Last updated: 2026-10-10

2025 Honda Civic Reliability Report
The 2025 Honda Civic rates excellent for reliability, but steering that stiffens and then lets go is the complaint to check before you buy.
Recalls
5
Complaints
49
Complaint Rate
2.1per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$368
Annual Fuel Cost
$1,650–$2,900
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
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.
Top Issues to Watch
- STEERING (13)
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (9)
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (4)
Should You Buy the 2025 Honda Civic?
Mostly yes. Owner complaints and independent repair-cost data put this year at excellent, above average among 2025 sedans and among the stronger of the Civic's nine scored years. Estimated repair costs run $368 a year against $526 for the class, and the federal crash-test rating is 5 of 5 stars. The 2024 drew 131 complaints. The 2026 has only 7, but it has had far less time to collect them.
Steering is the problem to know about. Owners say the wheel stiffens or sticks, then suddenly frees up, at low speed and on the highway. That makes it easy to overcorrect. Clicking and popping in slow turns has been reported as early as 1,400 miles, and new strut bearings do not always stop it. Some owners are waiting on a steering repair part. Adaptive cruise phantom braking at 60 to 65 mph is the next most common complaint. One car caught fire on the highway about a month after purchase, and others had misfires from faulty injectors at 2,000 to 9,000 miles. Federal records list five recalls, in the fuel system and steering.
Ask for proof that every recall repair is done. On a test drive, turn the wheel at low speed and try adaptive cruise on a highway.
Compared to the 2026 Honda Civic, which scored 10 points higher. See also the 2024 Honda Civic for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Strong reliability score
- +$158 cheaper to maintain than avg compact cars
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (10%)
- +Below-average complaint rate for Sedan
Cons
- −Moderate recall count
- −STEERING: Wheel stiffens or sticks, then suddenly frees up, which makes it easy to... (13 complaints)
Compare 2025 Honda Civic With

2025 Toyota Corolla
Reliability: 84/100

2025 Volkswagen Golf
Reliability: 81/100

2025 Nissan Sentra
Reliability: 78/100

2025 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability: 87/100

2025 Nissan Versa
Reliability: 81/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 5 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- STEERING (13)
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (9)
Recall Overview
5
recalls on record
A moderate 5 recalls are on file for the 2025 Honda Civic. Each one points to a specific safety or compliance issue identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA — check the list below before buying.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
2.1
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 2
Safety Incidents
3
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2025 Honda Civic Recall Details
5 recalls have been issued for the 2025 Honda Civic. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, 2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid, and 2025 Honda Civic and Civic Hybrid vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may crack and leak fuel.
Consequence
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the high-pressure fuel pump as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 20, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PJW.
STEERING
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle.
Consequence
Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are SJS, MJU, QJT and VJV.
Buying a used 2025 Honda Civic? Check its history first
Steering problems lead owner complaints about the 2025 Honda Civic, and 5 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2025 Honda Civic NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 9.5%
Safety Technologies
HEV Powertrain
Rollover risk: 9.5%
Safety Technologies
Honda CivicRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4.5Maintenance rating: 4.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$368
vs $526 avg for compact cars
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.2
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
10%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
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.
This benchmark covers the Honda Civic model overall and is not specific to the 2025 model year.
- 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.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
24–36 MPG
Running cost: $2,000–$3,250/yr
Fuel + repair
22–32 city / 28–41 hwy MPG
Hybrid
48–49 MPG
Running cost: $1,550–$1,600/yr
Fuel + repair
50 city / 45–47 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2025 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic 4Dr 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 32 | 41 | 36 | $1,650 |
| Civic 4Dr 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S7) | 31 | 39 | 34 | $1,750 |
| Civic 5Dr 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S7) | 30 | 38 | 34 | $1,750 |
| Civic 4Dr 1.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 27 | 37 | 31 | $2,250 |
| Civic 5Dr 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 22 | 28 | 24 | $2,900 |
Hybrid trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic 4Dr 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 50 | 47 | 49 | $1,200 |
| Civic 5Dr 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 50 | 45 | 48 | $1,250 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2025 Honda Civic.
Run the VIN for open recalls 24V744000 and 24V763000 and confirm repair parts are actually available.
Drive at highway speed and make small steering corrections, feeling for sticking or a sudden release.
Turn the wheel slowly at parking speed and listen for clicking, popping, or creaking.
Use adaptive cruise on an open highway and watch for braking or collision warnings with nothing ahead.
Start the engine cold and check for rough idle, heavy shaking, or warning lights.
Inspect the windshield edges for cracks and ask whether it was replaced and the camera recalibrated.
Test the front and rear defoggers and press on the rear floor carpet for dampness.
Ask for service records covering stalling, misfires, fuel injectors, or brake simulator repairs.
Going to see one? Take the printable 2025 Honda Civic inspection checklist with you.
2025 Honda Civic Common Problems by Component
49 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
STEERING
13 complaintsSafety-relatedCivic steering problems across all model years
The wheel stiffens or sticks, then suddenly frees up, which makes it easy to overcorrect. Reports describe this at low speed and at highway speed, sometimes with the engine malfunction light flashing and the car pulling right. In the one crash report, the wheel went stiff and then released during a left turn at about 20 mph. Clicking, popping, or creaking during low-speed turns is the other common complaint, reported as early as 1,400 miles. Dealer fixes such as new strut bearings do not always stop it. Several filings only report waiting on steering recall 24V744000 because the repair part is unavailable.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
9 complaintsSafety-relatedPhantom braking is the main complaint. With adaptive cruise control on, the car brakes hard or stops for vehicles that are not there, often on clear highways at 60 to 65 mph. Several drivers were nearly rear-ended. Some events come with collision mitigation and road departure warnings. Low-speed braking control has also held the car back when the driver needed to accelerate. In the one crash report, adaptive cruise did not slow the car at 50 mph and it hit a truck. Owners also say the camera-only lane keeping drifts and loses track of the lane.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4 complaintsWindshields that crack with no impact are the most detailed complaint, including a second crack after a replacement the owner paid for. Other filings describe a car parked for 2 months while waiting on the high pressure fuel pump recall fix, front and rear defoggers that did not work at delivery, and a soaked rear floor with sloshing sounds during acceleration and braking. These are scattered reports, not one shared defect.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (4 complaints)
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
4 complaintsSafety-relatedThe most serious report is a fire: one car burned on the highway about a month after purchase. The insurer suspected the high pressure fuel pump covered by a recall. A second pattern is rough idling and near-stalling right after startup. Dealers found misfires, damaged spark plugs, and faulty fuel injectors at about 2,000 and 9,000 miles and replaced the parts. One hybrid owner also reports that the tank takes far less fuel than its advertised 12.4 gallons.
POWER TRAIN (3 complaints)
POWER TRAIN
3 complaintsJerking, stalling, and loss of power are the common thread. Cars shake and shut off without warning, sometimes after jerking hard at low speed. One car went to the dealer over five times without a fix. Another dealer suggested premium fuel and made no repair. A separate report describes a burst of warning lights covering brake hold, stability assist, driver assists, and tire pressure. The dealer traced it to a low fuel pressure code, could not explain it, and cleared it.
FUEL SYSTEM (3 complaints)
FUEL SYSTEM
3 complaintsAll three filings are about recall 24V763000 for the gasoline fuel system, and none describe an actual failure. Owners report that the repair part is unavailable, which the recall VIN lookup confirms, and that the wait has gone on longer than is reasonable. Treat this as an open recall that may not be fixable yet, not as a pattern of breakdowns.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (2 complaints)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaintsUnexpected braking under cruise control is one pattern. One owner reports 6 to 8 events in 12,000 miles, with a string of driver-assist warnings ending in a collision mitigation fault at around 6,000 and 10,000 miles. The other report is more severe: the accelerator pedal stuck at full throttle on the highway with factory floor mats in place. It stayed stuck after a restart until it was pried up, a clear loss-of-control risk.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2 complaints)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 complaintsBoth reports describe sudden failures with no warning. In one, the engine shuts off in traffic, the accelerator stops responding, and the car cannot be moved. That owner had an earlier major failure early in the lease. In the other, a brake warning tells the driver to stop, the pedal goes soft and grinds, and the dealer replaces the electric brake simulator set. Both failures create a real crash risk.
VISIBILITY/WIPER (2 complaints)
VISIBILITY/WIPER
2 complaintsWindshield and wiper problems both block the driver's view. Wipers collect ice in winter driving until visibility is nearly impossible. A small rock strike can send a crack across the whole windshield. Because Honda Sensing needs OEM glass and camera calibration, a backordered windshield leaves both visibility and the driver assists compromised. This matches other reports of windshields that crack easily.
SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
2 complaintsCollision mitigation and road departure warnings flash on for a few seconds at a time, starting on the first drive home and appearing often after that. Dealers find no stored errors and cannot reproduce the problem. The other complaint involves manual-transmission cars with aluminum pedals that get slick in wet weather, so feet slide off the clutch, brake, and accelerator. The dealer has no replacement pedals, and rubber pedals come from an outside company.
When Do 2025 Honda Civic Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Honda Civic Years
Best Honda Civic Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreHonda Civic Years to Avoid
Honda Civic Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| 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 |
Honda Civic Reliability Compared to Other Years
2025 Honda Civic Reliability by Powertrain
The 2025 Honda Civic is available with 2powertrain options. Here's how they compare on reliability.
| Powertrain | Complaints | Recalls | Incidents* | Crash Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 43 | 4 | 3 | 5 out of 5 |
| HEV | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 out of 5 |
| Total | 49 | 5 | 4 |
NHTSA tracks complaints by vehicle configuration when that detail is available. Model-level reports that do not identify a specific powertrain are included in Total but not assigned to a row. A plus sign indicates a confirmed minimum; — means no complaints could be attributed to that specific powertrain. N/T = Not tested by NHTSA.
* Incidents = crash + fire reports. A single complaint can include multiple incident types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2025 Honda Civic reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Honda Civic?
Does the 2025 Honda Civic have steering problems?
Does the 2025 Honda Civic have phantom braking?
Is the 2025 Honda Civic better than the 2024 or 2026?
Don’t buy a 2025 Honda Civic without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2025 Honda Civic
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2025 Honda Civic does best on repair costs (90/100) and worst on recall impact (80/100). 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.
Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Honda Civic.
No spam. Only data updates for this model.
Browse More Honda Models

Honda Accord
Score: 87/100

Honda CR-V
Score: 83/100

Honda HR-V
Score: 100/100

Honda Odyssey
Score: 74/100

Honda Passport
Score: 84/100

Honda Pilot
Score: 81/100
Browse More 2025 Vehicles

2025 Nissan Ariya
Score: 88/100

2025 Honda HR-V
Score: 88/100

2025 Acura ZDX
Score: 88/100

2025 Kia Carnival
Score: 88/100

2025 Hyundai Elantra
Score: 87/100

2025 Toyota Corolla Cross
Score: 86/100
See incorrect data? Report an issue