRIVE MY CAR ON HIGHWAYS AND TO GO ON LONG DRIVES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10574606

Mar 12, 2014Transmission & drivetrainBrakesEngine

NO POWER. NO ACCELERATION. I AM FORTUNATE THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS CAUTIOUS ENOUGH TO SLOW DOWN. I HAD NO POWER, NO GET-UP, NO NOTHING AND I WAS FLOORING IT TO GET OUT OF A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS MADE ODD NOISES SINCE THE BEGINNING. BRAKES MAKE AN ODD NOISE. THERE IS A CRACKLING, TINKLING, VERY ODD NOISE THAT COMES FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OWNERSHIP AND I GUESS THAT'S HOW THE CAR IS MADE (?). I DO NOT KNOW IF A CAR IS SUPPOSED TO ACT LIKE THIS, DUE TO HAVE OWNING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS THE MAJORITY OF MY DRIVING CAREER. NO UMPH ON THIS BRAND-NEW CAR HAS LED ME TO SEND IN THIS COMPLAINT IN CASE OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILARITIES. ODD NOISE WITH BRAKES, ODD, VERY ODD NOISE THAT TINKERS UNDER THE CAR AND NO ACCELERATION. I USE THE GASOLINE OUTLINED/ PREFERRED BY THE HONDA CIVIC OWNER'S MANUAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10568776

Jan 24, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CLUTCH FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ODI 10561323

Oct 31, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

MY 2013 HONDA CIVIC EXL THE ACCELERATOR FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION .THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY DECELERATED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER . THE CAR WAS CHECKED OUT THEY COULDN T FIND THE FAULT. THE FAILURE STARTED @ 300 MILES. AND BEEN DOING THIS 12 TIMES THE MILEAGE IS NOW 7,500 MILES, I WANTED THE DEALER AND HONDA KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM . THE LAST TIME I WAS TURNING LEFT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ALMOST WAS HIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10550364

Working with the data? Download all 314 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 13, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Honda Civic verdict →