Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Honda Civic problems

Owners filed 1,411 complaints about the 2006 Honda Civic with NHTSA between Nov 2005 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (230).

Complaints
1,411
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
79
Reported by owners
Fires
21
Reported by owners
Injuries
70
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine230
  2. Visibility210
  3. Suspension203
  4. Air bags184
  5. Engine and engine cooling151
  6. Electrical system100
  7. Structure79
  8. Power train76
  9. Tires56
  10. Wheels48
  11. Steering44
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic43
  13. Vehicle speed control40
  14. Equipment34

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20052
200670
200787
2008126
2009160
2010256
2011121
201240
201367
201461
201549
2016125
201794
201853
201941
202011
202112
202220
20236
20244
20253
20263

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

230 reports1 crash10 fires
“cracked engine block leaking coolant. Honda says it's not covered after the extended warranty expired. The issue starts happening in many vehicles after 100K miles and my car started seeing the issue at 135K miles . Dealer will not help, Honda of America won't help. this needs to turn into a recall please. Honda must reimburse or have the crack fixed.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2025EngineODI 11695574

Visibility

210 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE, EXCLUDING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEFROST STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2015Electrical system, Visibility, EngineODI 10704032

Suspension

203 reports5 crashes
“LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM LEFT FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY RIGHT FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK ENGINE OIL LEAK GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED STARTER FAILED ALTERNATOR FAILED AIR FILTER GETS CLOGGED PREMATURELY POWER STEERING PUMP HOSES CRACKED AND LEAKED POWER STEERING AIR PRESSURE HOSES CRACKED AND LEAKED POWER STEERING INTAKE HOSE CRACKED AND LEAKED POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE CRACKED AND LEAKED MASTER WINDOW POWER SWITCH ON DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED REAR BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAT ARE V VERY COSTLY AND KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AT HONDA CORP AIR BAGS WERE FAULTY AND CONTAINED METAL FRAGMENTS THAT COULD KILL OCCUPANTS BECAUSE THEY PUNCTURE A PERSON'S HEART AND KILL THEM INSTANTLY IF THEY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH UNRECALLED AIR BAGS MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM UNREPAIRED RECALLS ON THE AIR BAGS BECAUSE OF THE METAL FRAGMENTS PUNCTURING THEIR HEARTS CAUSING THEM INSTANT DEATH OR DEATH AFTER FIVE MINUTES MANY CHP OFFICERS HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE SEEN TOO MANY DEATHS FROM THE AIRBAGS BEING UNREPAIRED AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2025Steering, Suspension, Electrical systemODI 11653066

Air bags

184 reports42 crashes7 related recalls
“I had a single car accident where I was blinded by the sun and was reaching for my sunglasses when I ran off the road and hit a Teephone pole my airbags did not deploy until after the crash this accident accured on Oct 12,2026 I fractured my Sternum in this accident”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2026Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11773798

Engine and engine cooling

151 reports1 crash7 fires
“The contact owns a 2006 Honda Civic. The contact stated that upon checking the fluids in the vehicle, she noticed that coolant had leaked onto the ground. Upon inspecting under the hood of the vehicle, the contact then noticed that coolant was located at the bottom of the engine and a small crack in the coolant reservoir. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximate 208,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2022Engine and engine coolingODI 11496253

Electrical system

100 reports1 crash1 fire
“The ac has stopped working the heater does not blow out hot air,the air bag light has came on ,&now the car started to overheated an now will not start at all now...the oil light has came on ...when the car was running the transmission was not shifting correctly....”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2023Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11509625
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.