2016 Honda Civic: engine overheating

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 24, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · CA

I was driving my car home from work and many warning lights lit up on my car dashboard (brake problem, engine problem, uphill start, steering problem) etc.. I got off the freeway and my car dashboard lit up and notified me “to pull over to a safe location because my car needle (temperature) was on high. I pulled over to a safe location and opened the hood and noticed that the antifreeze coolant compartment was empty) my car could have caught on fire because there was no coolant inside the compartment. After I got home and filled the car with coolant I placed cardboard under the car engine to see if the coolant would leak. There are no signs of leakage. I took my car to my mechanic and he told me that he couldn’t fix the problem and suggested I call Honda USA customer service. The mechanic told me that the problem is with the “head gasket” and that the coolant does leak into other parts of the engine. He didn’t charge me anything for the inspection and added coolant to my car. I called Honda USA customer service and they told me that there are “no recalls” regarding coolant leaks and head gasket problems. I googled problems with “Honda 2016 civics and learned that there is a problem that exists and it’s very costly to fix. I also learned that Honda was sued in Canada and Honda settled with customers regarding this problem. Honda USA simply told me to take my car to a Honda dealer and ask for an “inspection” I asked if they would cover the cost and they didn’t not say they would pay for the inspection. This is a manufacture problem that occurs after a Honda Civic has gone past 70,0000 miles. People still complain about this issue and wonder where the coolant in the car is leaking and where is the coolant going into since the coolant is not visibly leaking. The coolant is making its way within the engine and causing more problems in my car. I have never had a problem like this one. This is the second time that the coolant inside my car leaks into the engine.

Filed Oct 14, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

Blown Head gasket failure due to coolant leak into cylinders Evaporator Leak for A/C due to condenser and compressor shaft.

Filed Sep 19, 2025 · Engine · GA

- 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)

Filed Aug 30, 2025 · CA

Component that failed: The air conditioning system evaporator core failed, causing refrigerant leakage. The vehicle was inspected and diagnosed by a Honda dealership, which confirmed the failure and provided a written quote for replacement. The component is still installed and available for inspection. Safety risk: When the evaporator leaks, the A/C system loses refrigerant and stops cooling. This prevents the defrost/defog system from working properly, which can lead to poor visibility through the windshield in humid or rainy weather. In hot conditions, lack of cooling can also cause driver fatigue and heat stress, creating a safety risk for occupants. Confirmation of problem: Yes, the problem was confirmed by a Honda dealership after the condenser was already replaced under Honda’s extended warranty. Inspection by manufacturer/others: Yes, the vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership. Honda corporate was contacted but declined to cover the evaporator, even though the condenser was covered under warranty due to a known defect in the A/C system. Warning lamps or symptoms: There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages. The only symptom was a loss of A/C cooling. After recharging the system, the A/C worked temporarily but will lose effectiveness again as refrigerant continues to leak. Summary: This is a premature failure of a critical climate control component that is widespread among 2016–2018 Honda Civics. Honda already extended warranty coverage for defective condensers in these models, but evaporator failures are also common and part of the same defective A/C system. The high cost of repair (quoted over $2,000) combined with the safety risks of poor windshield defogging and cabin overheating warrant the federal safety agency investigation and corrective action.

Filed Jun 10, 2020 · Engine, Visibility · 29,875 miles · MI

A/c quit working at 30,000 miles one year out of warranty. Dealer diagnosed compressor bearing failure - not covered under extended warranty for defective condensers. Cost to repair: $2,000 + this is both dangerous due to inoperative defrost/defogging as well as risking passenger overheating in extreme weather - especially those of us who are seniors.