2016 Honda Civic: problems, recalls and what it’s worth
Known weak spot on this generation: 1.5L turbo — fuel-in-oil dilution. 5 recall campaigns to confirm with a dealer. A lot of owner complaints, 41% about steering.
Pull the dipstick and smell it for gasoline; check whether the oil level is ABOVE full. Confirm the software update / warranty-extension work was done.
Known problems on the 2016 Honda Civic
1.5L turbo — fuel-in-oil dilution $200–$1,500 to fix
If equipped with the 1.5T, this generation dilutes its oil with fuel, badly in cold climates — rising oil level, a fuel smell, rough cold running. Honda issued a service bulletin, a software update, and a warranty extension; some markets got a recall.
Check for: Pull the dipstick and smell it for gasoline; check whether the oil level is ABOVE full. Confirm the software update / warranty-extension work was done.
Basis: Honda 1.5T oil-dilution TSB & warranty extension; NHTSA; overseas recalls
Known patterns for this year and model, not findings about one car. A well-kept example may already have had the fix. Costs are rough US shop prices.
2016 Honda Civic recalls
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Honda Civic. Repairs are free at a dealer for the brand, and a dealer can confirm by VIN which were already done.
- Engine & coolingFire risk
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.
Details 16V074000
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.
Fix: 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.
- Airbags
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Details 26V332000
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.
Fix: 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.
- Fuel system
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Details 23V858000
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.
Fix: 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.
- Lights
If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Details 16V526000
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."
Fix: 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.
- Brakes
If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Details 16V725000
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.
Fix: 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.
2016 Honda Civic safety investigations and free repairs
No open safety investigations.
Free repairs to ask about (warranty extensions):
- Heat and A/C: On some 2016-21 Civic models, the A/C condenser may leak refrigerant.
- Engine: American Honda is extending the powertrain warranty on the camshafts and rocker arm assemblies from the original 5 years/60,000 miles to 6 years/unlimited miles from the original date of sale.
A dealer for the brand can check these by VIN.
Source: NHTSA, Sep 24, 2026.
2016 Honda Civic safety and fuel
From NHTSA’s crash tests and the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov.
What owners complain about
1,080 complaints filed with NHTSA for this year and model, which is a lot.
Share of complaints that mention each area. One complaint can mention several.
What a 2016 Honda Civic is worth
Rough trade-in values — roughly what a dealer would pay — by mileage, from published trade-in guides. Private sales and dealer prices run higher. For the exact car, add its VIN.
| Mileage | Trade-in (rough) |
|---|---|
| 40,000 mi | $12,550 |
| 80,000 mi | $11,450 |
From new to now
What each Honda Civic model year trades in for today at typical mileage.
Typical mileage = 12,000 miles a year; values between two published mileages are estimated in a straight line.
Other Honda Civic years
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Printable inspection checklist · Out-the-door price calculator