2016 Honda Civic: sudden loss of power

Filed Nov 9, 2026 · Engine · TX

The cylinder head gasket on this 2016 Honda Civic Touring suffered an internal failure and breach, leading to progressive coolant loss, engine overheating, sudden rough idling, check engine warning lamps, and vehicle misfires while driving. The sudden loss of power and risk of engine stalling created an immediate safety hazard while operating in traffic on public roadways. The vehicle is currently held and available for inspection at an authorized dealership, where the service center confirmed a catastrophic internal head gasket breach. The failure caused extensive coolant intrusion and fluid emulsification inside the crankcase, which completely destroyed the motor's internal lubrication and subsequently starved the turbocharger bearings, causing the turbocharger to malfunction as well. This component failure matches the exact systemic defect parameters detailed under Honda Service Bulletin 26-099.

Filed Apr 25, 2026 · Engine · MI

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)

Filed Oct 13, 2023 · Steering · FL

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering wheel sticking at highway speeds when on a curved road or when changing lanes. Might be a loss of power steering. Occurs once or twice in 100 highway miles. Only temporary solution is to jerk the wheel with enough force to unstick it and regain control, which is not safe or ideal. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Loss of control of the vehicle. Departing own lane without intention. Possibility of collision with an adjacent vehicle. Possibility of overcorrection and complete loss of control without ability to regain control, resulting in a single vehicle crash. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, the local Honda dealer wants to charge $150.00 to inspect the issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, none.

Filed Aug 9, 2023 · Transmission · CA

My Honda Civic with manual transmission, suddenly would not go into gear and lost power (engine still running). Fortunately, I was able to coast to the opposite side of the road across oncoming traffic, since there was no right shoulder. After a tow home, I discovered that the manual clutch slave cylinder was detached from the engine block (photo attached) and of the 2 connecting bolts (photo attached), one was sheared and the other was intact but unconnected. The last service to the vehicle was with Manly Honda service in Santa Rosa, CA replacing the AC condenser and compressor. I called them to see if they had not secured the 2 bolts after completing the AC service. The service manager said that they would not have removed this clutch slave cylinder in the AC service. I advised the service manager that if the clutch cylinder had not been removed by them, then it could be a safety hazard issue that should be reported to Honda Motors. After some online research, I have discovered that this problem has been experiened by other Honda Civic owners.

Filed Mar 31, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · 46,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the electronic braking system, steering, alternator, check engine, and TPMS warning lights illuminated. After shifting into drive(D), the vehicle lost power steering functionality and became difficult to turn. The braking system warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic and the contact was informed electronic power steering rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure was 46,000.

Filed Mar 23, 2023 · Steering · MD

While operating the vehicle on the highway the steering was not smooth when starting to turn the wheel. There was a short hesitation or loss of power assistance while turning to follow the direction of the roadway. This occurrence was very brief while turning the steering wheel. The steering problem lasted for several days. Later when taking the vehicle to be inspected for this problem there was no steering difficulty at all. The vehicle was inspected, computer analyzed and test driven finding no fault with the steering. Although there seems to be no problem at this time it is unknown if this could possibly be an "intermittent problem"?

Filed Aug 16, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · FL

This vehicle has repeatedly been dying and having all of the error codes pop up while the car is running. We have had the car diagnosed and have been told there is nothing wrong by two different dealerships. However even when we are driving the car the car starts freaking out and losing power. We have verified that nothing is draining the battery and have had the battery tested twice. The battery must not be the problem but the electrical system is messing up so much that we are scared to drive it. I'm hoping by visiting the dealerships so many times that I will be able to file a lemon law vehicle and return the vehicle that was only purchased a few months ago.

Filed Jul 2, 2020 · Steering · 30,217 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 honda civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle loss power steering assist and became difficult to steer in either direction. The vehicle was taken to braman honda of palm beach located at 6200 lake worth rd, green acres, fl 33463, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering rack was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,217.

Filed Jan 25, 2020 · Electrical · CA

Over 12 different times in the past 6 months since I purchased the car it has had serious electrical issues ranging from locking itself with the keyless fob inside the vehicle during a snow storm, all windows including moon roof rolling completely down during a rainstorm when parked or in motion. When parked, the alarm blaring non stop for hours and the battery dying completely without warning or drainage on my part of any kind. All systems on the car shut down completely after loss of power including the braking system and you can dive it that way. It brakes hard on its own on the freeway. There is a USB port in the center console right next to cup holder that can get wet if you have a drink in there. I notice the weather conditions were cloudy, raining, or snowing during the majority of the bigger issues.

Filed Nov 3, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 1 miles · CA

On 10-31-19, driving my 2016 honda civic 1.5 turbo engine taking my kids to school. Car was driving well, until a reach about 1 mile, while making a left turn the car loss power and can only drive up to 15 MPH. I have to drive my car back home and get my other car. The honda never regains normal power. The same date in the evening, I drove the honda for about 3 miles around my neighborhood and never loss power. The following date, I drove the car and suddenly again loss power while making a right turn a block away from my house. Drove back my honda back to my house with the car never regaining normal power. The honda civic only drives well for less than a quarter mile and then suddenly loss power, especially when making a turn. This is a safety hazard. When the car loss power it only drives up to 15 MPH (which takes several seconds to reach 15 MPH) and never regain normal power. This loss of power started on 10-31-19, which was a very cool day about 24-degree fahrenheit. My car is not driver able any longer. Now that this happen, I research problems with 2016 civic and found out that honda had an issue with 1.5 turbo engine since 2017. One month and half prior to this happen, I took my car to the honda dealer services twice and only want to charge me with things that the warranty did not cover and could not tell me what was wrong with my car. Honda dealer should had known the problems my car has are relate to oil dilution in the engine, but decided not to address it. Now, I have a car that is not driver able and not safe to drive. Honda place my family life in danger, such that the street around our city, cars drives between 55 to 70 MPH. This easily could cause a car to re-end or t-bone the car while making a turn on a busy traffic street.

Filed Jul 6, 2019 · Electrical · 43,000 miles · TX

Eps sub harness is made from a soy based product that attracts rodents and a common cause for wires being chewed and destroyed. As soon as we presented the problems with honda mechanic he immediately and suspiciously asked if we parked the car outside. Upon his inspection of the engine he only looked at wires with predetermination that the cause of the issues was wiring. This appears to be a common compliant among the honda community and law suits have been filed, only to be dismissed due to technicalities of probable cause. The damage endangers the consumer driving because the car stalls and the driver loses the ability to steer because of the loss of power steering and function. Because these are shorts occurring in the electrical system they tend to clear up in between drives making the driver believe the car is functional, but this only rises the risk to injury by accident and or even death.

Filed Nov 27, 2017 · Electrical · 10,001 miles · NY

2016 honda civic leased in october of 2016. I had several error messages come on screen for multiple issues so I brought the car to the honda dealership. Was told an animal chewed through several wires and caused the power steering to go out. Apparently this is a known issue as the dealership told me that this has happened multiple times to cars brought in. This is not covered under warrenty although it seems to be a manufacturing issue. So not only did I lose power steering while driving which is a severe safety concern especially while driving my 6 month old child in the vehicle, but its my responsibility to foot the $240 bill to repair the damage. Also there is no clear solution to prevent animals from again chewing the wires and putting my family and I at risk again. That is unless I take the advice from the dealership which is to 'stuff my hood compartment with fabric softner dryer sheets because animals do not like the smell' which again brings up safety concernswith a potential fire hazard.