Is the Honda Civic more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson?

Based on our data, the Honda Civic is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 73/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Tucson?

The Honda Civic has more recalls (37) compared to the Hyundai Tucson (23). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Tucson?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Honda Civic has a lower complaint rate at 4.8 per 10,000 sold versus 8.9 for the Hyundai Tucson. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Tucson?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Civic is cheaper to maintain at $368/year versus $426/year for the Hyundai Tucson.

Is the Honda Civic or Hyundai Tucson safer?

Both the Honda Civic and Hyundai Tucson received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Tucson: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Honda Civic

Good

Hyundai Tucson

Good

Choosing between the Honda Civic and the Hyundai Tucson? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact sedans.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Honda Civic currently leads with an average score of 76/100 compared to 73/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Honda Civic and Hyundai Tucson Generations Compare?

The Hyundai Tucson's generation history isn't detailed here, but the Honda Civic is currently in its eleventh generation, introduced in 2022. This makes the Civic relatively early in its generation cycle, which can sometimes lead to first-year issues as manufacturers work out initial kinks. However, Honda's long track record of reliable design often mitigates such risks. The Civic had a significant facelift during its ninth generation in 2013, which helped refine its existing platform. While the Tucson lacks detailed generational data in this context, buyers should consider that mature platforms like the Civic's tend to be more sorted, offering a potential edge in reliability.

Verdict

The Honda Civic is more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson, scoring 76/100 vs 73/100.

The Honda Civic demonstrates superior reliability with an average score of 90/100, compared to the Hyundai Tucson's 83/100. Although the Civic has a higher number of total recalls, its owner complaint rate is significantly lower at 4.8 per 10,000 sold, versus the Tucson's 8.9. Additionally, the Civic benefits from lower estimated annual repair costs at $368 compared to the Tucson's $426. While both vehicles have common issues in their electrical systems, the Civic's overall performance in reliability metrics makes it the more dependable choice.

Key Differences

1Honda Civic costs $58 less per year to repair
2Hyundai Tucson has 14 fewer total recalls
3Honda Civic has 4.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

4Honda Civic

—

1Hyundai Tucson

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Tucson: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Tucson at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda Civic	Hyundai Tucson
Reliability Score	76/100	73/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	37	23
Complaints per 10k Sold	4.8	8.9
Annual Repair Cost	$368/yr	$426/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	10%	10%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	6 (1 tied)	1 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Civic and Hyundai Tucson?

The Hyundai Tucson and Honda Civic present distinct problem profiles, with the Civic showing a significant concentration in steering-related issues, accounting for 1,538 complaints and 58 crash-linked incidents. This contrasts with the Tucson, which has a more dispersed issue profile, notably with 397 complaints in the engine category and 15 crash-linked incidents related to service brakes. Both models experience electrical system complaints, but the Tucson has a higher number of crash-linked issues in this area. While the Civic's airbag problems are notable with 21 crash-linked complaints, the Tucson's forward collision avoidance issues show a higher crash-linked rate relative to the number of complaints.

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Tucson common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda Civic	Hyundai Tucson
STEERING	2.5Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	0.1Very Low	1.9Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	1.1Low
POWER TRAIN	0.1Very Low	1.3Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.1Very Low	1.1Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	0.5Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.3Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
WHEELS	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda Civic or Hyundai Tucson?

Based on independent repair cost data, the Hyundai Tucson's annual repair cost is $426, while the Honda Civic's is $368, resulting in a $58 difference per year, or $290 over five years. The Tucson requires 0.3 repair visits annually compared to the Civic's 0.2, indicating a slightly higher maintenance frequency. Both vehicles share a 10% risk for major repairs, suggesting similar reliability in avoiding significant issues. For cost-conscious buyers, the Honda Civic offers better value due to its lower annual repair costs and reduced repair frequency, making it a more economical choice over time.

How Does Honda Civic vs Hyundai Tucson Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Tucson year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda Civic	Hyundai Tucson	Edge
2025	84/1005R / 49C	75/1006R / 251C	Honda Civic
2024	81/1005R / 131C	77/1004R / 87C	Honda Civic
2023	74/1007R / 315C	75/1002R / 142C	Hyundai Tucson
2022	66/1003R / 935C	66/1003R / 433C	Tie
2021	81/1003R / 118C	78/1001R / 58C	Honda Civic
2020	78/1008R / 405C	73/1001R / 153C	Honda Civic
2019	75/1002R / 356C	68/1001R / 349C	Honda Civic
2018	71/1004R / 605C	68/1001R / 362C	Honda Civic
2026(predicted)	80/100(predicted)	76/100(predicted)	Honda Civic

Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Honda Civic scored 84/100 and the 2021 Hyundai Tucson scored 78/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Honda Civic vs the Hyundai Tucson?

If you prioritize long-term reliability and lower running costs, the Honda Civic is a strong contender. With a higher reliability score of 90/100, fewer owner complaints per 10,000 sold at 4.8, and an estimated annual repair cost of $368, it offers peace of mind for those who want a dependable ride. Although it has more recalls (37), the Civic's lower repair frequency of 0.2 times per year and the same major repair risk as the Tucson make it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. On the other hand, if you value a vehicle with fewer recalls and can manage slightly higher repair costs, the Hyundai Tucson might be the right choice. With a reliability score of 83/100 and a repair frequency of 0.3 times per year, it still presents a robust option. However, take note of the top issues like the engine and power train. Ultimately, if you seek a balance of cost and reliability with fewer recalls, the Tucson could suit your needs well.

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Tucson: Common Questions

Is the Honda Civic more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson?: Based on our data, the Honda Civic is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 73/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Tucson?: The Honda Civic has more recalls (37) compared to the Hyundai Tucson (23). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Tucson?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Honda Civic has a lower complaint rate at 4.8 per 10,000 sold versus 8.9 for the Hyundai Tucson. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Tucson?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Civic is cheaper to maintain at $368/year versus $426/year for the Hyundai Tucson.
Is the Honda Civic or Hyundai Tucson safer?: Both the Honda Civic and Hyundai Tucson received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Honda Civic comparisons

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More Hyundai Tucson comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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