Home · 2016 Honda Civic Type R · Complaints

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 43 of 43

Feb 25, 2016Engine

I PURCHASED THE NEW CAR ON 11/30/2015. SINCE THEN, IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN 22 MILES. I LEARNED OF RECALL ON 2/9/16 ON NEWS. I WAS NOT CONTACTED BY DEALER OR HONDA ABOUT IT. I CONTACTED DEALER ON 2/11/16 WHO IN TURN CONTACTED HONDA. BEING A NEW CAR WITH ONLY 22 MILES ON IT (3 TRIPS--THE FIRST BEING THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP), I REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT. I BELIEVE THIS IS MORE THAN REASONABLE.. HONDA REFUSED. I WAS ADVISED TOOLS TO EXAMINE FOR THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. SINCE THE CAR CAN NOT BE FIXED AT THIS TIME, IT IS A SAFETY LIABILITY, AND HONDA WAS NOT WILLING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, I FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT WITH THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL. THEY WERE OF NO HELP WITH HONDA NOW REFUSING TO REFUND MY MONEY OR REPLACE THE CAR. TO DATE ( 2/25/16), I HAVE RECEIVED NO RECALL PAPERWORK FROM HONDA. THEY EXPECT TO SEND IT OUT SOMETIME IN MARCH. DRIVING THIS VEHICLE PRESENTS POTENTIAL DANGEROUS SAFETY- LIABILITY ISSUES FOR ME, MY FAMILY, PASSENGERS AND OTHERS SHOULD IT STALL, CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR CATCH FIRE. I DID NOT BUY THIS NEW VEHICLE TO DRIVE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. BUT SINCE HONDA ANNOUNCED THE RECALL AND STOP SALES ORDER ON 1/29/2016 UNTIL NOW, THIS IS WHAT I FACE AND WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL CONTINUE. PARTS MAY BE AVAILABLE THIS SUMMER. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? THIS IS NOT THE NEW CAR EXPERIENCE I EXPECTED, AND I DID NOT BUY THE CAR TO BE INJURED, TO DAMAGE THE ENGINE, OR BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ACCIDENT WITH MY INSURANCE PICKING UP THE TAB. I AM NOT THE ONLY 2016 CIVIC OWNER IN THIS SITUATION. WHY SO LONG TO NOTIFY US OF THIS DANGEROUS RECALL TO THE ENGINE NO LESS? I SEE HONDA HAS INDEMNIFIED ITSELF. WHAT ABOUT US AND OUR SAFETY? I WANT MY VEHICLE REPLACED OR A REFUND. I DID NOT BUY A NEW VEHICLE TO REPAIR IT WITH ONLY 22 MILES ON IT. THIS IS FAR FROM THE TYPICAL SAFETY RECALLS WE USUALLY SEE.

NHTSA ODI 10838524

Feb 15, 2016Engine

I WAS SOLD A 2016 HONDA CIVIC ON THE DAY (JANUARY 29, 2016) THAT AMERICAN HONDA NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A 'STOP-SALE' AND I AM FORCED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT MAY HAVE A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DEFECT UNTIL THEY FIX IT. HONDA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD A VEHICLE WITH A SAFETY CONCERN AS GREAT AS ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10836299

Feb 10, 2016Engine

TOOK DELIVERY OF 2016 HONDA CIVIC 1 1/2 WEEKS AGO. CURRENTLY 350 MILES. CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA TODAY IN REGARDS TO PISTON SNAP RING RECALL. CURRENTLY HONDA HAS NO FIX FOR VEHICLES AFFECTED. WOULD LIKE FOR HONDA TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION UNTIL ENGINE CAN BE REPAIRED/REPLACED OR BUY THE VEHICLE BACK SINCE DEALERS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO STOP SELLING 2016 CIVICS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING BRAND NEW CAR ANY LONGER. EVERY TIME I START VEHICLE HONDA IS PUTTING MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ELSE AROUND ME IN JEOPARDY!

NHTSA ODI 10825467

Feb 10, 2016Electrical system

MY MOTHER IN LAW'S NOT EVEN A WEEK OLD CIVIC HAD A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON I-210 EASTBOUND JUST BEFORE THE CAMPUS EXIT, PROBABLY DOING THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE AFTERNOON OF 02/06/2016. AAA AND THE POLICE RESPONDED. THEY COULD NOT RESTART IT. IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO ROCK HONDA WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. I AM [XXX] [XXX] LAKEWOOD, CO 80228 [XXX]. THE OWNER OF THE CIVIC: [XXX] [XXX] ALTA, LOMA CA 91701 [XXX]. ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI 10825470

Feb 10, 2016Engine

I WAS SOLD A HONDA CIVIC TWO DAYS AFTER THE STOP SALE WAS ISSUED BY HONDA. IT WOULD SEEM THE DEALER IS NEGLIGENT AND SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. HONDA IS GOING TO OPEN THESE NEW ENGINES? IT WOULD SEEM THE WHOLE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 10825502

Feb 8, 2016Engine

THE 2016 CIVICS WITH 2.0 LITER MOTORS HAVE AND BEEN PUT ON A "STOP SALE" ARE GOING TO BE RECALLED DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE FAILURE, DAMAGE, AND EVEN POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO POSSIBLY HAVING FAULTY PISTON SNAP RINGS. I BOUGHT ONE A WEEK BEFORE THIS "STOP SALE" AND I AM APPARENTLY GOING TO BE FORCED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT MAY HAVE A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DEFECT UNTIL THEY FIX IT WHICH WILL NOT BE UNTIL THIS SUMMER ACCORDING TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WAS GIVEN A CLAIM NUMBER AND I HAVE REQUESTED A RENTAL FROM HONDA SO THAT I CAN STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL THEY MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE. "ENGINE FAILURE" ON ANY ROADS MUCH LESS A BUSY HIGHWAY IS DANGEROUS AND AN OBVIOUS MAJOR PROBLEM, AND I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO MY TODDLER IF MY BRAND NEW HONDA CIVIC DIES ON ME OR CATCHES FIRE. WILL SOMEONE REAR END ME? WILL I BE STUCK IN TRAFFIC? WHO KNOWS. I JUST HOPE HONDA DOES SOMETHING FOR THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, CONSIDERING IT'S SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT IT CAN NOT BE CURRENTLY SOLD BY DEALERSHIPS UNTIL FIXED. .

NHTSA ODI 10824873

Feb 4, 2016Engine

I WAS SOLD A BRAND NEW 2016 HONDA CIVIC THE DAY AFTER A RECALL AND STOP OF SALE WAS ISSUED. NOW 5 DAYS LATER I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR. I CONTACTED AMERICA OF HONDA AND THEY CONFIRMED MY CAR DOES HAVE A RECALL AND I PROVIDED ME WITH A CASE NUMBER. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHO INDEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH?

NHTSA ODI 10824361

Feb 1, 2016Engine

PISTON CLIP RING RECALL FROM HONDA WITH NO FIX UNTIL MID-MARCH AS TOLD BY HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. RECALL NOT PUBLICLY RELEASED BY HONDA AT THIS TIME. THE RESULT OF THIS PART FAILURE IS ENGINE FAILURE, AND/OR STALLING. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOOMING AND UNRESOLVED ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 10823637

Jan 8, 2016

AUDIO SYSTEM IS NOT PROPERLY INITIALIZING ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME YOU START THE CAR. WHILE MUCH OF THIS IS SIMPLY INCONVENIENT (NO SOUND FOR THE RADIO) IT AFFECTS SAFETY AS THERE IS NO SOUND FOR THE BUILT IN GPS FORCING YOU TO LOOK AT THE GPS FOR NAVIGATIONAL PROMPTS VERSUS AUDIO PROMPTS AND THE BLUETOOTH SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION SO DURING INCOMING OR OUTCOMING CALLS INSTEAD OF USING BLUETOOTH HANDS FREE YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR PHONE WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS ILLEGAL IN MANY STATES AND SWITCH FROM THE CAR MODE TO THE HANDSET MODE AND THEN USE ONE HAND TO HOLD THE PHONE TO TALK, FURTHER DISTRACTING FROM SAFE DRIVING. THIS APPEARS TO AFFECT THE TOURING MODEL ONLY, HONDA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. HAPPENS IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS BUT IS RANDOM (ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME AUDIO DOES NOT WORK). HONDA CASE #04338617 WAS OPENED. THEY SAID TO JUST WAIT FOR A FIX, HAVE OWNED CAR FOR 30 DAYS NOW (NEW PURCHASE). DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION EITHER.

NHTSA ODI 10818856

Dec 25, 2015SteeringSpeed control

WHEN THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) AND THE VEHICLE LANE KEEPING ASSIST SYSTEM (LKAS) ARE ENGAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE VEHICLE WILL REACT UNPREDICTABLY UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE MAY BRAKE SUDDENLY, RAPIDLY DECELERATE, AND QUICKLY DEPART THE HIGHWAY WHEN APPROACHING EXIT RAMPS. THE SITUATION OCCURS DURING DAYLIGHT AND NIGHTTIME HOURS WITH CLEAN CAMERAS AND RADAR WINDOW. DRIVER RESPONSE TIME IS TOO SLOW TO COUNTERACT THE EVENT. THE VEHICLE MAY SLOW BY 10-15 MPH AND DEPART THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE DRIVER IS ABLE TO RESUME CONTROL. DURING 300 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE VEHICLE DID THIS TWICE. A REAR END COLLISION WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED IN ONE CASE.

NHTSA ODI 10816192

Dec 10, 2015

THE TRUNK AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT DO NOT LOCK...THEIR IS NO WAY TO SAFELY VALET PARK THE VEHICLE AND LEAVE ANYTHING IN THE TRUNK OR THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THIS MAY NOT BE A DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE NON THE LESS. HONDA MUST HAVE LOST THEIR MINDS WHEN THEY REDESIGNED THE VEHICLE. IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE NOT BE ABLE TO LOCK THE TRUNK.

NHTSA ODI 10809523

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Working with the data? Download all 1,061 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 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 2016 Honda Civic Type R verdict →