The 2016 Honda Civic only has three recalls, but 600+ complaints show owners consistently mentioning a faulty AC system, engine vibrations, and a sticky steering wheel.
Key Points
- The 2016 Honda Civic has recorded three recalls, zero investigations, and over 600 complaints registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Of the three recalls, the most widespread affects over 350,000 Civics and pertains to the electronic parking brake not engaging after the vehicle is turned off, creating a possible rollaway risk.
- Over 42,000 2016 Honda Civics, specifically with the 2.0L engine, may be missing or have an incorrectly-installed piston wrist pin circlip. Without circlips, the pistons are less stable and can damage the cylinder walls and stall the engine.
- Many registered complaints mention AC and power steering system failures, but neither issue has been addressed by the NHTSA, leaving the repair cost at the owner’s expense.
- While the 2016 Civic may have more issues than your average Honda, it is still one of the safest bets if you need a dependable vehicle. Regardless, consider having a mechanic perform a thorough inspection before buying.
Three Official Recalls Range From a Faulty Side Marker Light to a Missing Internal Part that can Cause Possible Engine Failure
Out of the three total recalls for the 2016 Honda Civic only two of them are a real concern. The first recall to watch for is associated with the electronic parking brake not functioning properly. In certain circumstances, if the driver attempts to apply the parking brake immediately after the car is turned off the EBC may not engage.
Sudden parking brake failure can be a serious safety hazard for all vehicles but especially ones equipped with a manual transmission. As a result, Honda was forced to recall 350,083 Civics manufactured in 2016, which is a big problem when you consider they sold 366,927 in the United States that year. Fortunately, Honda was able to remedy the issue with a simple software update.
The second major recall related to the 2016 Honda Civic is for missing or improperly installed piston wrist pin circlips. If you are not familiar with engine assembly, the piston wrist pins are used to connect the pistons to the crankshaft rods, the circlips are there to hold the wrist pin in place.
Failure of this tiny metal clip can allow the wrist pin to walk back and forth until it contacts the cylinder wall. In a best-case scenario, the engine will seize and there is a minuscule chance of it being repaired.
In a worst-case scenario, the engine will destroy itself and need to be replaced entirely. According to the NHTSA, the piston wrist pin recall affects a little over 42,000 Civics built-in 2016.
The third recall for the 2016 Civic is associated with a faulty LED side marker light that may cause the vehicle to be less visible at night. However, the side marker is barely an honorable mention because it applies to fewer than 12,000 cars in the U.S.
Honda Extends Factory AC Condenser Warranty to 10 Years, but Customers Still Suffer From Broken Air Conditioning
While the 2016 Honda Civic may only have three recalls under its belt, that doesn’t mean consumers don’t have plenty to complain about. Out of the 612 complaints with the NHTSA, 177 of them are labeled “Unknown or Other,” but if you read through the complaints in this section, they are overwhelmingly about air conditioning failures.
According to official Honda technical service bulletins, the issue was caused by some air conditioning condenser units being made of inferior materials. This lack of construction quality means the walls of the condenser are too thin and coming in contact with the body can wear holes in it.
Honda voluntarily offered to replace the AC condensers free of charge for 10 years if it was determined to be faulty from the factory and not caused by road debris. The warranty extension only covers the condenser itself and a few o-rings, not any other components of the AC system.
Many consumers stated that their 2016 Civic’s air conditioning stopped working again after the condenser was replaced. More often than not, when they took the car to be repaired, they were told the AC compressor was bad and they would have to pay out of pocket for the repairs.
Compressor failure after a major refrigerant leak makes total sense, considering that low refrigerant levels are the main reason an air conditioning compressor fails. Without adequate refrigerant flowing throughout the system, the compressor has to work overtime to compensate, drastically shortening its lifespan.
As of December 2021, Honda has not issued a formal recall for this problem, nor has the NHTSA opened an investigation into the matter. However, there is an open class-action lawsuit against Honda for AC failures in California.
Sticky Steering and Engine Vibrations Make up a Third of Complaints Registered with the NHTSA
Another issue you should be aware of with the 2016 Honda Civic is with the electric power steering. Out of the 600+ complaints received by the NHTSA, 151 of them are about problems with the steering. The majority of complaints referred to a “sticky” spot at the 12 o’clock position.
More than 100 Civic owners stated that, when driving at highway speed, the steering wheel would feel stuck in the center position and they had to use excessive force to turn. In many cases, the extra force needed to break the steering wheel free caused overcorrection, making the vehicle difficult to control.
The steering is not the only thing people complained about on the 2016 Civic. Almost 70 consumers mention rough vibrations that could be felt through the steering wheel.
Honda quickly determined the root of the issue was with the passenger side engine mount. To keep customers happy, Honda offered to repair the broken mount free-of-charge if the vehicle fell within certain production numbers.
Honda’s 2016 Civic is Still a Dependable Compact Car Despite Some Issues
At the end of the day, the 2016 Honda Civic is still an extremely reliable car. Besides the potentially dangerous steering issue, the majority of complaints are for minor issues. While Honda has had its fair share of problems over the years, the 2016 Civic isn’t among them.
If you’re planning to buy a used 2016 Honda Civic, just keep the issues above in mind and have your mechanic look the car over before you buy it to be safe. Otherwise, it’s a solid used car to buy.
Photos: Honda
