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What 1,061 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Honda Civic Type R

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 (1,061)Crash / fire / injury (43)Steering (428)Electrical system (117)Engine (94)Brakes (93)Visibility & wipers (67)Body & structure (48)Transmission & drivetrain (36)Lights (30)Fuel system (29)Airbags (28)

Newest first · 1,061 complaints · page 39 of 43

Dec 6, 2016Parking BrakeCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE APPLIED, IT ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A HANDICAP PARKING POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V725000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,050. UPDATED 01/25/17*LJ UPDATED 7/16/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 10930279

Nov 30, 2016AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 10928762

Nov 22, 2016Lights

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

NHTSA ODI 10927383

Nov 18, 2016WheelsBrakesCrash

TAKATA RECALL HEY, MY CAR HONDA CIVIC COUPE BROKE DOWN IN SEPTEMBER REASON WAS TIRE AND BRAKE I THINK. I WAS DRIVING IN REGULAR SPEED AND MY TIRE BLOWOFF AND BRAKE DIDN'T WORK IN SAME TIME. I RUN OVER THE HILL AND BROKE MY BOTH EXCEL.

NHTSA ODI 10926853

Nov 16, 2016Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT SOMETHING UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS CHEWING THE WIRES AND THEY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ODI 10926432

Nov 13, 2016LightsVisibility & wipers

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. IT FEELS LIKE THEIR PLAN IS TO JUST KEEP THIS UP UNTIL PEOPLE SUPER GLUE THE CASING TO THE WINDOW THEMSELVES OR DECIDE BADGERING HONDA ABOUT IT ISN'T WORTH IT ANYMORE. PLEASE MAKE THEM FIX THEIR PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10925635

Nov 13, 2016LightsVisibility & wipers

THE COVER FOR THE REVERSE LIGHT, REAR WINDOW, OF THE 2016 CIVIC HAS DROPPED AND AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TRYING TO GET AMERICAN HONDA TO CORRECT, STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE COVER CAN'T BE REMOVED AS THE REVERSE LIGHT IS TOO BRIGHT AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT THE REAR WINDOW AT NIGHT. DURING THE DAY, THE COVER OBSCURES OBJECTS/CARS IN THE REAR VIEW WINDOW.

NHTSA ODI 10925664

Nov 11, 2016Lights

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..

NHTSA ODI 10925564

Nov 9, 2016Lights

THE HOUSING THAT SURROUNDS THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT FULLY AFFIXED TO THE REAR INTERIOR WINDOW. THE HOUSING JUST BOUCES UP AND DOWN AND RED LIGHT FLOODS THE BACK WINDOW WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. THIS SITUATION MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW AT NIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 10925118

Nov 7, 2016Electrical system

REPEATED ISSUES WITH FAULTY DASHBOARD ELECTRONIC WARNING SYSTEM WHICH ALERTS BRAKE FAILURE AND EXPERIENCE WITH ACCELERATION PROBLEM AND OTHER RELATED ISSUES. THESE ISSUES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 10924908

Nov 5, 2016LightsBrakesVisibility & wipers

COVER FOR CENTER BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING LOOSE, OBSCURING REAR WINDOW AND FLOODING INTERIOR WITH RED LIGHT WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED AT NIGHT. KNOWN ISSUE, BUT DEALERS DO NOT HAVE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PERMANENTLY FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI 10924458

Nov 3, 2016LightsVisibility & wipers

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"

NHTSA ODI 10924084

Nov 2, 2016BrakesCrash

THE ELECTRIC EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. THE CAR WAS PARKED, IGNITION TURNED OFF, EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED, AND LEFT THE VEHICLE. WHEN I RETURNED, THE CAR HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN A ROAD AND SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER PARKED CAR CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. NO INJURIES RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT. POLICE REPORT IS NOT AVAILABLE YET. WE FOUND ABOUT THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED IN MID-OCTOBER BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED/CONTACTED YET.

NHTSA ODI 10923735

Nov 2, 2016TiresWheels

BRAND NEW 2016 HONDA CIVIC - MY FAMILY HAS PURCHASED 2 OF THESE VEHICLES SAME EXACT EX-L MODEL IN THE LAST MONTH JUST DIFFERENT COLORS. BOTH TPMS SENSOR LIGHTS HAVE COME ON WITHIN THE FIRST FEW HUNDRED MILES OF DRIVING THE CARS! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10923753

Oct 30, 2016BrakesEngine

ME AN MY BOYFRIEND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE OF OUR VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER AT THE LAST SECOND WHEN THE ENGINE ACTUALLY STOPPED. WE WERE STILL IN A DANGEROUS AREA AND I COULDN'T EVEN DESCRIBE TO AAA WHERE WERE. FORTUNATELY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS PASSING BY AND SAW US ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED TO HELP US. JUST TO GIVE SOME BACK STORY MY BOYFRIEND WAS READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE PISTON RING/CLIP AFFECTING THE ENGINE ON THE 2016 HONDA CIVICS AND WE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE CAR INSPECTED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. LATER ON WARNING LIGHTS IN THE CAR STARTED TO TURN ON INCLUDED THE BRAKE AND ENGINE LIGHT. WE HAD A WORKER AT AUTOZONE CHECK THE LIGHTS WITH ONE OF THEIR TOOLS AND WERE TOLD THE LIGHTS MAY HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF IN THE INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE. WE WENT BACK TWICE SPEAKING TO THE MANAGER AND SERVICE TEAM AND WERE TURNED AWAY WITH A LIST OF ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON IN THE VEHICLE WITH NO REMEDY TO FIX ANY OF THE ISSUES. WHEN WE BROUGHT UP THE RECALL AGAIN WE WERE TOLD OUR CAR DID NOT FALL UNDER IT. BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE I AND MY BOYFRIEND COULD AVE LOST OUR LIVES IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. WE BOUGHT THE CAR MAY 2016 AND THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FEBRUARY 2016 AND WAS STILL OPEN AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE CONSIDERING THE PARTS TO FIX THE PISTON PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SUMMER. SO WE WERE SOLD A CAR WITH AN OPEN RECALL AND THE ISSUE WAS NOT FIXED PRIOR TO PURCHASE. NOW I AM STRANDED WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS SUSTAINED DAMAGE DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I WANT MY MONEY BACK AND I NO LONGER WANT THIS FAULTY AND UNSAFE VEHICLE, AND I DO NOT TRUST HONDA TO FIX THE ISSUE. WE NEED YOUR HELP NHTSA!

NHTSA ODI 10920090

Oct 27, 2016AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE STATIONARY, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNDERGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. HONDA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ODI 10919402

Oct 25, 2016Engine

CAR STALLS; WITH NO WARNING JUST TURNS OFF THIS HAPPENS WITH NO RHYME OR REASON AND HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES MANY OF WHICH IS NOT DOCUMENTED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT TAKEN INTO A DEALER; I COULD NOT AFFORD A TOW. I HAVE NOW SIGNED UP FOR AAA AND HAD IT TOWED INTO A DEALER THIS LAST OCCURRENCE. DOCUMENTED WITH DEALERSHIPS ON 5/12/16 CAR HAD 396 MILES ON IT; 6/3/16 CAR HAD 2722 MILES ON IT; 10/13/16 CAR HAD 10745 MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE TIME THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD IT HAPPEN TO THEM NINE TIMES BEFORE IT SUDDENLY STOPPED HAPPENING. HAPPENED GOING 75 MPH GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. HAPPENS WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. HAPPENS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET. HAVE CONTACTED HONDA CORP (CASE#05150093) AND ASKED FOR HELP BUT HAVE NOT HAD A RESOLUTION. THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS RECREATED THE ISSUE (COPY OF SERVICE TICKET ATTACHED) THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN SO THEY TOLD MY SON TO COME GET IT AND DRIVE IT UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEN CALL THEM TO TOW IT BACK IN. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND HE COULD LOSE HIS LIFE AND POTENTIALLY MANY OTHERS. PLEASE HELP. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY SON OR ANY OTHER LIFE BE TAKEN BECAUSE HONDA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10918734

Oct 24, 2016Visibility & wipers

ITS BEEN 4 MONTHS NOW THAT THE 3RD LIGHT BRAKE IN MY CAR STILL PENDING RESOLUTION. IT BLOCKS MY REAR VIEW AS IT IS HANGING 3 INCHES DOWN WITH THIS BLACK SQUARE 5 X 5 X 5 TO COVER TH LIGHT. I CAN'T DRIVER THIS CAR IN THE NIGHT BECAUSE ITS DANGEROUS TO DRIVER IT DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE BOX. I AM STILL WAITING FOR FOR HONDA TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 10918612

Oct 21, 2016Electrical systemBrakes

1. VEHICLE ABOUT 10 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET SUDDENLY STOPPED AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON. TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP, FOUND ABS MODULATOR LEAKING. 2. ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER CAR WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT WOULD NOT START. TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY.

NHTSA ODI 10917968

Oct 20, 2016SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

UPON STARTUP VSA, TPMS, CMBS, BRAKE WARNING ILLUMINATED AT 4400 MILES. POWER STEERING FAILED. DELIVERED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 10917484

Oct 17, 2016Brakes

REAR HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT COMING OFF WINDSHIELD THE EVENING I TOOK DELIVERY OF VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHERE THEY TRIED TO REATTACH IT. THE REPAIR LASTED A DAY. THEY ORDERED A NEW ASSEMBLY AND TRIED TO ATTACH IT. THE ASSEMBLY WAS UNGLUED BEFORE I GOT HOME. IT HAS NOT YET COME FULLY OFF, BUT IT IS A DISTRACTION AND, WHEN USING THE BRAKES AT NIGHT, OBSCURES MY VISION THROUGH THE REAR WINDSHIELD. DEALER SAID THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AN ARE WAITING ON HONDA OF AMERICA TO COME UP WITH A REPAIR. VERY POOR ENGINEERING ON HONDA'S PART AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IF/WHEN THE THING COMES FULLY OFF. I WAS DRIVING HOME THE FIRST TIME I TOOK NOTICE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN I NOTICED IT THE SECOND TIME. I DON'T THINK MOVEMENT WAS A FACTOR, JUST POOR DESIGN AND ADHESION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10916593

Oct 14, 2016BrakesCrash

I PARKED MY 2016 HONDA CIVIC IN MY GARAGE AND SET THE PARKING BRAKE. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WALKED INTO THE HOUSE. THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE (GARAGE SURFACE IS RATHER FLAT, PROBABLY WHY I DIDN'T SEE THIS HAPPEN) DOWN MY SLOPED DRIVEWAY ENDED UP IN THE NEIGHBORS YARD. VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE EXHAUST, BUMPER, UNDERSIDE OF TRUNK AND RIGHT REAR TIRE. THANK GOODNESS THAT NOBODY WAS INJURED. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT MAYBE I MADE A MISTAKE BUT NOW THAT HONDA HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THE PARKING BRAKE I UNDERSTAND WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. I DID SET THE PARKING BRAKE BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT DID NOT EVER SET. I HAVE SINCE SEEN THIS HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN I HAVE PARKED ON OTHER SOMEWHAT FLAT SURFACES AND RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE AND IT APPEARS AS THOUGH IT HAD MOVED A SMALL AMOUNT. WITH THE RELEASE OF DETAILS IN THE SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V725000 ) I NOW UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 10916132

Oct 12, 2016

TODAY I PURCHASED A NEW (DEMO/4,900+ MILES) 2016 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE THE SALESMAN WAS DEMONSTRATING HOW TO USE THE PHONE/CONNECTIVITY FEATURES IT WAS DISCOVERED THE PHONE SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. I WAS ADVISED TO TRY IT AGAIN WHEN I DROVE OFF THE LOT TO TAKE MY BRAND NEW CAR HOME AND IT MAY WORK WHEN I GOT AWAY FROM THE LOT. IT DID NOT. THE PHONE IS NON WORKING AND THE VOICE RECOGNITION IS USELESS.

NHTSA ODI 10915655

Oct 9, 2016Wheels

TPMS LIGHT CAME ON. ONLY 230 MILES ON VEHICLE. TIRE PRESSURE 29.5 MEASURED COLD ON CAR

NHTSA ODI 10914928

Oct 9, 2016Lights

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT COVER, ON REAR WINDOW, KEEPS FALLING DOWN ALLOWING A RED GLARE AT NIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

NHTSA ODI 10914945

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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 2016 Honda Civic Type R verdict →