Problems · NHTSA complaints

2025 Honda Civic problems

Owners filed 88 complaints about the 2025 Honda Civic with NHTSA between Oct 2024 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is steering (39).

Complaints
88
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering39
  2. Forward collision avoidance11
  3. Fuel/propulsion system8
  4. Lane departure8
  5. Power train7
  6. Service brakes7
  7. Engine6
  8. Visibility/wiper6
  9. Electrical system6
  10. Fuel system, gasoline6
  11. Structure5
  12. Suspension5
  13. Vehicle speed control4
  14. Air bags3

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 3, 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
20246
202531
202651

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

Steering

39 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“The vehicle's steering system, specifically the steering rack, is malfunctioning. The steering wheel intermittently catches, becomes difficult to turn, and then suddenly releases. An authorized Honda dealership diagnosed an issue requiring replacement of the steering rack under warranty. The defective component remains installed in the vehicle and is currently available for inspection. The steering wheel unpredictably becomes resistant to turning and then suddenly releases, making it difficult to maintain consistent control of the vehicle. The vehicle also drifts to the left or right, requiring frequent steering corrections. These symptoms create a potential risk of losing steering control, particularly when turning, changing lanes, or driving at higher speeds. The unpredictable steering behavior could result in a collision and endanger me, my passengers, and other motorists. Yes. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealership for inspection. Although the service advisor initially stated that he could not feel anything abnormal during a test drive, the dealership subsequently diagnosed a steering rack issue and determined that the steering rack…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2026SteeringODI 11774490

Forward collision avoidance

11 reports
“I was driving with the cruise set at 74mph as a lead car on a highway, overcast day. No vehicles, animals, trees or plastic bags had flown in front of me when the car slammed on the brakes causing the car following me to also slam and switch lanes to avoid rear ending me! Today is the third time I have taken this car back to dealership to look into. The previous two times they told me to shut off the adaptive cruise control which is not a fix! That is a feature I use because most of my driving is highway. Dealership of purchase is also dealership that I have taken care to previously. This event today actually scared me, thank goodness the driver behind me was paying attention.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2026Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11767444

Fuel/propulsion system

8 reports1 fire
“Happened multiple times in multiple locations during city driving accelerating from a stop or low speed to a higher speed, especially when accelerating from a stop through an intersection at a stoplight. Vehicle surges and “won’t go”. Feels like a giant rubber band in the drive train stretching and recoiling. Eventually after about a half dozen “surges” the vehicle attains enough speed and the problem goes away. Only happens when accelerating from a stop or low speed to a higher speed.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2026Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11768064

Lane departure

8 reports5 crashes
“UPDATE:American Honda was formally notified of this steering failure on my 2025 Civic Hybrid. Honda corporate has officially declined to pull the EDR black box data, stating that data retrieval must be handled via the insurer. The physical vehicle is now being transferred to State Farm Insurance at Copart (Arcadia, FL) under Claim [XXX]. Requesting that NHTSA investigators reference this claim and VIN [XXX] for any engineering analysis regarding the 24V-744 steering defect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2026Steering, Lane departureCrash reportedODI 11747204

Power train

7 reports
“Reported this to the dealer in June 2025 a month after I bought the car. Dealer checked the car & couldn't find a problem causing this. Problem continues & is getting worse. I believe problem with CVT - vehicle jerks, hesitates and shudders in low speeds upon deceleration and acceleration. Not a smooth ride at all. I had an older Civic with CVT and husband has a 2022 Civic with CVT and never had or have this issue. Will take to the dealer again.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11748364

Service brakes

7 reports2 crashes
“I was turning into a parking space in my 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Touring, in a plaza area. As I depressed the brake, I felt some pressure, but then all of a sudden it went straight to the ground, which caused my car to go over a landscape median, and hit the tree in the middle of it, causing my car to hit a stationary vehicle on the other side to the right, which in-turn caused my car to flip on it's drivers side. All of the airbags deployed and my driver's window was broken. My arm was injured and scraped but not broken. As I was waiting for the EMTs while sitting there, I noticed a warning circle with Bright Red Bold Letters that said BRAKE in the middle. My only thought was to shut the car off immediately. The manufacturer and insurance have given me a runaround regarding having someone to investigate/inspect the brake system, no success so far. I have a few days left for the insurance to hold it, being that it's been deemed a total loss. The CHP report is still not out. Hopefully the insurance will give me an extension for the hold. I had reported this by phone to NHTSA on 2/13/2026 and they did give me a claim number, but I don't see anywhere where I can add the claim number.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 25, 2026Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11727130
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

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