Problems · by component

2006 Honda Civic power train problems

76 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Honda Civic cite power train, 5% of all 1,411 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
76
5% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Car lost power while trying to make a left turn across traffic. IMA battery charge dropped and no assist was delivered. Oncoming car was able to stop in time, but barely. This has now happened on a number of occasions. Car lost power while climbing a hill in a residential neighborhood (15 MPH) and barely made it to the top. Car lost power while climbing a short steep driveway and could not ascend; had to roll backwards and "force charge" the IMA battery in low gear for 10 minutes, after which I was able to climb the driveway easily. Decided to replace the IMA battery due to obvious malfunction although no codes were being thrown. Problem improved significantly but once again experienced lack of power on steep, low-speed hills and in our driveway. Battery software seems schizophrenic, deciding to charge itself rather than assist when power is needed, such as hills or merging into or across traffic, even when there seems to be ample battery reserve (for example, after swapping out the IMA battery it refused to provide assist on the hill with approximately 40% remaining -- 4 bars -- but will gladly provide assist at 50% + battery charge. Sometimes battery does not…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2022Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11475483
“CAR OVERHEATED AND CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK ON DRIVE TO WORK THROUGH TOWN. IT WAS A SUDDEN, OVERHEAT AND THE CAR STALLED. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED BY HONDA ~2 MONTHS EARLIER. CAR HAD BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY HONDA, FOLLOWING SUGGESTED SERVICE SCHEDULE. HONDA KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BLOCK AS I PURCHASED CAR NEW IN 2006. CAR ONLY HAD 103,000 MILES ON IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2019Power train, EngineODI 11243059
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD NOT UNLOCK AFTER THE KEY WAS INSERTED. IN ADDITION, THE ALARM SYSTEM DID NOT WORK AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH THE GEAR SHIFTER TO THE PARK POSITION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2018Power train, Electrical systemODI 11057963
“A KNOWN DEFECT - THE ENGINE BLOCK ON OUR 2006 HONDA CIVIC CRACKED WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. WE'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS AND WERE NEVER ADVISED THAT THE CIVIC ENGINE BLOCK WAS PRONE TO THIS - OR WE WOULD HAVE NOT PURCHASED THE CAR. EVEN THOUGH HONDA "EXTENDED" THE WARRANTY FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT, WE ARE OUT OF THE WARRANTY COVERAGE PERIOD - THUS LEFT TO FOOT THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE ENGINE ON OUR OWN. MY SON'S SAFETY WAS AT RISK WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL NOT A WARRANTY EXTENSION. SHAME ON HONDA.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 28, 2017Power train, EngineODI 11050926
“I HAVE A CRACK IN MY COOLANT SYSTEM IN THE ENGINE BLOCK ON MY 2006 HONDA CIVIC. IT WAS PART OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (10-048), BUT I'M PAST THE EXTENDED 10 YEAR WARRANTY. PLEASE HELP!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 5, 2017Power trainODI 11043367
“HELLO! A VERY WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 06-09 HONDA CIVIC IS A TENDENCY FOR THE ENGINE BLOCKS TO CRACK. FREQUENTING ONLINE FORUMS AND WEBSITES, IT SEEMS A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED FROM LESS THAN 1,000 MILES TO UP TO 200,000 MILES. THAT BEING SAID, IT SEEMS THIS CAR IS A LITERAL TIME BOMB. THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS OF PEOPLE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ONLY TO RAPIDLY LOSE POWER TO ALL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS A PROFOUND SAFETY HAZARD, NOT ONLY TO THE DRIVER, BUT OTHER DRIVERS AS WELL! THAT BEING SAID, HONDA ADMITTED THAT THE TENDENCY FOR BLOCKS TO CRACK WAS DUE A FAULTY CASTING PROCESS. THEY HAD ISSUES AN INITIAL 8 YEAR WARRANTY AND INCREASED THAT TO 10 YEARS. AS OF LATE, MANY CURRENT OWNERS HAVE STILL HAD THEIR BLOCKS CRACKED. ONLY THIS TIME, HONDA IS REFUSING TO FIX THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. AS SUCH, I WANTED TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE AND HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO ALLEVIATE THIS MATTER. A CAR'S BLOCK UNDER NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND USE SHOULD NEVER CATASTROPHICALLY FAIL, LET ALONE RISK PEOPLE'S LIVES! EVEN IF A RECALL ISN'T ENFORCED, AT LEAST HOLD HONDA ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR FAULTY ENGINES AND PLACE AN…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2016Power train, EngineODI 10853310

Showing 6 of 76 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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