Last updated: 2026-10-10

Acura Integra vs Honda Civic: Reliability Compared

Between the Honda Civic and the Acura Integra, the Civic comes out ahead on reliability. Owners file far fewer complaints per car sold, and independent data shows lower repair costs. Both cars share a sticky-steering problem, but the Integra's repair bills run more than double.

How Do the Acura Integra and Honda Civic Generations Compare?

Two generations cover most of the Civic years a shopper will see. The tenth generation ran from 2016 to 2021, so the 2018 through 2021 cars belong to it. The eleventh generation began with the 2022 model year, and the data lists it through 2023. That matters because 2022, the first year of the redesign, is one of the Civic's two weakest years, alongside 2018. The newest years, 2025 and 2026, rank strongest but have had little time to collect complaints, so they are not proven better.

Verdict

The Honda Civic is more reliable than the Acura Integra, scoring 78/100 vs 70/100.

Clear edge to the Civic. Owners file far fewer complaints per car sold, and independent repair-cost data puts its yearly repair bill at less than half the Integra's. It also visits the shop less often. Both cars share a sticky-steering pattern, but it makes up most of the Integra's complaints and starts at lower mileage. The Civic carries a much bigger recall count, so check any car's VIN before you buy.

Key Differences

  1. 1Honda Civic costs $433 less per year to repair
  2. 2Acura Integra has 28 fewer total recalls
  3. 3Honda Civic has 23.2 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

1Acura Integra
—
4Honda Civic
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencySafety Rating

Acura Integra vs Honda Civic: Which Is More Reliable?

Acura Integra vs Honda Civic at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricAcura IntegraHonda Civic
Reliability Score70/10078/100
Years Tracked49
Total Recalls937
Complaints per 10k Sold284.8
Annual Repair Cost$801/yr$368/yr
Repair Frequency0.7/yr0.2/yr
Safety RatingNHTSA overall
2026 NHTSA
2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins04

What Are the Common Problems With the Acura Integra and Honda Civic?

Steering leads both lists. Civic owners describe a wheel that turns stiff or notchy during small highway corrections, then breaks free and overshoots. Integra owners describe the same catch-and-release, and it makes up almost all of that model's complaints, with some reports starting as early as about 2,800 miles. The Civic's list is wider: fuel pump delays and stalling, warning lights, and air bags that failed to deploy or fired without a crash. Its fuel, electrical, and propulsion complaints include crash reports, which the Integra's do not. Both models have crash-linked air bag and steering complaints.

Acura Integra vs Honda Civic common problem areas comparison
ComponentAcura IntegraHonda Civic
STEERING24.8High2.5Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER0.7Very Low0.3Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM0.3Very Low0.3Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE0.4Very Low0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS0.2Very Low0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES0.2Very Low0.1Very Low
POWER TRAIN0.2Very Low0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM—None0.3Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM—None0.2Very Low
ENGINE—None0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL—None0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE—None—None
SEATS—None—None
LANE DEPARTURE—None—None
TIRES—None—None
SEAT BELTS—None—None
SUSPENSION—None—None
WHEELS—None—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING—None—None
PARKING BRAKE—None—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER—None—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Acura Integra or Honda Civic?

Independent repair-cost data puts the Civic at $368 a year and the Integra at $801. That gap is $433 a year, or about $2,165 over five years. The Civic averages 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year, against 0.7 for the Integra, so the Integra goes in for unplanned work more than three times as often. The data also gives the Civic a 10% chance that a repair is major.

How Does Acura Integra vs Honda Civic Reliability Compare by Year?

Acura Integra vs Honda Civic year-by-year reliability scores
YearAcura IntegraHonda CivicEdge
202676/1000R / 1C94/1000R / 7CHonda Civic
202574/1002R / 2C84/1005R / 49CHonda Civic
202468/1005R / 61C81/1005R / 131CHonda Civic
202363/1002R / 204C74/1007R / 315CHonda Civic

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Acura Integra scored 68/100 and the 2024 Honda Civic scored 81/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Acura Integra vs the Honda Civic?

Pick the Civic if you want the lowest running costs. Its repair bill is less than half the Integra's and it needs fewer unscheduled shop visits. Skip 2018 and 2022 if you can, since those are its weakest years. The 2025 and 2026 cars rank strongest, but they have had the least time to collect complaints, so treat that as incomplete. Before buying any Civic, run the VIN for open recalls and ask whether the steering and fuel pump work is done. Pick the Integra only if you value that car's package enough to accept higher repair costs. Target 2025 or 2026 over 2023 and 2024, which are its weakest years, and remember all four years are young, so the record is short. Drive it on a highway before you sign. Hold the wheel through small lane corrections and watch for it sticking, then letting go all at once. Walk away from any car that does this.

Acura Integra vs Honda Civic: Common Questions

Is the Honda Civic more reliable than the Acura Integra?
Yes, the Civic has a clear edge. It draws 4.8 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, against 28 for the Integra. Its yearly repair cost is lower and it needs fewer unscheduled shop visits. Both models land in the good standing range, but the Civic is the safer bet.
Which has more recalls, the Civic or the Integra?
The Civic has more. Federal recall records show 37 across its 9 model years, against 9 across the Integra's 4. The Civic has been on the road longer, so more recalls are expected. Run the VIN of any specific car to see what is still open.
Which costs less to repair?
The Civic. Independent repair-cost data estimates $368 a year, against $801 for the Integra. Over five years that is roughly $2,165 saved. The Civic also averages 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year, while the Integra averages 0.7.
Do both cars have steering problems?
Yes. Owners of both describe a wheel that sticks, resists small highway corrections, then breaks free and causes overcorrection. It is most of the Integra's complaints, with reports starting around 2,800 to 5,700 miles. The Civic has far more steering complaints in total, and some owners say it continues apart from the recall.
Which Integra years should I avoid?
Avoid 2023 and 2024 if you can, since those are the Integra's weakest years. The 2025 and 2026 cars rank strongest, but they are the newest and have had the least time to collect complaints. Test drive any Integra on a highway and check for a sticking wheel.

Decided between Acura Integra and Honda Civic? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Acura Integra and Honda Civic

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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