Research · Midsize Cars · 2 NHTSA variants

2018 Honda CivicRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 602 owner complaints for the 2018 Honda Civic. Most complaints involve steering (225) and fuel system, gasoline (89). The EPA rates it 25–36 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
25–36mpg
EPA · 12 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest May 2026
Owner complaints
602
Top: steering
Fuel cost / yr
$1,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: front passenger

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Air bagsReported May 22, 2026NHTSA 26V332000

Fuel system

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Dec 19, 2023NHTSA 23V858000

Fuel system

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Fuel system, gasolineReported May 28, 2020NHTSA 20V314000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

602 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 2017 – Oct 2026
  1. Steering225
  2. Fuel system, gasoline89
  3. Fuel/propulsion system70
  4. Engine51
  5. Electrical system51
  6. Air bags20
  7. Structure19
  8. Service brakes17
  9. Power train15

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

By model year

Complaints for each Civic model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996314
1997383
1998450
1999348
2000297
20011,089
2002717
2003525
2004351
2005316
20061,411
20071,212
2008923
2009398
2010400
2011170
2012462
2013320
2014293
2015389
20161,083
2017608
2018602
2019460
2020240
2021162
2022962
2023338
2024144
202588
202632
Crashes reported
26
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
21
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Steering

225 reports9 crashes
“On Thursday [XXX] I left San Marcos, CA and drove north to meet with my future father-in-law who lives in Shady Canyon, located in Irvine, CA. My car, a 2018 Honda Civic Type R, performed normally on the way to his house, without any warning lamps, messages, etc shown. The tires had regular pressure and all maintenance on the vehicle was current. Upon leaving my friend's house, I drove 1/4 mile down the road and stopped at a 3way stop sign before turning left through a gate which has an electronic arm--once a vehicle is sensed, the arm is raised and the vehicle continues forward. As I proceeded to the gate, the car accelerated, the steering froze, and I could not steer the car away from the oncoming gate. I slammed on the brakes and the brakes were non responsive although I applied immediate, hard pressure on the pedal. This is a performance car with very strong brakes capable of stopping it in a very short distance. Within a split second, my right front bumper slammed into a post right of the gate, and both front air bags and the side airbags deployed, and vehicle's momentum was stopped. I was unhurt other than a small scratch on my finger. Within minutes, the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2026Steering, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11755767

Fuel system, gasoline

89 reports2 crashes
“The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that she was informed at the State inspection that the vehicle had failed inspection due to the recall of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000(Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Several unknown dealers were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 12, 2025Fuel system, gasolineODI 11666529

Fuel/propulsion system

70 reports1 crash
“I own a 2018 Honda Civic that is subject to an open fuel pump recall. My vehicle suddenly became completely inoperable. When attempting to start the car, all of the dashboard lights come on, but the engine will not start or crank. The vehicle has power but will not turn over at all. This failure happened without any prior warning. I contacted Nalley Honda in Union City, GA, and they confirmed that the issue is related to the fuel pump recall. However, they refused to provide towing for the vehicle and told me the earliest appointment available would be over a week out, despite the vehicle being undrivable due to this known safety defect. This situation puts my safety and my family’s safety at risk, as I am now stranded without reliable transportation because of a manufacturer defect. The problem has been acknowledged by the dealership but has not been resolved because of their refusal to assist with towing or provide a timely repair. There were no warning lights or error messages prior to the failure—this happened suddenly. I am requesting that the NHTSA investigate this issue further, as it presents a serious safety concern. I also want to report that Honda…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 28, 2025Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11669881
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

12 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars, Compact Cars, Large Cars
Engines
1.5L 4-cyl turbo · 2.0L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Manual 6-spd · Automatic (AV-S7)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Civic 4Dr
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
324236$1,800247
Civic 2Dr
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
314035$1,850256
Civic 2Dr
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
304135$1,850258
Civic 4Dr
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
314235$1,850251
Civic 2Dr
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
303934$1,900262
Civic 4Dr
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
314034$1,900257
Civic 5Dr
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
314034$1,900259
Civic 5Dr
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
293833$1,950269
Civic 2Dr
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
283932$2,000278
Civic 4Dr
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
284032$2,000273
Civic 5Dr Sport
Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
303632$2,500274
Civic 5Dr - Type R
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
222825$3,200360
  • Civic 4Dr
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    32 city · 42 hwy · $1,800/yr
    36
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 2Dr
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    31 city · 40 hwy · $1,850/yr
    35
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 2Dr
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    30 city · 41 hwy · $1,850/yr
    35
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 4Dr
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    31 city · 42 hwy · $1,850/yr
    35
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 2Dr
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    30 city · 39 hwy · $1,900/yr
    34
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 4Dr
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    31 city · 40 hwy · $1,900/yr
    34
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 5Dr
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    31 city · 40 hwy · $1,900/yr
    34
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 5Dr
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    29 city · 38 hwy · $1,950/yr
    33
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 2Dr
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    28 city · 39 hwy · $2,000/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 4Dr
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    28 city · 40 hwy · $2,000/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 5Dr Sport
    Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    30 city · 36 hwy · $2,500/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 5Dr - Type R
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    22 city · 28 hwy · $3,200/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

4 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Honda Civic 2 DR FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.3%
Overall
5 / 5
Honda Civic 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.5%
Overall
5 / 5
Honda Civic 5 HB FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.5%
Overall
— / 5
Honda Civic Type R 5 HB FWD
Frontal crash
Not rated
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.5%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 12638Vehicle 12636Vehicle 12410
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2018 Civic questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Honda Civic have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2018 Honda Civic problems?

Owners filed 602 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (225), fuel system, gasoline (89), fuel/propulsion system (70). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2018 Honda Civic get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Honda Civic at 25–36 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).

How safe is the 2018 Honda Civic?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Honda Civic 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026