Wiper Problems of Honda Civic - part 1

While driving on a public roadway, the tempered rear windshield spontaneously shattered with a violent, extremely loud pop resembling a gunshot. There was no vehicle ahead of me, no overpass, and absolutely no external object or projectile impacted the glass. The glass immediately webbed entirely across the surface from edge to edge due to internal stress, but is currently being held in place by window tint film. This year and model (2006 Honda Civic 2-door coupe) has a historical NHTSA recall for rear glass adhesion failure (recall 06v326000). This spontaneous failure created an immediate, severe distraction and vision hazard while operating the vehicle at speed.

See all problems of the 2006 Honda Civic 🔎.

While stopped at a stoplight, the rear windshield shattered for no apparent reason.

See all problems of the 2022 Honda Civic 🔎.

The evaporator core failure (leaking). It affects defrosting windshield causing visibility and safety issues. Diagnosed at dealership after condenser and compressor shaft seal extended warranty work completed. Evaporator core diagnosed 3 months after same dealership did warranty work.

See all problems of the 2018 Honda Civic 🔎.

I'm submitting a complaint for visibility concerns because the a/c system is plauged with issues on this vehicle. When a/c systems don't function properly it causes a visibility concern because the defogger won't clear the windshield (especially in the cold winters in my home state of [xxx]). This is the first series that Honda used this type of refrigerant (r-1234yf) and they ended up having issues with a few other vehicles when introducing this refrigerant. They released warranty extension 6a5 for this series to cover the a/c compressor and a shaft seal for premature failure due to complications with the refrigerant. In my opinion this was a bandaid-fix applied in an attempt to sweep the issue under the rug. My car's a/c has failed 3 times in the 5 years that I've owned it. I took it to hoda last week and they said this time it was the evaporator and that it's $2,700 to fix. I would argue that all parts in this a/c system (including the evaporator and condenser) are affected by the same issues that cause premature failure in the compressor. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2017 Honda Civic 🔎.

The body control module (bcm) on my 2017 Honda Civic suffered an internal failure, creating immediate safety hazards. The defect caused persistent parasitic battery drain, sudden vehicle power loss, and erratic electrical behavior. A faulty bcm can cause critical safety components—such as exterior lighting, turn signals, and windshield wipers—to fail without warning while driving. Honda has already recalled 2018–2020 accords and 2019–2020 insights for identical bcm programming and hardware failures (NHTSA campaign 20v771000 / Honda campaign x95). My 2017 Civic utilizes similar bcm architecture and exhibits the exact same dangerous failure symptoms. This component defect is widespread across multiple Honda platforms from this generation, and the safety recall must be expanded to include the Honda Civic before a catastrophic electrical failure results in a crash or injury. I had to replace the unit entirely out of pocket to ensure the vehicle was safe to operate.

New Honda Civic 2025 rear window glass shattered on its own. No external impact noticed.

See all problems of the 2025 Honda Civic 🔎.

So my 2018 Honda Civic has been affected by the known ac condenser leaks and compressor shaft seal leaks, that Honda has provided an extended warranty for. However they have also found a massive leak at the evaporator. To which Honda has not provided an extended warranty for. This is a huge concern because I am unable to defog my windows without ac and makes it very difficult to see while driving in conditions that my window my fog up. I have not been in an accident currently, but I see this as a massive problem for myself and other Honda owners. Customer service has just formally denied my claim for a curtesy repair for the evaporator. It is very disheartening and Honda should be held responsible.

Ac evaporator failed (per dealership diagnostic) causing poor performance of windshield defogger.

I reported this issue to insurance. The facts are that when I was watching a family member’s toddler, I went to my vehicle to grab a stack of papers. While holding her, I reached in and grabbed the papers sitting directly on the back seat of the coupe vehicle (I. E. , easy to reach). Upon grabbing the papers in one hand and holding her on my left hip, I shut the drivers side door and began walking toward the home. Immediately, I heard an odd sound like a rustle or possibly an animal scurrying. I looked around confused because I hadn’t seen anything and it wasn’t too dark. Then I looked closer and the entirety of my back windshield was shattered into a billion pieces leaking into my back seats and onto the car seat placed there for when I frequently pick up the toddler. I can’t help but think of what would’ve happened if she was in her car seat and the glass shards (which were many, sharp and permeating through each crevice and likely will remain until somehow discovered or hurting someone) would’ve fell there. Many Honda owners experienced this issue of combustion in the rear windshield. It’s not safe or right. A recall should be made.

See all problems of the 2020 Honda Civic 🔎.

In June 2026, the hvac system in my 2019 Honda Civic 2. 0l failed because the evaporator core developed a premature leak or crack. Autonation Honda o’hare inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the evaporator core as the failed component. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This failure creates a serious visibility hazard. During rain and humid conditions, the windshield and side windows fog rapidly. Because the air-conditioning system can no longer adequately remove moisture from the cabin air, the defrost and defog functions do not clear the glass effectively. This can severely obstruct my view of the road, nearby vehicles, pedestrians, and other hazards while driving. I have also noticed a persistent chemical odor coming from the vents. Because the evaporator core is located inside the hvac housing, I am concerned that refrigerant, compressor oil, or other hvac residue may be entering the passenger compartment. This creates a potential exposure concern, especially when the vehicle is operated with the windows closed. I received no specific dashboard warning that the evaporator core was failing. The first noticeable symptoms were reduced cooling, ineffective windshield defogging, and the chemical odor from the vents. Honda has extended warranty coverage for certain air-conditioning condenser and compressor failures affecting this generation of Civic, but it does not cover the evaporator core. I contacted Honda and requested goodwill assistance with the costly repair. Honda refused to provide any goodwill discount despite the known pattern of air-conditioning failures and the safety consequences of losing effective windshield dehumidification. I request that NHTSA investigate evaporator-core failures in 10th-generation Honda Civics and determine whether a safety recall or expanded manufacturer remedy is warranted.

See all problems of the 2019 Honda Civic 🔎.

The air conditioning condenser failed prematurely due to a known manufacturing defect covered under Honda's 10-year warranty extension (TSB 19-091), but the dealership, stokes Honda north and american Honda motor CO. ’s refused to honor the coverage. I reside in charleston, south carolina, where summer temperatures and humidity levels are extreme. Because of this defect, the vehicle's cabin becomes dangerously hot within minutes. I frequently transport my two young children in this vehicle, and the lack of functional climate control places them at an immediate risk for severe heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat-related illness. Furthermore, the failure of the ac system means the vehicle can no longer properly dehumidify the cabin air. During sudden south carolina rainstorms, the windshield and windows instantly fog over, rendering the defroster useless. This causes an immediate, severe loss of visibility while driving on high-speed roads, creating a catastrophic safety hazard for myself, my children, and other drivers.

The windshield wiper design and wiper fluid nozzle make visibility worse. The nozzle doesn’t spray until the wiper is at the top of the windshield amd sprays the fluid off the side of the car instead of onto the windshield for the wipers to clear. The little bit that does hit the windshield is enough to smear any smudge or bug right in front of drivers face making them extremely dangerous.

The a/c failed completely, blowing hot air (80+°f) in extreme phoenix heat. The issue recurred identically after a dealer misdiagnosis and gas recharge last year. A formal inspection by showcase Honda on may 28, 2026 (ro# 838832), confirmed a dual leak: the a/c compressor shaft seal (under warranty extension) and the a/c evaporator core were leaking refrigerant simultaneously. Due to severe local heat waves, repairs were completed at the dealer on June 15, 2026. Invoices are available upon request. This defect severely risks vehicle safety. Driving in arizona's 100+°f heat without a/c causes immediate heat exhaustion for passengers. Also, losing the defroster causes sudden windshield fogging during humidity shifts, creating a blind visibility hazard. No warning lamps preceded the failure. Crucially, the 10-year warranty extension is rapidly expiring for early 10th-gen Civic owners, leaving us unprotected. Nhtsa must mandate Honda to extend the compressor/condenser warranty to a lifetime warranty. Furthermore, because the evaporator core inherently fails at the exact same time due to the same loop defect, Honda must expand coverage to include the evaporator core as a fully covered component. Partial coverage is a widespread safety hazard and a financial injustice for consumers.

See all problems of the 2016 Honda Civic 🔎.

The windshield wiper fluid is built into the wipers. The fluid sprays at the edge of my windshield, thus not spraying the windshield at all, and all fluid is lost. My windshield gets smeared worse than it was prior to tuening the fluid on and not cleaned at all. This presents a huge safety issue during the winter months when the windshield gets heavily soiled from sand on the road. Finding somewhere safe enough to pull over, and having windex on hand will be necessary to keep visibility possible due to the unsafe design of the wiper fluid wipers. It also creates a safety issue when the sun is shining through the front windshield and visibility due to the smeared, dirty windshield. Honda said they ate not defective, it is how they were designed. This design is defective amd causes a large safety hazard.

The rear window shattered while driving. I had turned on my rear window defroster to help clear the window of fog. Several minutes later there was a loud pop, and I saw a hole in the lower left corner of the window under the spoiler, and the rest of the glass was cracked. I pulled over to see if something had hit the window, and there was no evidence of that happening.

Honda has known about an issue with their 2016-2020 vehicles where the evaporator stops working. They continued to use the same part for the ac and because the evaporator does not work any longer, the windshield doesn’t correctly defog and it obstructs my vision.

Sunroof glass suddenly shattered while driving with no impact. Very scary and Honda said it could be thousands to fix it. They say this has never happened before at their dealership and they've never heard of it happening.

While operating the vehicle normally on the highway going 70mph, there were not other cars nearby, the sunroof simply exploded.

What component or system failed: the entire air conditioning system, specifically the ac compressor, condenser, and evaporator, failed catastrophically. The authorized Honda dealer diagnosed it as "black death," meaning the ac compressor internally shattered, sending metal shrapnel and contaminated oil throughout all ac lines and components. How was your safety put at risk: this failure is a severe safety hazard. Because the ac compressor is dead, the windshield defroster/defogger system no longer functions. During rain or changes in temperature/humidity, the inside of the windshield fogs up instantly and cannot be cleared. This causes a sudden and complete loss of driver visibility, creating a high risk of a fatal crash on the highway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed: yes. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Honda dealership. The technician confirmed the catastrophic failure ("black death") and stated the entire system needs to be replaced. Previous history & manufacturer response: Honda has known defects with the 2016 Civic ac system (warranty extensions 19-091 & 23-039). The condenser was previously replaced under warranty in 2023. Now, the defective compressor shaft seal has led to the complete destruction of the system. Despite this being a known defect that causes secondary damage to the entire system, Honda corporate has refused to cover the repair costs for the collateral damage (evaporator and lines). The parts are currently on the vehicle and available for inspection. Were there warning lamps: there were no warning lights on the dashboard prior to the failure. The only symptom was the ac suddenly blowing hot air and the immediate loss of the defogging capability.

The vehicle has experienced a complete failure of the a/c condenser unit due to refrigerant leaks originating from manufacturing defects in the tube walls. This matches the exact physical failure described in Honda service bulletin TSB #19-091. However, the manufacturer is refusing coverage because this specific VIN falls just outside their current arbitrary cutoff list. This component failure directly impacts vehicle safety by disabling the vehicle's capability to dehumidify the cabin and clear a heavily fogged windshield during sudden humidity or temperature changes, causing an immediate visibility hazard.

Summary of the issue: my 2025 Honda Civic sport touring has experienced repeated windshield cracking without any impact, debris strike, or external cause. This raises serious concerns about windshield integrity, structural safety, and potential manufacturing defects. ________________________________________ incident details first windshield crack – March 2025 •around March 2025, the original windshield developed a crack with no impact to the glass or vehicle. •the crack originated at the lower left-hand edge of the windshield. •Honda replaced the windshield at a cost of $1,623. 96, which I had to pay. •the crack appeared spontaneously and spread quickly. Second windshield crack – December 24, 2025 •on December 24, 2025, the replacement windshield also cracked without any impact. •this time, the crack began at the top right side of the windshield. •I discovered the crack when approaching the parked vehicle; there was no event that could have caused damage. ________________________________________ safety and financial concerns •the vehicle is still under the manufacturer’s warranty and has only 16,653 miles. •the cost of windshield replacement is extremely high due to required adas camera recalibration, which is mandatory for safety systems to function properly. •repeated spontaneous cracking raises concerns about: ostructural integrity of the windshield opotential manufacturing or design defects ocompromised performance of adas safety features orisk of sudden visibility obstruction while driving.

The wiper blades accumulate ice during winter weather driving making visibility nearly impossible and dangerous.

My a/c system experienced a total failure at around 79,000 miles. I took the vehicle to a service center, and they confirmed the failure is the a/c evaporator. This component is now broken and available for inspection upon request. This evaporator failure is an extremely common, widely reported issue across this generation of vehicles and is almost certainly due to a manufacturing defect. The failure creates two major safety risks: first, the loss of defrost capability causes the windshield to fog up immediately in rain or humidity, which completely blocks the driver's view. Second, the extreme interior heat caused by the lack of a/c creates severe driver fatigue and distraction, which impairs safe operation of the vehicle. This issue has been confirmed by the dealership, and there were no warning lights.

While driving my 2025 Honda Civic at normal highway speed, a small rock struck the windshield and caused an immediate crack that spread rapidly across the glass. The impact was minor and would not typically result in such extensive damage on other vehicles I’ve owned. The vehicle is equipped with Honda sensing, requiring oem glass and camera calibration, but the windshield is on national backorder, leaving me without a safe and properly functioning windshield. I am concerned that the windshield glass on this model may be unusually fragile or thinner than industry norms, resulting in an unsafe condition where small road debris causes significant cracks, obstructing visibility and disabling advanced driver assistance systems. Other Honda Civic owners have reported similar issues online, suggesting a potential design or material defect.

A brand-new 2025 Honda Civic hybrid sold by lehigh valley Honda had inoperative front and rear windshield defoggers immediately upon delivery. The defect caused persistent windshield fogging, severely impairing visibility in rain and cold conditions. The selling dealership refused to perform warranty repairs and stated the issue was in all Hondas. The vehicle was unsafe to operate due to impaired visibility, creating a potential crash hazard.

Driver's side sun visor defective. Visor started splitting, leading to inoperative, and finally fell off. Replaced by manufacturer a number of years ago, but design flaw not addressed causing persistent issue recurrence. Multiple complaints have been filed related to this issue. Following are some of the complaint record numbers: 110884671041796510466838 110630431041670210466343 110395371041422810462119 109831981041221710461924 109710161041170010461699 109368151041080710457914 109285781041061610456750 108965601041024110456044 108888061040930510454884 108858631040937310448984 108632171040869610432332 108462841040941710432252 107168651040740610430111 106761951040741410430141 106386011040692010428110 105211741042513210427775 104781981041925910426693 104754451042547910426377.

See all problems of the 2008 Honda Civic 🔎.

When I tried to open my gas tank on the neighborhood station to put gas it got locked and cannot be opened, the other drivers tried to help me and the station attendant. But to no avail I have to bring it to the local Honda dealership where I bought my car and it cost me almost $300. 00, the problem was there was no way it can be opened manually, one driver even tried to google it. Also, with this model, I received a recall notice about the fuel injection and tried to call the Honda dealer about the situation they always told me no parts available yet, but I am quiet scared because I don't want to get accident associated with the recall parts. The technician always said, "you are safe the car won't stop" but for how long? I also told them "how come they keep sending recall notice but every time I bring my car to the shop, they answered was "no available parts".

Windshield wiper motor failed under cold conditions without warning. Vehicle is not safe to operate in adverse weather conditions due to failure of part. Issue has been formally diagnosed by oem service center.

See all problems of the 2024 Honda Civic 🔎.

I purchased my 2024 Honda Civic sedan touring just over six months ago and have been dealing with an ongoing issue with the front driver-side window that remains unresolved despite multiple repair attempts. The first problem occurred when the car had only around 2,500 miles on it. The window began getting stuck while opening or closing, making it difficult or impossible to operate properly. I brought the car to the dealership, where they diagnosed the issue as a faulty window regulator. They replaced the part, assuring me that the problem was resolved. However, less than a week later, the same issue occurred again. This time, the front passenger-side window also malfunctioned on one occasion, displaying similar symptoms. I returned to the dealership, and the service team initially suggested swapping parts from a new Civic on the lot to troubleshoot the issue. Ultimately, they decided to replace the left front driver window switch instead, claiming the problem was caused by erroneous operation/"overuse. " this explanation seemed implausible, as the vehicle was only a few months old, had been driven minimally, and the windows were operated under normal conditions. Unfortunately, just days after this second repair, the driver-side window failed again, marking the third time this issue has occurred. The car now has approximately 2,950 miles on it, and I have not yet returned to the dealership, as I am frustrated by the repeated failures and the lack of a permanent solution. During previous visits, the service department mentioned that the foreman would need to inspect the vehicle, but this is concerning because the car has already spent 13 days at the dealership over the last 24 days for this recurring problem. The persistent failure of the driver-side window, coupled with the passenger-side window showing similar symptoms, raises concerns about a potential defect in the vehicle’s window system or its associated components.

Windshield wipers fail to clear debris.

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.

Rear window wiper failed to operate when transmission put in reverse. Should have operated automatically. Rear window wiper failed to respond to switch position when selected to on. Scan tool shows body control module receiving switch input but no output to wiper motor. Rear window washer comes on without switch being moved to on position when car is turned on and will not turn off unless car is turned off or fuse is pulled. Unable to control wiper washer system. No warning lights noted and no faults found during scanning. There has been recalls on other model's of this year and brand of car for defective body control module. Rear wiper motor and switch stalk were replaced with known good parts, no fix.

Ac compressor is not working causing the defroster not to work and front wind shield will not defrost during wet /humid weather. Honda's extended warranty bulletin only applies to the condenser not the compressor.

Driving I-15 n just south of sr-56 / ted williams parkway ~10 am on a Monday. No large trucks near by, and pretty minimal traffic otherwise. Heard loud thud and shattering. Slightly retracted sunshade and saw shattered glass where my sunroof used to be. Closed sunshade and exited freeway to survey the damage. No injuries, fortunately.

See all problems of the 2021 Honda Civic 🔎.

Rear windshield spontaneously shattered while I was driving on the highway. There was no debris or collision. The car has never been in an accident or subject to any internal or external physical force or damage.