2016 Honda Civic Recalls, Safety Notices, & Complaints
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The venerable Honda Civic is hardly the most exciting vehicle in the market, but it’s seldom a bad choice when you need a reliable, efficient, and fun-to-drive compact car. The Civic has gained a legendary reputation as a dependable tool for getting folks from point A to B. As such, it’s no surprise the Civic is already in its 11th generation and still going strong.
If you’re looking to buy an older Honda Civic model, you might have come across the 2016 model year. Perhaps, you’ve found a solid 2016 model with a pristine maintenance record and comes at a good price. In that case, you may want to know about the 2016 Honda Civic recalls, safety notices, and general consumer complaints.
For today’s guide, we rounded up the recalls, safety notices, and complaints about this Honda Civic model year. We hope this information will help guide you with your used car purchase.
2016 Honda Civic Recalls & Safety Notices
Currently, the 2016 Honda Civic has three recalls, which is pretty good for a relatively older compact car. Below are the recalls and how they affect the average driver:
1. Parking Brake Issue (October 11, 2016)
A major recall involved the electronic parking brake (EPB), which might not engage after turning the ignition off, posing a risk that the vehicle could roll away and potentially cause a crash. This problem affected a considerable number of vehicles, approximately 350,083 units.
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How It Affects You
When the parking brake on your car doesn’t lock in place after you turn off the engine, it’s more than just an inconvenience; it’s a safety hazard. Imagine parking on a hill, and your car starts to drift away because the EPB didn’t activate. To keep your car safe, make sure it’s fully parked. In some cases, you may need to use extra tools like wheelchocks to keep it stationary, especially on steep slopes.
2. Side Marker Lights Malfunction (July 11, 2016)
There was a safety issue with the side marker lights in some vehicles. These lights might not work correctly, making it harder for other drivers to see the car. This could increase the risk of an accident. A recall was issued for around 11,846 vehicles affected by this problem, including the 2016 Civic.
How It Affects You
The recall concerning the side marker lights not functioning as intended affects your vehicle’s visibility to others, especially in low-light conditions. Decreased visibility could lead to other drivers not noticing your vehicle, increasing the risk of side collisions. As a driver, you might need to be extra cautious when driving at night or in poor visibility conditions.
3. Engine Piston Issue (February 9, 2016)
For this recall, it was found that the piston wrist pin circlips may not have been appropriately secured during assembly. If any circlip was missing or installed incorrectly, it could cause the piston wrist pin to become unsecured, which might lead to damage to the engine cylinder. Such damage can cause the engine to seize, resulting in an increased risk of a crash. This recall applies to about 42,129 vehicles.
How It Affects You
A recall concerning the engine’s internal parts—specifically, a clip called the piston wrist pin circlip—might not seem important. However, it can seriously affect your car’s dependability and how well it drives. This little clip could harm the engine’s inside walls if it comes loose. This damage could cause the engine to stop working suddenly while driving, which is especially risky if you’re going fast or in busy traffic.
In addition to these 2016 Honda Civic recalls specifically mentioned in the U.S., there were other issues noted under the EU rapid alert system, which included concerns about emissions control, the vehicle stability assist (VSA)/anti-lock braking system, and the absence of a side vent in the backrest of the front seat that could prevent the deployment of the side airbag in an accident.
For more detailed information on these recalls, please visit the NHTSA website.
2016 Honda Civic Complaints
The 2016 Honda Civic can be a relatively reliable compact car, but it does have numerous reliability woes. Per our previous write-up of the worst Civic years to avoid, we suggested steering clear of the 2016 Civic. In addition, this model received over 1,000+ consumer complaints via CarComplaints.com.
Below is a rundown of the most common complaints about this car:
A/C not working properly
It’s not the biggest deal, but the 2016 Civic reportedly struggled with its problematic A/C system. Many owners reported that their AC system started blowing warm or hot air instead of cooling the cabin, which is one of the most common symptoms of the problem. In addition, some users experienced intermittent cooling, where the AC would blow cold air for a while and then switch to blowing warm air without any apparent reason. A few reports mentioned a noisy AC system, which could point to a faulty compressor and other components.
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Faulty Bluetooth connection
Again, this is not the most major problem, but this Civic model also had issues with its Bluetooth functions. The reported symptoms ranged from the system randomly disconnecting Bluetooth audio while keeping the phone connected, failing to recognize phones even when trying to connect manually, and requiring a car restart to re-establish connection. Some also mentioned that the audio system would freeze, requiring a reboot and that the system’s microphone quality was poor.
Engine troubles
Unfortunately, the 2016 Civic has also received complaints about its engine. Owners have reported a delay or stall in acceleration, particularly after coming to a stop, while some claimed the vehicle unexpectedly turns off while driving. Moreover, some owners have experienced sudden deceleration, with the car dropping to very low speeds unexpectedly, accompanied by illuminated check engine lights. Lastly, specific components like the catalytic converter and the inner cooler with gaskets have been reported to fail, leading to performance issues and costly repairs.
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Steering issues
Frustrated Civic owners reported that the steering wheel becomes difficult to turn or “sticks” after driving for a certain period, especially at highway speeds or on warm days. This issue often requires extra force to initiate turning, making it hard to make minor adjustments and stay in the lane. Despite receiving numerous complaints, the manufacturer doesn’t seem to consider this a significant issue and hasn’t issued a 2016 Honda Civic steering recall.
Ultimately, the 2016 Honda Civic recalls aren’t too many or prevalent to be considered a major dealbreaker. However, as a used car buyer, be wary of its numerous complaints.
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