Honda Civic Years to Avoid — cracked blocks, old automatics, sticky steering.
Avoid the 2006–2008 Civic unless the engine has been replaced or checked: 487 complaints across those years describe a cracked engine block, and the 2006 drew 1,404 complaints, the most of any Civic. The 2001–2002 automatics and the 2016 and 2022 steering come next.
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Quick Answer
- What Honda Civic years should you avoid?
- The 2006–2008, for cracked engine blocks: 218, 145 and 124 complaints describe one. The 2001–2002, for the automatic transmission (374 complaints on the 2001 alone). And check the steering on a 2016 or 2022: 616 complaints on the 2022 describe it sticking.
- What is the best year for a used Civic?
- Leaving out years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints, 2011 (169), 2020 (238), 2000 (300) drew the fewest complaints from 1996 to 2021. The 2011, the last year of the eighth generation, drew 169, after the block complaints and before the steering ones.
- Did Honda fix the cracked Civic engine blocks?
- By the complaints, yes: 124 on the 2008 fall to 8 on the 2009. No recall on NHTSA's list covers the block. An owner below says a late-2009 car already had the fix, and another paid for a new block on a 2006 out of warranty.
Five checks for a used Civic, starting with where it was built
US-market Civics came from the US, Canada, the UK and Japan. The VIN's first characters say which, and the year says what to check.
- 1Read the first three characters2HG is Canadian-built, 19X and 1HG US-built, SHH British and JHM Japanese.
- 22006–2008: look for coolant lossA cracked block leaks coolant; check the level cold and look for crusty residue.
- 32001–2005: drive the automatic warmSlipping or flaring between gears is how owners describe the old automatic failing.
- 42016–2022: steer on the highwayThe wheel should move smoothly through center, not catch or stick.
- 5Check title and mileage recordsA salvage brand or a mileage gap shows up by VIN; a replaced block does not.
Civic Generations at a Glance
Six generations since 1996, and the complaint that dominates each one in NHTSA's records.
2001–2005: the automatic
715 complaints across the five years name the transmission.
2006–2008: cracked blocks
487 complaints describe the engine block cracking.
2006–2008: visors and tires
242 complaints on the 2006 are about sun visors; 209 on the 2007 about rear tire wear.
2012–2015: quieter
Between 293 and 456 complaints a year; 170 on the 2015 name the transmission.
2016–2021: steering and A/C
387 complaints on the 2016 describe sticky steering, 210 the A/C.
2022 onward: steering again
616 of the 2022's 886 complaints describe the steering sticking.
Avoid: the 2006–2008 Civic and Its Cracked Blocks
The eighth-generation Civic arrived for 2006 and drew 1,404 NHTSA complaints, the most of any Civic, followed by 1,204 for the 2007. The engine is the component named most on the 2006 (227 complaints).
218 complaints on the 2006, 145 on the 2007 and 124 on the 2008 describe the engine block cracking. Owners describe coolant disappearing and overheating; a Reddit commenter places the crack behind the catalytic converter. On the 2009 it is 8. No recall on NHTSA's list covers the block; owners in the comments below describe paying for a new block or a used engine.
The same cars drew two smaller clusters: sun visors that fall down (242 complaints on the 2006) and rear tires wearing unevenly from the rear suspension (209 on the 2007).
2006–2008 by the numbers
- 218 · 145 · 124 complaints describing a cracked engine block on the 2006, 2007 and 2008.
- 242 · 190 · 150 about sun visors falling down.
- 168 · 209 about rear tire wear or the control arms on the 2006 and 2007.
- 8 on the 2009 describe a cracked block, by owners' accounts after the fix.
Also Avoid: the 2001–2002 Civic Automatic
The seventh generation's automatic is the other Civic weak spot. 374 of the 2001's 1,128 complaints name the transmission, and 175 of the 2002's 718. The power train is the component named most on the 2001 (409 complaints).
Owners describe slipping, flaring between gears and outright failure. The count falls each year to 32 on the 2005. A manual-transmission Civic from these years avoids the problem; one Reddit commenter says manuals fail more gracefully.
2001–2005 by the numbers
- 374 · 175 · 86 complaints naming the transmission on the 2001, 2002 and 2003.
- 150 crash reports on the 2001, the most of any Civic year.
- 15 inflator campaigns name Civics from 1996–2011; check the VIN for one left open.
- 316 on the 2005 complaints in all, the fewest of the generation.
The Sticky-Steering Years: 2016 and 2022
Two newer Civics drew a wave of steering complaints. 387 of the 2016's 1,083 complaints describe the wheel catching or sticking, usually around center at highway speed; the 2017–2021 drew fewer. Recall 18V663000 covers a steering sensor on 2017–2018 Civics, but none on NHTSA's list covers the 2016.
The 2022 is worse: 616 of its 886 complaints describe the same thing. Recall 24V744000 covers 2022–2025 Civics whose steering gearbox can stick, and 23V704000 covers replacement steering racks on 2022–2024 cars. On any 2022-on Civic, make sure both are done and drive it on the highway.
Every Honda Civic Model Year Compared
NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns for every Civic from 1996 to 2026, read on 12 November 2026.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crash · fire reports | Recalls | Most-cited component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 6th | 343 | 72 · 4 | 17 | Air Bags |
| 1997 | 6th | 401 | 67 · 2 | 16 | Air Bags |
| 1998 | 6th | 464 | 83 · 3 | 18 | Air Bags |
| 1999 | 6th | 359 | 62 · 5 | 15 | Electrical System |
| 2000 | 6th | 300 | 74 · 5 | 18 | Air Bags |
| 2001 | 7th | 1,128 | 150 · 15 | 27 | Power Train |
| 2002 | 7th | 718 | 119 · 14 | 24 | Air Bags |
| 2003 | 7th | 524 | 94 · 6 | 24 | Air Bags |
| 2004 | 7th | 350 | 47 · 6 | 15 | Air Bags |
| 2005 | 7th | 316 | 74 · 9 | 15 | Air Bags |
| 2006 | 8th | 1,404 | 79 · 21 | 15 | Engine |
| 2007 | 8th | 1,204 | 48 · 9 | 9 | Suspension |
| 2008 | 8th | 916 | 62 · 6 | 7 | Air Bags |
| 2009 | 8th | 396 | 42 · 6 | 8 | Air Bags |
| 2010 | 8th | 398 | 32 · 5 | 8 | Air Bags |
| 2011 | 8th | 169 | 22 · 5 | 9 | Air Bags |
| 2012 | 9th | 456 | 55 · 5 | 3 | Air Bags |
| 2013 | 9th | 319 | 29 · 1 | 0 | Air Bags |
| 2014 | 9th | 293 | 30 · 4 | 2 | Power Train |
| 2015 | 9th | 381 | 37 · 2 | 1 | Power Train |
| 2016 | 10th | 1,083 | 36 · 4 | 5 | Steering |
| 2017 | 10th | 606 | 23 · 6 | 6 | Steering |
| 2018 | 10th | 596 | 25 · 4 | 6 | Steering |
| 2019 | 10th | 345 | 22 · 0 | 4 | Steering |
| 2020 | 10th | 238 | 16 · 1 | 5 | Electrical System |
| 2021 | 10th | 148 | 5 · 2 | 4 | Steering |
| 2022 | 11th | 886 | 34 · 3 | 4 | Steering |
| 2023 | 11th | 0 | 0 · 0 | 4 | — |
| 2024 | 11th | 0 | 0 · 0 | 3 | — |
| 2025 | 11th | 0 | 0 · 0 | 2 | — |
| 2026 | 11th | 0 | 0 · 0 | 0 | — |
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not divided by sales. NHTSA returns no complaints under "Civic" for the 2023–2026. The Civic Hybrid is filed under its own name and is not in this table.
What Civic Owners Say on Reddit and YouTube
Civic owners are fiercely loyal, with 200,000- and 300,000-mile cars from almost every generation in the comments. The complaints that do come up are the same ones NHTSA counts: blocks, automatics and steering.
In owners' words (paraphrased)
- r/civic, eighth generation: a commenter says 2006–2009 R18 engines can crack behind the catalytic converter and leak coolant.
- r/whatcarshouldIbuy, 2005: a commenter says the transmission becomes the weak link at high mileage, and manuals fail more gracefully.
- r/hondacivic, 2022–2023: an owner says the car feels cheaply made and the exterior trim gets dirty fast.
- YouTube, 2007 Civic: an owner loved theirs until the engine block cracked, then found the year is notorious for it.
- YouTube, 2006 EX: an owner says the block cracked at 210,000 miles; a new block cost $4,000 out of warranty, and the car is now at 330,000.
- YouTube, late-2009 Civic: an owner says their R18 already had the block fix and runs like new at 165,000 miles.
- YouTube, 2017 1.5T coupe: an owner reports 250,000 miles, bought new, on a 120-mile daily commute with no issues.
- YouTube, 2022 manual: an owner lists a steering rack recall, a valve cover gasket under warranty and glitchy electronics, but is happy overall.
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Fewest vs. Most Civic Complaints
Fewest is limited to 1996–2021 and leaves out years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints (2001, 2014–2016, 2018 and 2021–2022).
Fewest complaints
- 2011: 169 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2020: 238 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2000: 300 complaints, 18 recalls
- 2005: 316 complaints, 15 recalls
- 2013: 319 complaints, 0 recalls
Most complaints
- 2006: 1,404 complaints, 15 recalls
- 2007: 1,204 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2001: 1,128 complaints, 27 recalls
- 2016: 1,083 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2008: 916 complaints, 7 recalls
Recall counts include multi-model campaigns.
Civic Complaints by Generation
By generation, the eighth (2006–2011) carries the most complaints, most of them on its first three years. The ninth (2012–2015) is the quietest generation from 1996 to 2021.
The Civics Our Visitors Check, and Where They Were Built
Between 11 June 2026 and 11 November 2026, visitors ran 1,869 different Honda Civic VINs through our free preview. By the first three characters, 1,006 (54%) were built in Canada, 658 (35%) in the US, 133 (7%) in the UK and 72 (4%) in Japan.
334 (18%) were eighth-generation 2006–2011 cars, the cracked-block generation. The most-checked single year was the 2018, at 128 VINs.
What to Check on a Used Civic
By generation, the faults to look for.
2006–2008: coolant
Check the level cold and look under the exhaust manifold for residue.
2006–2008: engine records
Ask whether the block or engine was replaced.
2001–2005: the automatic
Drive it warm; no slipping or flare between gears.
2016–2022: the steering
Highway drive, and confirm 24V744000 on 2022-on cars.
2016–2018: the A/C
Run it on max; it should blow cold within a minute.
Any year: VIN records
Open recalls, title brands and odometer history.
Reading Civic Complaint Numbers
NHTSA complaints are owner reports, not verified and not divided by sales. Compare years with each other: 316 for the 2005 against 1,404 for the 2006 is the jump.
The fault counts come from searching the words owners used, so treat them as a minimum: an owner who wrote "coolant keeps disappearing" without mentioning the block is not counted. The newest Civics have had a year or two to collect complaints, which is why "fewest" stops at 2021. Recall 23V858000, for a fuel pump that can fail, covers 2016–2021 Civics too.
Related Checks and Guides
Recalls, history checks and the Civic's rivals.
Where These Facts Come From
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's own records; owner experiences are linked so you can read them in full.
NHTSA records read 12 November 2026. Written by the CarCheckerVIN editorial team with AI assistance, from NHTSA's complaint and recall records, our own preview logs and the owner posts linked above; figures checked November 2026. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Honda.
Honda Civic Years to Avoid — Frequently Asked Questions
Blocks, automatics and steering.
What is the worst year for the Honda Civic?+
By NHTSA complaint count, the 2006 (1,404), then the 2007 (1,204) and the 2001 (1,128).
Which Civic years have cracked engine blocks?+
The 2006–2008: 218, 145 and 124 complaints describe one, against 8 on the 2009.
Which Civic years have transmission problems?+
The 2001–2005 automatic most clearly, with 715 complaints across the five years; 170 on the 2015 name the CVT, and recall 15V574000 updated its software on 2014–2015 Civics.
Is the 2022 Civic a good used buy?+
It can be, with the steering recalls done. 616 of its 886 complaints describe the steering sticking; recalls 24V744000 and 23V704000 address it.
What is the most reliable Civic?+
No year is proven most reliable, because complaints are not divided by sales. Among years without one dominant fault, 2011 (169), 2020 (238), 2000 (300) drew the fewest.
Will your report show these problems?+
No history report can see a cracked block. Ours lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos for the VIN. Recalls are free to check on NHTSA's site.
Check the Civic, Not Just the Year
A well-kept 2007 with a replaced block can beat a neglected 2011. Free preview first; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's public records as read on 12 November 2026; complaints are unverified owner reports. Owner comments are paraphrased from the linked posts. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Honda. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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