The check engine light came on the car had no power. The head gasket was blown.
2016 Honda Civic engine problems
99 complaints (9% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 29,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 99
- of this car's complaints
- 9%
- typical mileage
- 29,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Honda Civic engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Honda Civic engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Stalling 20Check engine light 19Engine failure 16Won't start 15Loss of power 13Overheating 5
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic vehicles manufactured September 22, 2015, to February 3, 2016 and equipped with 2.0L engines. The affected vehicles have engines with piston assemblies that may have been manufactured without a piston wrist pin circlip or with an incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip.
- Risk
- If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in the Summer of 2016. Owners were mailed an interim notification beginning March 31, 2016, and will be mailed a second notice when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is JX9.
Recall number 16V074000 · Recall details
What 2016 Honda Civic owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
2016 Honda Civic EX-T 1.5L turbo. Coolant is disappearing with no visible external leak. Diagnosed by mechanic as likely head gasket failure. This is a known defect affecting 2016-2022 Civics with the 1.5T engine. There is an active class action lawsuit (Alcantara et al. v. American Honda Motor Co.) regarding this exact issue. Vehicle has approximately 190,000 miles.”
I was driving my vehicle on the highway and I experienced a loss of power / limp mode and my car started decelerating very quickly and I pulled off and parked because I got super scared of driving and when I tried to start my vehicle back up it would not turn back on. I found a recall describing the exact scenario I went through and it is not listed for my vin “ [XXX] ” but says it’s for the exact make of my vehicle, a 2016 Honda Civic Sedan 2.0 Naturally aspirated. The recall is called “Piston misset recall.” Please help me nagivate this I have no clue what to do and feel like this should be warranted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was running with the A/C unit activated, there was an abnormal odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. Additionally, while the A/C unit was activated, only hot air was coming from the vents. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the A/C evaporator needed to be replaced because of leaks in three places. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
My 2016 Honda Civic has a recurring safety-critical defect that began approximately 2–3 weeks after purchase. While turning (most often left turns), the vehicle suddenly shuts off without warning. When this occurs, the power steering assist locks, brake assist is lost, and the electrical system cuts off and then reboots. This has happened more than 5–6 times and nearly caused collisions. I had to apply extreme brake pressure to avoid hitting another vehicle during one incident. The steering becomes rigid, the dashboard goes dark, and the car restarts on its own while still in motion. Before I purchased the vehicle, a diagnostic inspection was performed and no issues were reported. Since owning the car, it has also been taken to a mechanic multiple times, and no diagnostic code or mechanical explanation for this shutdown issue has ever been identified. The defect appears intermittently and leaves no trace or error codes, making it extremely difficult to detect or repair. This is a serious safety hazard that could cause injury or death. The problem appears to be a latent defect that was present at the time of vehicle sale. I am reporting this so the federal safety agency can investigate whether this is a known issue with this model or whether other consumers have experienced similar sudden shutdowns.
Blown Head gasket failure due to coolant leak into cylinders Evaporator Leak for A/C due to condenser and compressor shaft.
- The engine failed. The engine block warped and both had to be replaced. I have pictures from the dealer. The cost was $8,194.56 at the dealer for a replacement engine with 89K miles on it. - My son's safety was put at risk because he is in a rural area. Every warning lamp on the dashboard turned on after Indy Honda replaced the coolant (Maintenance minder A125). Then the lights would turn off. Then Andy Mohr Honda inspected it (for the first time) and their diagnosis was a pvc pipe crack. We paid for that repair. The second time was the head gasket and the engine was destroyed. - The problem was confirmed by Andy Mohr Honda and Indy Honda in the state of Indiana. Andy Mohr confirmed the turbo engine for the Honda Civic has a known issue and than we should have purchased the 2.0 liter instead of the 1.5 liter because of the load the turbo puts on the engine. American Honda Motor Co., Inc disagrees and stated there was no issue. - The vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer via pictures taken at Andy Mohr Honda. - Prior to the coolant service in June 2025 there were no warning lamps. There were no symptoms. The Civic has only been maintained by Honda Dealers. The first time (approximate date) we noticed the issue: [XXX]. My son videoed it. Please note the text from Andy Mohr Honda stating the engine was overheated. The coolant was replaced by Indy Honda a week prior to the overheating. It should not have occurred. This is the link to the engine replacement invoice: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
[XXX] a/c didn,t work blowing hot air needed freon, cost $293.96 , ,GERMAIN HONDA told me some 2016 civic,s a/c compressors & componets needed to be replace but not mine. today [XXX] a/c blowing hot air again. was there a recall on a/c on 2016 honda civics. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Air conditioner stopped working - I heard the condenser has a 10 year warranty extension - regardless of mileage. Please assist [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Went to my local dealer on January 11 to have my car checked due to a possible knock in my engine or transmission. They checked it but was not able to find a code or the actual cause after changing the oil of transmission and running it. It still continues to have issues They told me “might need to leave your car overnight because their master technician is not here until Monday “ To me I didn’t like much that answer because I spend too much for a no fix or cause. Also they could not provide me a loaner as well which was not a good idea No codes in the system or lights in the dashboard , it started a day before I took it to the shop
Questions about the 2016 Honda Civic engine
Does the 2016 Honda Civic have engine problems?
Owners have filed 99 complaints about the engine of the 2016 Honda Civic, 9% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 Honda Civic engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 29,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Honda Civic engine?
Yes, 1 recall: 16V074000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Honda Civic have bad engine?
The Honda Civic model years with the most engine complaints are 2006 (377 complaints), 2007 (243 complaints) and 2008 (207 complaints).
Other 2016 Honda Civic problems
Steering 446Electrical 119Brakes 96Visibility 67Body 48Driver assistance 40Transmission 36Fuel system 30Lights 30Airbags 28Wheels 19Acceleration 17Tires 8Suspension 6Seat belts 4Seats 4
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2016 Honda Civic?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history