general problems of the 2016 Honda Civic - part 1

Have had a/c issues for years, have had to replace compressor and condenser 4 times, only twice after a warranty finally came out for the defective parts. Now, the evaporator core has failed, but it is not under extended warranty or recall. Wild as I've seen so many with issues with another part of the faulty a/c system, likely from a defect. Going through a heatwave currently, dropping 3k on an evaporator core was not on my budget, especially when I believe Honda is at fault here. Tried a goodwill claim with them, immediately rejected. This came shortly after the condenser and shaft were replaced at the dealership.

The white orchid pearl paint on my 2016 Civic is peeling. The car has 150000 miles on it. I've seen this is a known defect with this type of paint. I'm reporting this concern for my vehicles as the repair is costly and if it isn't repaired I will get structural rust.

Component that failed: the air conditioning system evaporator core failed, causing refrigerant leakage. The vehicle was inspected and diagnosed by a Honda dealership, which confirmed the failure and provided a written quote for replacement. The component is still installed and available for inspection. Safety risk: when the evaporator leaks, the a/c system loses refrigerant and stops cooling. This prevents the defrost/defog system from working properly, which can lead to poor visibility through the windshield in humid or rainy weather. In hot conditions, lack of cooling can also cause driver fatigue and heat stress, creating a safety risk for occupants. Confirmation of problem: yes, the problem was confirmed by a Honda dealership after the condenser was already replaced under Honda’s extended warranty. Inspection by manufacturer/others: yes, the vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership. Honda corporate was contacted but declined to cover the evaporator, even though the condenser was covered under warranty due to a known defect in the a/c system. Warning lamps or symptoms: there were no warning lamps or dashboard messages. The only symptom was a loss of a/c cooling. After recharging the system, the a/c worked temporarily but will lose effectiveness again as refrigerant continues to leak. Summary: this is a premature failure of a critical climate control component that is widespread among 2016–2018 Honda Civics. Honda already extended warranty coverage for defective condensers in these models, but evaporator failures are also common and part of the same defective a/c system. The high cost of repair (quoted over $2,000) combined with the safety risks of poor windshield defogging and cabin overheating warrant NHTSA investigation and corrective action.

Component: car ac system the car ac system of the 10th generation Honda Civics is extremely faulty. My car is a 2016 Honda Civic with 75,000 miles and I have already had 3 "extended warranty" repairs on it. One at the condenser system and 2 at the compressor. This were covered under the "extended warranty". Now the evaporator is giving out and it is not cover under "extended warranty" and consumers are expected to pay for a faulty designed ac repair that just keeps breaking. In very hot areas in the country this is a major issue as the ac constantly blowing hot air can be nauseating and distracting especially with outside temperatures are above the 100 degrees. With the extended warranty only lasting 10 years a lot of cars are now going to be considered out of warranty and forced the consumer to pay for the faulty design. I would understand if the warranty repairs would fix the issue and they would never come back. But it seems that they are placing a mere bandaid and kicking the problem down the line until everyone is out of warranty. I've had 3 service to the ac and now I am due for a 4th. The car is not that old to be requiring all these services, and the bandaids place on the service are only lasting 1 to 2 years.

Fuel door is making a noise when I unlock my vehicle and sometimes fuel door doesn’t unlock.

At the start of the summer in 2023, I noticed that my ac was only blowing hot air (during >110 degf phoenix summer). I took it to a brakes plus on 4/7/2023 and had an evac and recharge service performed along with a leak test. The test detected a leak from the condenser, and I had the brakes plus shop replace that part. At the start of the summer of 2024 I was back at brakes plus with the same issue, my ac had gradually reverted to blowing only hot air. At that time, I did another evac and recharge service along with a leak test that was not able to detect any issues. Most recently, on 2/28/2025, I took my car to brakes plus again due to the same issue with my car ac only blowing hot air. This time, the technicians performed a leak test and saw signs of a leak near the compressor shaft in the form of dye found splattered around that area. So, that prompted us to find the warranty extension for the ac compressor shaft seal. So, I figured this time I would stop and take it to the bell Honda service center to confirm that finding. I then set up an appointment with the bell Honda service center in phoenix on 3/1/2025. I was told that the only way to check for any leaks in my system would of course be to do an evac and recharge of the system and add some of the dye needed to detect any leak. That cost me ~$320. The diagnosis from the bell Honda service center did not find any signs of leakage near the compressor shaft seal and I was not allowed the same courtesy of showing me that in person (or even via a picture) as I had been offered at brakes plus. Instead, the diagnosis suggested that my new issue was excessive build up of freon in the evaporator, resulting in a leak, which I was also not visually demonstrated. I asked if there was any warranty eligibility for the evaporator and was able to confirm at the dealership that there was no warranty extension or recall for the evaporator at the moment. However, I did hear of numerous reports of similar evaporator issues.

In 2019, Honda extended the warranty on two components of the a/c systems in 2016-2018 Civics: the condenser and the compressor shaft seal. However, it did not extend the warranty on the evaporator. I took my Civic to the dealer to diagnose an a/c issue where the system stopped putting out cold air after approximately 45 mins of driving. The dealer found leaks in the condenser, compressor shaft seal, and evaporator. Dealer received approval to replace the first two parts under warranty. However, Honda would not cover the evaporator. The dealer told me I would need to replace the evaporator, at a cost of nearly $2500, in order to recharge the a/c. Simple internet research confirms this is a common problem. Honda should be including the evaporator in its extended warranty because it seems to fail at the same rate as the other parts and because it is effectively impossible to replace the two covered parts without replacing the evaporator--which is by far the most expensive of the 3 parts to replace.

Ac system fails for the third time since 2021 (fixed twice and issue comes back).

The a/c unit is continuously giving out. The condenser and compression shaft have been replaced twice and have now damaged the evaporator causing it to leak. Due to the a/c system blowing hot air, driving in the high degree weather has became a risk to myself and passengers. Dealership has checked if the parts affected were under warranty to resolve issue, however, Honda does not cover evaporator leak problem even though multiple owners have complained about issue. The repair quote is costing owners more than $2k out of pocket that they may have to replace again in a short time. Causing financial burden from the brand's negligence. Issue will first blow hot air on the driver side and the passenger side will soon follow suit.

My ac gave me problems 2years ago, after a couple times at dealer finally, needs to replace compresor and condenser and hoses. Honda put me in waiting list for the replacement of the parts. (covered under 10 years extended warranty) finally got call to repair the car. Now my ac again stop working only hot air. Took the car to Honda, now the evaporator is leaking. They want $ 2,450 to replace.

The differential inside the transmission is making a knocking noise and shakes really badly check engine light came on and traction control light both are on and break system light and I have not even had it for a year.

For a while now (months), we have noticed our 2016 Honda Civic has had a "sticky" (a click or jerk) feeling when handling the steering wheel, particularly while driving on the freeway, holding long turns, or when even reversing (from an angle) into a parking stall (for the parking, a click/pop is audibly heard). Basically, the steering wheel will suddenly shift/jerk slightly left/right, which causes you to no longer be steering in the exact line you were on. Driver has to then correct by making an opposing shift in the opposite direction to return to the exact line that was being driven. It is a bit of a nuisance, and produces anxiety on the driver's part, leaving one wondering if/when the shift/jerk will cause even larger of an issue, potentially posing risk of harm to the vehicle's and neighboring vehicles' riders via a collision. Our Honda service technician recently confirmed, after our recent big maintenance service, that this issue is present and has something to do with some steering mechanism (I don't recall the correct term of the equipment/device), and that an estimated repair cost would be $3,000-$4,000. For now, we have been advised to monitor, and that basically it is up to us to decide if/when we would like to spend $3,000-$4,000 to have this repaired at our own expense. We are not aware of how this issue arose (what the exact cause is), but is potentially due manufacturing. There are no dashboard warning lights that illuminate during the shifting/jerking of the steering. We just feel it, moreso if you are the one driving. This issue is experienced daily. Our primary concern is prevention of a collision. We do not want it to get to the point of having had a collision/emergency, then reactively reporting the issue to NHTSA. And we do not have funds to purchase a new vehicle. Can we possibly have more confidence in this vehicle being able to transport our family safely without fear of steering issues? thank you for your support.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the white paint was peeling off the vehicle. Large white pieces from the rear hood started to peel off first. Then, the white paint from the rear and later both rear sides, the paint was peeling off, stemming from manufacturing defects in the application of its three-stage finish, leading to peeling and flaking that can impact resale value and cause rust. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The evaporator core is leaking, which is causing reduced visibablility out of the windows due to condensation on the windows, mold-like smells from moisture from the interior cabin (it is available upon request). I took it into the dealer - they examined the issue (the shaft seal had just been replaced in April of this year) and let me know that this time the evaporator core was leaking. For context and why I bring it to the attention of the NHTSA is in early to mid-August of this year my ac not only took an extended time to get cool, it only got cooler, and not cold. Unfortunately, I am now well acclimated to the signs of a faltering air conditioning system after dealing with three like episodes on the same vehicle, occurring within 2 to 3 years of each other (the car isn’t even nine years old). In fact, this vehicle’s air conditioning has been in a rhythmic pattern of failing ever since I purchased the vehicle. Over 8 years there have only been a few summers which haven’t been negatively impacted by this inconvenience. Honda is aware of the issue, because they have offered "good-will" subsidies which sometimes cover partial replacements of these components. But, they have yet to take responsibility for anything outside of the condenser. Hence, the consumer is on the hook to pay for a vital piece of the car (not just the convenience) that removes moisture out of the car.

Alarm sounded, went outside with fob to shut off . Still alarm on . Tried to get in car with fob . Had to use key in door to get in . Stepped on brake and pushed start/stop button . Alarm now silent. Push start/stop button to shut off engine and message on dash read keyless start system error. Engine still running. Pushed button again and ac shuts off , engine still running and dash still reading error. Put in driver, then reverse to park and pushed button again and engine shut off finally. Disconnect negative from battery and let sit overnight. Tried to start, but just kept cranking. Disconnect battery again, tried starting again and it started. This time it took me 10 minutes before I could shut off engine. Disconnect battery again and haven’t tried again. I’ve read about other people having the same issues. Most say start/stop switch. Mine is on order, will install ASAP and see what happens. Fingers crossed.

2016 Honda Civic has 28 000 miles and the air conditioning went out. Took it to Honda dealership, compressor, and evaporator and gasket is not working. Everything but the evaporator is covered. Been driving in hot weather and unable to maintain comfortable temperature. Unsafe during hot weather to be driving in a car that has no air conditioning, may lead to heat related illness such as heat stoke in long drives. This is a well documented issue with these Hondas. Has been inspected by Honda dealership. Unknown.

There was white padding between my speakers and trunk that had a malodorous smell.

My 2016 Honda Civic recently started having a problem with the air conditioner. The air blowing through is not cold and also smells strange. After taking it to an official Honda dealer, they've confirmed it's a problem with the evaporator and it needs to be replaced. An extended warranty exists for the compressor and condenser but not the evaporator. I believe the three are related and the evaporator should also be covered under warranty. This problem affects the air being pushed through the ac unit and could harm the passenger's well being.

- Honda cvt transmission: 4356 - went out. Is available for inspection within the week. - my daughter was driving on the freeway in the fast lane when vehicle started making loud hum noise then, came to a stop. She had to coast to the side of the road, where she was almost hit by multiple vehicles. - yes vehicle has been inspected by a independent service center - towed by usaa insurance. - has been inspected by other: davis auto clinic, davis, CA 95616 - no warning lights came on, or symptoms of the problem. Only hum noise which began 5 minutes before car stalled in middle of freeway. First appeared at time of stall, no warning at all.

Unknown.

The contact owned a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended, it caught fire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. There were no reported injuries. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number 16v074000 (engine and engine cooling).  .

Rear view mirror is peeling and discoloration is occurring. Causes impaired view while driving.

After numerous statements regarding issues with the a/c units, it appears there’s an additional item that should be added to the list of recall/extended warranty issues for Honda. The evaporator is now an additional item that is an issue amongst numerous consumers. I’ve had an issue with the evaporator and have been charged a hefty amount for labor by the dealership stating this was the issue. I was not allowed to replace my compressor/condenser, which is strange that those work just fine even with a recall, but suddenly an entirely different part was not working that’s not under warranty. I left the dealership extremely frustrated to be sold a car with faulty equipment that is being called out online and Honda does not show any proactive measures.

My 2016 Honda Civic has been having air conditioning issues and this should be repaired by the manufacturer. The issue is with evaporator core and the condenser. The Honda dealership inspected the car and made the determination; however, he says that there have not been any recalls issued by Honda for the evaporator core. We live in arizona and it is dangerous to drive a car without a working air conditioner. Please help fix this as I am sure there are a lot more other owners who are having similar a/c issues!.

Air conditioning compressor and condenser leaking which caused the evaporator to fail. Honda refuses to fix evaporator due to faulty a/c system leaking.

Purchased this vehicle new in 2016. The ac system has never worked properly. A few years ago parts were given the extended warranty. I had it fixed at an authorized Honda dealer, it blew cold air for about 2 weeks and then died agin. I had it fixed again, was told parts were defective in the first repair and it worked for 1 summer. Now this summer it is not blowing cold air once again and again I got another warranty extension in the mail. This time at Honda it’s a different part in the ac and of course it isn’t covered. So for a quick $3000 it can be fixed. This is my 9th Honda/Acura vehicle and I have never had such a unreliable car. Very disappointed with the “new” Honda.

2016 Honda Civic ac system is not working and has not been working for awhile. There are 2 warranty extensions issued for this vehicle's ac system, one for the condenser and one for the compressor. Honda has diagnosed the problem as being the evaporator, which I have been quoted everywhere from $1800 - $3000 to have fixed. The general consensus from mechanics that have dealt with these models (I have seen many different mechanics, 3rd party and dealership), is that the entire ac system is riddled with manufacturing defects, the condenser and compressor issues likely caused the evaporator malfunction, and will likely have to be recalled at some point. That is obviously slowly happening with the existing warranty extensions, however I am still being forced to pay nearly $2k for working ac despite public knowledge of a manufacturing error dealing with these ac systems. Honda refuses to acknowledge the evaporator issue was caused by the other failing components by not extending the warranty to the whole ac system. When I refused service for the evaporator since it was not covered, I was told the compressor shaft seal leak that is covered under the warranty extension could not be fixed either. The reasoning was that the compressor could not be fixed alone without fixing the evaporator due to "safety concerns". Essentially admitting that the whole system fails if one of those 3 parts is faulty. So even though that is the case, I still have to pay out of pocket for the manufacturers mistake. Unbelievable and clearly an extremely common occurrence as there was an active class action lawsuit for the ac systems of this model (andre wong v. American Honda motor CO. Inc. , et al. , case no. 2:19-cv-10537) and lemon law documentation of the issue as well. Please hold Honda responsible and force them to issue an all encompassing ac recall/warranty extension so that myself and many others do not have to choose between a very expensive repair or passing out on the road from the heat.

The air conditioning system is a failure. First my condenser went out and they replaced it with the extended warranty they provided. Now my evaporator is leaking and they do not have an extended warranty on it. Cost to replace is $2,100. 00. This is a safety concern in California because of the smog. I could no longer keep my windows up when driving because of the heat and a/c not working.

My 2016 Honda Civic started blowing warm air and within 24 hours I took it to my local Honda dealership and had it inspected. I was told that there were two trbs which may be related to the a/c system. After dealer inspection I was told that the mechanics noted leaks in both the condenser and the compressor shaft seal. The result of the leaks was that the these components would need to be replaced along with the a/c compressor. Unfortunately I was told that the extended warranties on both of these components (10 yr unlimited mileage) would not cover the compressor replacement despite the dealership telling me that the leaks likely caused the a/c compressor failure. Honda is acutely aware that these types of leaks will cause in ac component failures (condenser, compressor and evaporator) because the a/c systems are closed systems and complaints about the a/c system leaks, and their effects, are pervasive on online media forums and the auto community at large. In my case the leaks due to the failure of the condenser and compressor shaft seal resulted in the failure of a/c compressor. I have had the a/c system inspected by other Honda certified mechanic shops and all have expressed the causality between the failed components and the compressor catastrophic failure. The fact that Honda has issued "unlimited mileage" extended warranties on these 10th gen Civic compressor shaft seals and condensers expresses Honda's awareness that these components should not fail in the way they are doing so. Like any mechanical system perfection should not be the goal but when a manufacture is aware of a failure in its product it has the responsibility to make whole those harmed by its failures. Unfortunately customers, like me, who purchased Hondas because the brand's reliability and strong customer service appeal will have to look elsewhere unless Honda chooses to correct this clear and present issue across multiple vehicles in its lineup.

The inside door handle on my car has become unusable two times in the past 2 years. This is a danger because, in case of an emergency, the door would not be able to be opened by the passenger.

The air conditioning system has failed. Safety is at risk due to elevated temperatures. Thousands of people have complained about these issues. Hsb 19-091 does not go far enough, Honda needs to recall the entire a/c system and repair these manufacturer defects.

I have had multiple problems with the vehicles air conditioning system leaking and adding harmful hfc chemicals to the atmosphere and making driving uncomfortable on warm days. There are known issues with Honda years 2016-2018 air conditioning systems and they should be fixing these problems under warranty or recalls. My first issue of the a/c blowing warm air was 8/10/2021 and cars mileage was 49,760 miles. I brought it into a Honda dealer and they stated they found high side and low side o rings leaking . They replaced them, recharged system and charged me $425. 00. The next issue with blowing warm air was may 2023 and 56,311 miles. I brought the vehicle to an independent repair garage . They found a leak in the evaporator and a defective expansion valve. They replaced the evaporator core and expansion valve. This cost me another $2008. 43. These year 2016-2018, Honda's have many issues with the air conditioning system and all major components compressor, condenser, evaporator and the expensive refrigerant should be covered under warranty for these system leaks in multiple components. I understand Honda has a 10 year warranty extension on the a/c condenser. Honda needs to step up and take responsibility and fix all of the issues with the air conditioning systems and quit adding all these refrigerants to the atmosphere .

The a/c began to take longer and longer to cool the car. After not driving the car for a year due to illness, I drove it again and the a/c blew nothing but hot air. After an initial google search I discovered Honda had extended a warranty to 10 years for defective a/c condensers. However, I cannot find a recall for this repair anywhere. I've taken the car to a mechanic and was quoted a price of $1200 repair the condenser.

All engine lights flashed while driving, check engine light remained on after all others went off, emission system warning keeps prompting attention, and car just slowed to only 8 mph as I was driving down the road. Available for inspection any day. I had my 7 month old child in the backseat and almost got slammed in the back while going down the road as my car slowed abruptly as I was driving. Nothing was wrong prior, and I took it to a service department when I went for my oil change, but it was going to be very costly to just hook up for diagnostic testing. Car ran at normal speed after this incident, but engine sounds louder and rougher and check engine light and warnings are still present.

On 4/16/23, I noticed that the paint surrounding my rear window is peeling from the body of the car. There have been no dings nor accidents; the paint just started peeling. Obviously, this is not a safety issue, but I have read that Honda has had issues with defective paint with other models.