Honda Civic common problems & fixes (10th gen 2017–2022, 11th gen e:HEV 2022–present)

Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-08.

30-second verdict

Hondas have a strong reliability reputation and the Civic largely earns it, but the turbocharged 10th-generation car isn't trouble-free. The things to check are fuel getting into the oil on short-trip petrol cars, a fuel-pump recall, an air-conditioning condenser that can lose gas, and a 2026 recall about wheel fixings on cars with optional accessory alloys. The 11th-generation e:HEV hybrid is newer; it has had a couple of recalls (steering gearbox and high-pressure fuel pump) but early owner reports are otherwise mostly minor. A Civic that has covered regular longer journeys with on-time servicing is the one to buy.

Generations at a glance

Known issues

1. Fuel in the oil (oil dilution) — Reported by owners; acknowledged widely in the press

• What you notice: dipstick level creeping above the max mark, oil smelling of petrol.
• Which cars: 10th-gen 1.0 and 1.5 VTEC Turbo petrols, especially early 2017–2018 cars used for short trips in cold weather.
• Why: direct-injected turbo engines that don't get fully warm can't evaporate fuel that slips past the rings into the sump.
• Fix: Honda software updates were applied in some markets; in practice, more regular longer runs and shorter oil-change intervals help. No UK recall was issued for this.
• DIY difficulty: checking 1/5.
• Check when buying: read the dipstick on a cold engine and sniff it. Overfilled oil on a car that "hasn't been topped up" is a red flag.

2. Low-pressure fuel pump failure — Confirmed recall R/2020/186

• What you notice: rough running, stalling or failing to start.
• Which cars: Civics built 18 September 2017 to 17 March 2020. DVSA lists 21,313 Civics in this campaign, which also covered other Honda models.
• Why: the in-tank pump module could have been made with low-density impellers, which can deform and stop the pump working.
• Fix: free pump replacement under recall R/2020/186 (launched 24 August 2020).
• Check when buying: confirm the recall work has been done.

3. Wheel fixings on optional accessory alloys — Confirmed recall R/2026/025

• What you notice: possibly nothing; in the worst case, wheel nuts working loose or a wheel coming off.
• Which cars: 10th-gen Civic five-doors from the 2017–2021 model years fitted with optional accessory alloy wheels. Honda wrote to the owners of about 46,000 UK cars so it could check which ones are affected; the DVSA record lists 11,169 vehicles.
• Why: the steel bushes that should sit in each wheel-nut seat of the alloy may be missing.
• Fix: Honda's letter lets owners send photos of their wheels; where bushes are missing, the wheel is replaced free of charge.
• Check when buying: ask whether the car has accessory alloys and whether the recall letter has been dealt with, then run a GOV.UK recall check.

4. Air-conditioning condenser leak — Reported by owners

• What you notice: air con blowing warm, a regas that only lasts a few months.
• Which cars: 10th-gen Civic, all engines.
• Why: the condenser can develop small leaks. In the US, Honda extended the condenser warranty on this generation of Civic because of leaks; we are not aware of a matching UK campaign, so ask a Honda dealer about goodwill if the car is affected.
• Fix: condenser replacement and regas.
• DIY difficulty: garage job (refrigerant handling requires certification).
• Check when buying: run the air con on maximum cold and feel the vents.

5. Infotainment freezing — Reported by owners

• What you notice: touchscreen lag, Bluetooth drop-outs, blank screen.
• Which cars: 10th-gen Display Audio unit.
• Fix: software updates; a reset often helps temporarily.

6. 1.0 VTEC Turbo timing belt runs in oil — Reported by owners and specialists

• What you notice: nothing until there's a problem.
• Why: the 1.0 three-cylinder uses a timing belt that runs in engine oil (a "wet belt") rather than a chain. Specialists advise that belt wear can shed debris into the oil, so oil quality and change intervals matter.
• Check when buying: look for on-time oil changes with the correct grade, and on older, high-mileage 1.0 cars ask whether the belt has been inspected or replaced in line with Honda's schedule.

7. 11th-gen e:HEV early issues — Recalls plus owner reports

• Steering: a recall (R/2025/024) covers grease loss in the electric power steering gearbox, which can cause noise or a sticky feel when turning. This matches owner reports of steering that feels notchy at small angles.
• Fuel system: a recall (R/2024/476) covers high-pressure fuel pumps that may leak.
• Other reports: owners also mention occasional EGR valve replacements and camera or driver-assist software updates. These are early reports; we will update this section as more evidence appears.

Recalls

Recalls depend on the exact car, so always check the registration on the GOV.UK recall checker and ask for proof the work was done.

MOT watch-points

What the 2024 DVSA figures say

• First-time pass rate: 66.9% from 280,420 normal Class 4 and 7 Honda Civic tests.
• National comparison: 71.5% across the same 2024 dataset, so this model was 4.6 percentage points below the national first-time pass rate.
• Typical tested mileage: median 86,883 miles; mean 89,383 miles.

Most common recorded failure reasons

One test can record more than one defect, so the shares must not be added together.

Common advisories to check before buying

• Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge — recorded on 18.1% of tests.
• Brake pads: wearing thin — recorded on 10.4% of tests.
• Tyres - condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing — recorded on 9.9% of tests.

Method and limits: C4R calculated these figures from DVSA's anonymised 2024 MOT results. Pass rate is P / (P + F + PRS) for normal Class 4 and 7 tests. Results are de-duplicated by test, low-volume rows are suppressed, and DVSA model labels are standardised into a model family. These figures describe tested cars as a group; they do not predict the condition of one vehicle or prove that every trim and generation performs the same way.

DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results · Open Government Licence v3.0

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024.

Buying one? Our checklist

• Run a GOV.UK recall check and ask about the accessory-wheel recall letter.
• Check the dipstick for overfilled, fuel-smelling oil.
• 1.0 petrol: look for regular oil changes and any timing-belt inspection records.
• Run the air con on cold.
• Test every infotainment function.
• Type R: look for track use, modified parts and heavy tyre/brake wear.
• e:HEV: check for any hybrid system warnings, confirm the steering and fuel-pump recalls are done, and ask for the software update history.

Sources & further reading

• DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database (OGL v3.0)
• Check if a vehicle has been recalled — GOV.UK
• What Car?: Honda recalls more than 46,000 UK Civics
• Car Dealer Magazine: Honda recalls 46,000 UK Civics over wheel fault
• Honda service bulletin 19-091: A/C condenser warranty extension (US, via NHTSA)
• WhoCanFixMyCar: common problems with the Honda Civic
• Cox Motor Parts: genuine Honda Civic 1.0 timing belt
• ClickMechanic: common problems with the Honda Civic
• Honda Civic Forum UK (individual threads on e:HEV)
• Wikipedia: Honda Civic (tenth generation))

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

See Honda Civic cars for sale on C4R