Yes, it carries the Honda name, but does the 2018 Civic live up to the brand’s reliable reputation? It does, and despite four mostly minor recalls and a few problems to watch out for, like a faulty fuel pump, it’s definitely one of the best models in its class.
Key Points
- The 2018 Honda Civic has four recalls and 155 registered complaints by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, with only one about a faulty fuel pump being somewhat serious.
- The most widespread recall for the 2018 Civic relates to a faulty low-pressure fuel pump in the gas tank, which may cause engine stalling on almost 136,000 vehicles, not just the Civic.
- AC failure is by far the most common complaint by owners. Although no recall was sent out, Honda issued a 10-year/unlimited mile extended warranty on AC condensers for this model.
- Many report the 1.5-liter, turbocharged “Earth Dreams” engine suffers from significant fuel dilution issues that can lead to gasoline fumes seeping into the cabin.
- Several owners note premature steering rack failing, with symptoms like jerking and clicking, or the steering system feeling stiff. We think despite its flaws, the 2018 Civic is a very solid compact sedan.
2018 Honda Civic Has Just Four Recalls, and While Most are Pretty Insignificant and Uncommon, the Fuel Pump Issue is More Widespread
Four recalls have been issued for the 2018 Civic, most of which are fairly minor, like a certification label with incorrect information on it. Another involves a magnet that controls the torque sensor, which may become dislodged while driving and cause reduced steering capability. Yet, both are exceedingly rare, affecting less than 60 units each.
The other two recalls are more widespread, with one not necessarily being a priority, but affecting over 7,000 units: incorrect information in the owner’s manual.
Issued for 135,995 Honda/Acura models of multiple years (not just the 2018 Civic), a faulty fuel pump. If the pump fails while driving, the engine will stall as it won’t receive any fuel. Whether you’re cruising at highway speeds, pulling into traffic, crossing an intersection, or any number of instances, the chances of an accident occurring increase.
As with all recalls, the vehicle manufacturer must perform all necessary repairs free of charge.
Some 2018 Civics May Have a Faulty AC System that Led to Class-action Lawsuit, with Honda Extending the Warranty on Affected Vehicles
Premature AC failure impacts all 2018 Honda Civics, regardless of engine or trim configuration. According to dozens of complaints filed with the NHTSA, the Civic’s AC starts blowing hot air instead of cold, sometimes with less than 30,000 miles on the odometer.
The issue was narrowed down to a leaky condenser unit and is so widespread that it led to a class-action lawsuit in 2019. Though no recall was issued, Honda extended certain warranties on affected models to cover the faulty AC condenser for up to ten years with no limits on mileage.
However, another report by Vehicle History notes the warranty does not include salvaged or totaled vehicles, or those with a condenser leak caused by a foreign object.
1.5T ‘Earth Dreams’ Engine Has Problems with Fuel Dilution, an Issue that Can Cause the Cabin to Smell of Gasoline
Fuel dilution is by no means a problem unique to Honda’s 1.5T engine. In fact, dilution isn’t always a problem in and of itself. A 2015 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) study notes that all turbocharged direct-injection gasoline engines experience at least some fuel dilution. This is because direct-injection systems may cause fuel to accumulate on cylinder walls and leak into the crankcase, mixing with the engine oil.
Usually, engines run hot enough to burn off the fuel that slips through. But Honda’s 1.5T is known to run cold, so the engine heat isn’t enough to “vaporize” the excess fuel.
Other symptoms of severe fuel dilution in the 2018 Civic include odors of gasoline penetrating the cabin, as noted by multiple NHTSA complaints. Honda eventually extended the powertrain warranty for over 1,000,000 1.5T-equipped vehicles. According to Honda Problems, the warranty covers camshafts, rocker-arm assemblies, and spark plugs for six years/unlimited miles.
Multiple NHTSA Complaints on Some 2018 Civics Indicate Premature Power Steering Rack Failure, Likely a $3,500 Fix if Outside the Warranty
Of the 143 2018 Civic NHTSA complaints, just over 20 fall under “steering components.” Many note “clicking and jerking” in the steering wheel, while others describe the steering system stiffening, or even “getting stuck” while driving at speed. Several of the complaints report taking their vehicles to a Honda dealer to hear a faulty power steering rack failure was the culprit. If outside its warranty, repairs can run as high as $3,500.
Notably, this 2018 Civic problem tends to occur at an average odometer reading of around 14,500 miles, which is far below the average life expectancy of a power steering rack. Still, no recalls or service bulletins have been issued to address this problem.
Rodents May Be Attracted to Soy-based Internal Wiring in 2018 Civics, a Tasty Snack that Can Cause All Sorts of Issues
In recent years, automakers have started using biodegradable, soy-based wiring. While this promises to be an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based insulation, a side effect is that rodents like to munch on it, leading to various electrical problems. Three NHTSA complaints about the 2018 Honda Civic state that rodents “chewed” through wiring, causing rough idle and acceleration loss.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Honda and other automakers argue that all wiring—regardless of its material—can attract rodents and that there’s “no evidence” to suggest that soy-based wires are especially favored by critters. Nonetheless, Honda now offers “rodent tape” laced with spices that repel rodents, though the company still refuses to repair already-damaged wiring, even if under warranty.
Four Minor Recalls and Limited Coinciding Complaints Make the 2018 Honda Civic a Reliable Choice in the Compact Sedan Compact
The 2018 Civics’ most serious problems—fuel dilution in the 1.5T engine and AC failure—have been remedied by Honda through extended warranty programs, which should give prospective buyers some peace of mind. However, when it comes to choosing the powertrain, consider the naturally-aspirated alternative over the troubled 1.5T engine.
Photos: Honda
