Last updated: 2026-10-10
Honda Civic Reliability by Year
Honda Civic reliability is good, with low repair costs. Steering is the one issue to check, and the 2024 is the year to buy.
Honda Civic Reliability Overview
Sticky steering is the Civic's main weak spot, so shop by model year. Owners describe the wheel catching near center, then jerking the car. The 2022 is the year to skip, and the 2024 is the better buy. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly upkeep at $368, well under the compact car average.
Current generation: 11th gen (2022–2023).
Best & Worst Honda Civic Years
Best Honda Civic Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreThe 2024 has been on the road long enough to judge, and it drew 131 owner complaints against 935 for the 2022. Steering still leads its list, with sticky wheels near center and backordered recall parts, but reports are far fewer and the 2022's lockup pattern is not the main story.
Honda Civic Years to Avoid
Steering is the problem. Owners report sudden stiffness or a full lockup at speeds from 30 to 56 mph, with 27 crashes tied to it. Many cite two steering recalls, parts that were not available, and paying for a rack replacement themselves. Cruise control also drops out with no warning light.
Honda Civic Reliability Score Trend
Honda Civic reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 78/100.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 75/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 66/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 84/100 | Excellent |
| 2026 | 94/100 | Excellent |
Year-by-Year Reliability
2026 Honda Civic
0 recalls · 7 complaints
Top-ranked of the scored Civic years with no recalls, though its few complaints both involve automatic emergency braking and it has had little time to collect more.
2025 Honda Civic
5 recalls · 49 complaints
Excellent standing with a low complaint rate, but five recalls and steering that sticks and phantom braking stand out, while 2024 drew far more complaints.
2024 Honda Civic
5 recalls · 131 complaints
Excellent standing in the middle of the Civic lineup, held back mainly by sticky steering reports that begin at very low mileage.
2023 Honda Civic
7 recalls · 315 complaints
Rates good and above average among 2023 sedans, yet it is one of the weaker Civic years because of sticky steering complaints.
2022 Honda Civic
3 recalls · 935 complaints
Weakest of the nine scored Civic years, driven by steering that can stiffen or lock suddenly, though yearly repair costs stay low.
2021 Honda Civic
3 recalls · 118 complaints
Final year of the tenth generation, with excellent reliability and lower repair costs than its class, held back mainly by steering that binds at highway speeds.
2020 Honda Civic
8 recalls · 405 complaints
Rates well above other 2020 sedans and costs less to repair than its class, but carries more complaints and recalls than either neighboring year.
2019 Honda Civic
2 recalls · 356 complaints
Good standing and low repair costs, but steering that sticks near center and long fuel pump recall waits set it apart from other Civic years.
2018 Honda Civic
4 recalls · 605 complaints
Good standing, but among the weaker Civic years, with sticking steering and a fuel system recall that owners say dealers cannot get parts for.
Common Honda Civic problems
Problem areas with the most owner complaints, each with the years affected, symptoms, and fixes.
Found Your Honda Civic? Check Its History
Service brakes (2) problems come up most in Honda Civic owner complaints, and 37 recalls cover the years we track. A VIN check shows whether the car you found had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Honda Civic Repair Costs
Reliability Rating
4.5/5
Annual Repair Cost
$368
Repair Frequency
0.2/yr
Major Repair Risk
10%
$158 below the compact cars average of $526/yr.
Ranked #3 of 36 among compact cars.
Honda Civic Resale Value
The Honda Civic is estimated to retain about 85.8% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
- Value Retained
- 85.8%
- Depreciation
- 14.2%
- Listings Analyzed
- 720
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.
Explore Honda Civic depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comHonda Civic Years to Avoid
See which model years have the most problems
Most Reliable Honda Models
Compare all Honda models by reliability
Compare Honda Civic With Similar Sedans
The Honda Civic competes with other compact sedans such as Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf, and Nissan Sentra.
Civic vs Toyota Corolla
9 years tracked · 1274 complaints
Civic vs Volkswagen Golf
9 years tracked · 394 complaints
Civic vs Nissan Sentra
9 years tracked · 829 complaints
Civic vs Hyundai Elantra
9 years tracked · 1219 complaints
Civic vs Kia Forte
7 years tracked · 495 complaints
More Honda Civic comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best year for the Honda Civic?
- The 2024 is the site's pick among years that have been on the road at least two years. It has excellent reliability and far fewer complaints than the 2022. The 2025 and 2026 also rate well, but they are too new to have collected a full complaint history.
- Is the Honda Civic reliable long term?
- Yes, its standing is good and above average among sedans on the site. The main long-term concern is steering. Owner complaints place onset between about 30,000 and 89,000 miles, so check for a wheel that sticks near center before you buy.
- What are the most common Honda Civic problems?
- Steering is the biggest by far, with 1538 complaints. The wheel catches near center, then breaks free and jerks the car. Fuel system complaints, mostly about a recall repair that dealers could not get parts for, come next, followed by electrical faults like a failing body control module.
- How much does it cost to maintain a Honda Civic?
- Independent repair-cost data estimates $368 a year, compared with $526 for the average compact car. A steering rack replacement is the big exception. Some owners report dealer quotes as high as $6500 for that repair.
- Do Honda Civics have fuel pump problems?
- Some do. Owner complaints about stalling, hesitation, and power loss tie back to a fuel pump module recall, and most of them are about getting the repair done. Owners describe waits from 6 months to more than a year because dealers lacked parts.
How we score the 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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