UsedScore

2018 Honda Civic: Solid

Owners filed 196 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Civic in its first five years on the road, about 58 for every 100,000 sold: 1.0× the rate of a typical Civic year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the steering (18% of complaints, median 18,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.0×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Civic year
Rank
8th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
196
first five years; 58 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
6
campaigns
10th generation, 2016–2021 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2016 Honda Civic EX-T sedan

Photo: 2016 Honda Civic EX-T sedan · Cutlass, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Steering18% · 36 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  2. Air bags6% · 12 complaints · median 15,000 miles
  3. Engine15% · 29 complaints · median 11,000 miles
  4. Electrical13% · 26 complaints · median 11,000 miles
  5. Brakes10% · 20 complaints · median 8,000 miles
  6. Fuel and propulsion10% · 20 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  7. Body and structure8% · 15 complaints · median 15,000 miles
  8. Seats and belts4% · 7 complaints · median 11,000 miles
  9. Powertrain6% · 11 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  10. Visibility5% · 9 complaints · median 49,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Owners describe air bags deploying suddenly with little or no impact, sometimes causing minor injuries, while others report air bags failing to deploy during an actual crash. Several also mention warning lights appearing on the dash and dealers being unable or unwilling to diagnose the cause.

Warning signs:
Some owners mention an SRS or air bag warning light illuminating before, during, or after the incident, occasionally intermittently.
What shops did:
Some owners report dealers would not diagnose or repair the vehicle, blamed the owner, or left the car undiagnosed for extended periods.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 30,000 miles, among 9 complaints that give it

“while driving at 3 MPH, the front driver's side air bag unexpectedly deployed. There was no impact on the vehicle that could have caused”

Engine

Many owners describe fuel mixing into the engine oil, producing a gas smell and stalling or rough running, alongside separate misfire and AC system failures. Dealers sometimes changed the oil or parts but often couldn't reliably fix or even reproduce the issue.

Warning signs:
Owners report strong gasoline odor from the oil dipstick or cabin, overfilled oil on the dipstick, rough idling, check-engine or multiple warning lights, and sudden loss of power or stalling while driving.
What shops did:
Dealers often performed extra oil changes or could not duplicate the stalling and misfire complaints; some owners had fuel pumps, injectors, spark plugs, coils, or AC evaporators/condensers replaced, with mixed results.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 60,000 miles, among 28 complaints that give it

“Fuel smell in engine oil and engine oil is over filled on dipstick not long after oil change possibly due to fuel dillution into oil”

“Gasoline smell in cabin occurred on 8/16/2019. 1.5l oil dilution could be cause of issue.”

Steering

Owners report the power steering sticking, jerking, or briefly locking, especially after sustained driving or during turns. Many were told a related recall existed but their car's VIN wasn't covered, leaving the issue unrepaired.

Warning signs:
Many describe the steering wheel feeling sticky or stiff after driving a while, clicking or jerking while turning, or failing to return to center.
What shops did:
Dealers often diagnosed a failed rack and pinion, steering gearbox, or EPS control unit, but many report the vehicle wasn't repaired because their VIN wasn't included in a recall.
Mileage:
most between 30,000 and 80,000 miles, among 60 complaints that give it

“the steering wheel was sticking and jerking while turning in either direction”

“the vehicle was pulling to either side and the vehicle was difficult to control”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (6)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V332000May 202698,892 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V858000December 20232,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 20V314000May 2020135,995 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V817000November 20187,016 vehicles

    Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic Hatchback and Civic Type R vehicles. The owners guide in these vehicles may not have been included or if included, the owner's guide may not have been properly provided required information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

    Risk: If the information is missing or improper, it can increase the risk of injury or a crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the owners information kit, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V663000September 201854 vehicles

    Steering: electric power assist system

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.

    Risk: The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V421000June 201813 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Civic vehicles. The manufacturing date area of the certification labels may have random characters which can affect the owner's ability to determine if a safety recall includes their vehicle.

    Risk: If the owner is not able to verify if their vehicle is involved in safety recall, it can increase the risk of injury or crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Honda sent NHTSA 244 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2018 Civic. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • A26-008 · August 2026Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire and/or DTCs P0300 thru P0304 stored.
  • A26-009 · August 2026Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire and/or DTCs P0300 thru P0304 stored.
  • AEBM08262026901 · August 2026Dealer Message - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire, and/or DTCs P0300 through…
  • A25-062 · October 2025Water could enter the hood scoop and accumulate down inside the no.
  • A25-089 · September 2025Oil leak at the cam chain tensioner inspection cover due to and insufficient sealant adhesion on the inspection cover.
  • A25-076 · July 2025Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on inspection cover.
  • ATI&09142023901 · September 2023Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • ATI&08292023904 · August 2023Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

All 2018 Civic bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2018 Honda Civic reliable?
Owners filed 196 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Civic in its first five years on the road, about 58 for every 100,000 sold: 1.0× the rate of a typical Civic year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Civic years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2018 Civic problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the steering (18%), the air bags (6%) and the engine (15%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2018 Honda Civic been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Honda Civic, the most recent in May 2026 (air bags). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Honda. The 2018 Honda Civic on NHTSA.gov · How we rate