Fine car, but check the AC and the steering
The first year of the tenth-generation Civic drew about 50% more complaints than the Civic average, mostly air conditioning that blows warm and steering that wanders at highway speed. Many cars have had the AC fixed by now, so ask for records.
Updated November 2026 · based on 1,083 owner complaints and 5 recalls
295 1.5x the Civic average
5 free to fix at a dealer
Every Civic year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known problems on the 2016 Civic
Top problems and what they cost
Air conditioning blowing warm
The AC condenser and compressor failed early on many cars. Honda extended coverage on some, but that has expired on most 2016s.
Fix: AC condenser $500 to $900; compressor $1,000 to $1,800 at a shop.
Air conditioning
Steering that wanders or feels loose
Owners describe the car drifting left and right at highway speeds or a notchy steering rack.
Fix: Alignment $100 to $150; a steering rack $1,200 to $2,000.
Steering
Electrical glitches
Doors that refuse to unlock, screens that reboot and brake system warnings come up regularly.
Fix: Battery test and software update $100 to $300.
Electrical
Recalls
If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 s...
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Complaints by part
Before you buy a 2016 Honda Civic
- Confirm the lighting, parking brake, engine and fuel pump recalls show as repaired at nhtsa.gov/recalls.A recall is a safety fix the carmaker must do for free, even for later owners. Typing the 17-character VIN (on the dashboard and driver door) into nhtsa.gov/recalls shows any that were never done. Codes like 18V332 are recall numbers.The 2016 Civic has 5 recalls on record, listed below.
- Run the AC on max for five minutes. It should blow cold the whole time.The A/C should blow cold the whole time on max. Warm air usually means a leak in the system, and replacing an evaporator or compressor can cost over $1,000.Owners filed 228 complaints about air conditioning not cooling on the 2016 Civic, one of the worst years for it.
- On the highway, hold the wheel lightly and see if the car wanders.Steering should feel smooth and even. Clicks, a heavy wheel, wandering or a catch can mean a worn coupler, steering gear or tie rods, and some failures were recalled.446 of the 1,083 owner complaints about the 2016 Civic involve the steering (41%).
- Lock and unlock with the remote several times and check the screen does not freeze.Infotainment screens on these cars can freeze, reboot or go black. On many cars the backup camera and climate controls run through the same screen.119 of the 1,083 owner complaints about the 2016 Civic involve the electrical system (11%).
Questions
Is the 2016 Honda Civic reliable?
Fine car, but check the AC and the steering. The first year of the tenth-generation Civic drew about 50% more complaints than the Civic average, mostly air conditioning that blows warm and steering that wanders at highway speed. Many cars have had the AC fixed by now, so ask for records.
How many recalls does the 2016 Honda Civic have?
5 recalls. Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer, even for later owners. Enter the VIN on the free government recall lookup to see which are still open on a specific car.
What are the most common 2016 Honda Civic problems?
Air conditioning blowing warm; Steering that wanders or feels loose; Electrical glitches.
Crash rating shown for the 2016 Honda Civic 2 DR FWD. Repair costs are typical U.S. ranges for parts and labor, not quotes. How we score.