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2016 Honda Civic: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists five recall campaigns for the 2016 Honda Civic: one for air bags (filed 2026), one for fuel pumps (filed 2023), one for brakes (filed 2016) and two more for other parts. Owners have filed 1,081 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. For comparison, owners filed 380 for the 2015 and 597 for the 2017 Civic. In NHTSA crash tests it earned 5 stars overall, with a 9.5% rollover risk.

Summary reviewed by Recalls & Safety Desk · Oct 6, 2026 How we write summaries Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Recalls 5campaigns 1 air bag · 1 fuel pump · 1 brake Source: NHTSA Complaints 1,081filed Owner reports, 2012–2021 shown Source: NHTSA ODI Crash tests 5★overall ★★★★★ Frontal 5★ · Side 5★ · Rollover 5★ Source: NHTSA NCAP Fuel economy 35mpg combined $1,866/yr at this week's prices Source: EPA · EIA Specs 1.5 L 4-cyl· CVT 6 engine and transmission configurations Source: NHTSA vPIC
Compare

Recalls (5)

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Honda Civic. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2016 Honda Civic. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 26V332000 Filed May 21, 2026

Air Bags May Deploy Unintentionally During a Crash

Air bags · sensor · occupant classification · front passenger
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
Consequence
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Repair progress not yet reported98,892 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V332000
Listed for 2016 Honda Civic. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 23V858000 Filed Dec 18, 2023

Fuel Pump May Fail

Fuel system, gasoline · delivery · fuel pump
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
Consequence
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
76.7% repairedof 2,490,460 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 23V858000
Listed for 2016 Honda Civic. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 16V725000 Filed Oct 11, 2016

Parking Brake may not Apply Just After Key Off

Parking brake
Official NHTSA text
Summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Civic two door and four door 1.5L turbo and 2.0L vehicles. The electric parking brake (EPB) may not engage if it is applied immediately after turning the ignition off.
Consequence
If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to allow the EPB to engage immediately after the ignition is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KC6.
90% repairedof 350,083 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 16V725000
Listed for 2016 Honda Civic. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 16V526000 Filed Jul 11, 2016

Side Marker Lights may not Function/FMVSS 108

Exterior lighting
Official NHTSA text
Summary
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic 2-Door vehicles manufactured February 23, 2016, through May 20, 2016. The affected vehicles may have a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly, making the marker light inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
Consequence
If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect both the taillight assemblies, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KB8.
89.2% repairedof 11,846 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 16V526000
Listed for 2016 Honda Civic. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 16V074000 Filed Feb 9, 2016

Piston Wrist Pin Circlips may not be Secured

Engine and engine cooling · engine
Official NHTSA text
Summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic vehicles manufactured September 22, 2015, to February 3, 2016 and equipped with 2.0L engines. The affected vehicles have engines with piston assemblies that may have been manufactured without a piston wrist pin circlip or with an incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip.
Consequence
If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire.
Remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in the Summer of 2016. Owners were mailed an interim notification beginning March 31, 2016, and will be mailed a second notice when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JX9.
97.4% repairedof 42,129 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 16V074000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Which Civic years had the most recalls?Best & worst years →Every recall for the Honda CivicAll model years →Where is the VIN on my car?VIN location guide →

Owner complaints (1,081)

1,081 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.

36involved a crash
4involved a fire
16injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Honda Civic, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 1,081.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2016 compares with other Civic years

Best and worst Civic years →
455 319 292 380 1,081 597 745 434 226 145
2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
This year (2016)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Crash tests: 5 stars overall

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 9.5%★★★★★
Front seat of a modern car with the seat belt buckled across the passenger seat
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Honda Civic 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 35 mpg combined

35
mpg combined
31
city
42
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$1,900
CO₂ tailpipe
252 g/mi
EPA class
Midsize Cars

What it costs you to run

$1,866per year
$156per month
429gallons a year

Miles ÷ 35 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2016 Honda Civic configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
1.5 L 4-cyl · CVTFront-Wheel Drive31 / 42 / 35$1,900252
1.5 L 4-cyl · CVTFront-Wheel Drive31 / 41 / 35$1,900250
2 L 4-cyl · CVTFront-Wheel Drive30 / 40 / 34$1,950262
2 L 4-cyl · CVTFront-Wheel Drive30 / 39 / 34$1,950265
2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive27 / 38 / 31$2,150287
2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive26 / 37 / 30$2,250293

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2016 Civic for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Civic years

Where to next

Which Civic years drew the fewest complaints?Best & worst years →2017 Honda Civic report597 complaints · 6 campaigns →2015 Honda Civic report380 complaints · 1 campaigns →Have a VIN? Decode itVIN decoder →

2016 Honda Civic FAQ

How many recalls does the 2016 Honda Civic have?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 26V332000 (air bag), 23V858000 (fuel pump), 16V725000 (brake), 16V526000 (lighting), 16V074000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2016 Honda Civic problems?

Owners filed 1,081 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (445), Unknown or other (253), Electrical system (119) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2016 Honda Civic get?

EPA rates the 1.5 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 31 city, 42 highway and 35 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

What safety rating did the 2016 Honda Civic get?

NHTSA rated the 2016 Honda Civic 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (9.5% rollover risk).

How does the 2016 Civic compare with other years?

Among the 2012–2021 Honda Civic model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (145) and the 2016 the most (1,081). The 2016 drew 1,081. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Summary reviewed on Oct 6, 2026.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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