2023 Honda Civic Reliability Report

NHTSA data as of Sep 17, 2026Published Oct 15, 2026

Caution

Ranks 23rd of 25 Civic years we score.

Owner complaints: 328; 23 are recall notices
Per 10,000 cars: 20.1; 151,977 made for the U.S.
Vs the average car: 1.5×; same age, 1× is average
Serious outcomes: 68; crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
Recalls: 5
NHTSA crash rating: 5★; overall, out of 5

← 2022 Civic 2024 Civic →

Should You Buy the 2023 Honda Civic?

Only after careful checks. Our reliability score for the 2023 Honda Civic is 67 out of 100, which rates Caution. Owners reported about 1.5 times as many problems as for the average car of the same age. It ranks 23rd of the 25 Civic years we score.

The most reported problem is the steering, mostly sticking or stiffness (245 of 328 complaints). Owners also complain about the brakes and airbags. 68 of the 328 complaints describe a serious outcome, such as a crash, a fire, an injury or stalling while driving.

It has 5 recalls. NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. For comparison, the 2022 scores 64 and the 2024 scores 76.

Before you buy, check that the recalls were done and get an independent inspection. The full checklist is at the end of this page.

Pros

No do-not-drive or park-outside recalls
5-star NHTSA overall crash rating

Cons

About 1.5 times the problems of the average car its age
Steering: sticking or stiffness245 complaints
Brakes: loss of braking9 complaints
Airbags: no deployment in a crash8 complaints

How the 2023 Civic Earned Its Score

Every model year starts at 100. Each part takes points away when this year has more problems than the average car of the same age. How we score

Score breakdown
Item	Vs average	Points lost
Starting score		100
Serious problems	1.0×	−11
Everyday problems	2.7×	−7
Problems in the last two years	0.74×	−8
Recalls	1.4×	−7
Score		67

What Owners Report

We read all 328 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Honda Civic, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first.

Steering: sticking or stiffness
245 complaints (75%)
Sticking or stiffness, locking up and pulling or wandering. 29 of these 245 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often loss of steering control. In 35 complaints, the dealer could not find or fix the problem, and in 15 it came back after a repair. Median mileage when it started: about 10,000 miles.
Brakes: loss of braking
9 complaints (3%)
Loss of braking, warning lights and unusual noises. 4 of these 9 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often loss of braking.
Airbags: no deployment in a crash
8 complaints (2%)
No deployment in a crash and deployment with no crash. 1 of these 8 complaints describes a serious outcome: an airbag problem.
Lane keeping assist: stopped working
7 complaints (2%)
A feature that stopped working, pulling or wandering and resists driver steering input. 1 of these 7 complaints describes a serious outcome: a crash.
Automatic emergency braking: warning lights
6 complaints (2%)
Warning lights, hard braking with nothing ahead and the system not working when needed. 2 of these 6 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often sudden braking.
Body seals (water leak): water leaking in
6 complaints (2%)
Water leaking in.
Adaptive cruise control: hard braking with nothing ahead
4 complaints (1%)
Hard braking with nothing ahead, a feature that stopped working and warning lights. 1 of these 4 complaints describes a serious outcome: sudden braking.
Uneven tire wear: out of alignment
4 complaints (1%)
Out of alignment and early wear. 1 of these 4 complaints describes a serious outcome: a crash.
Several warning lights at once
4 complaints (1%)
Warning lights.
Seat belts: unusual noises
4 complaints (1%)
Unusual noises, sticking or stiffness and the system not working when needed. 1 of these 4 complaints describes a serious outcome: a crash.
Tires: early wear
4 complaints (1%)
Early wear, a leak and vibration or shudder.
CVT: harsh or delayed shifts
3 complaints (under 1%)
Harsh or delayed shifts and hesitation.
Driver-assist camera and radar: stopped working
3 complaints (under 1%)
A feature that stopped working.
Cruise control: not shutting off
3 complaints (under 1%)
Not shutting off, warning lights and a feature that stopped working. 1 of these 3 complaints describes a serious outcome: a crash.
Parking brake: warning lights
3 complaints (under 1%)
Warning lights, a feature that stopped working and a failure that needed a new part.

Show 9 more problems

Seats: unusual noises
3 complaints (under 1%)
Unusual noises, loose / wobbly and loose.
Stall (cause not stated)
3 complaints (under 1%)
Stalling. 2 of these 3 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often stalling or losing power while driving.
Wiring, fuses or body control module: damage
3 complaints (under 1%)
Damage, incorrect center console plugs and a feature that stopped working.
ABS: loss of braking
2 complaints (under 1%)
Loss of braking and a failure. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: a crash.
Cylinder head gasket failure
2 complaints (under 1%)
A failure. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: stalling or losing power while driving.
Engine oil leak
2 complaints (under 1%)
A leak.
Interior trim: shattering or cracking
2 complaints (under 1%)
Shattering or cracking and unusual noises.
Unintended acceleration (cause not stated)
2 complaints (under 1%)
Surging and sudden acceleration. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: a crash.
Windshield: shattering or cracking
2 complaints (under 1%)
Shattering or cracking.

Reported Once (28)

Show the 28 problems reported once

A/C: stopped working
Ball joints and control arms: parts breaking or coming apart
Brake hold or auto hold: engages late
Brake power assist: parts breaking or coming apart
Engine: unusual noises
Engine (misfire codes): fault code
Engine failure: shattering or cracking
Engine oil consumption: burning or using oil
Forward collision warning: the system acting on its own
Frame or structure: structural fastener not torqued
Fuel injector failure
Screen and audio: unusual noises
Instrument cluster: works on and off
Key fob: the car not starting
Loss of power (cause not stated)
Manual transmission or clutch: slipping
Noise (cause not stated)
Oil drain plug: a leak
Driver window glass: shattering or cracking
Flywheel: damage
Paint and rust: damage
Door lock actuators: the system acting on its own
Rearview camera: lens covered by water in rain
Road departure mitigation: warning lights
Car not starting (cause not stated)
Taillights or brake lights: stopped working
Timing chain or camshaft: parts breaking or coming apart
Vibration (cause not stated)

How the 2023 Honda Civic Compares With Other Years

The other Civic years of the 11th generation, 2022 to 2026, and the years just before and after it. When two scores are less than 3.5 points apart, treat them as about the same.

Year	Rating	Score	Vs average	Per 10k cars	Recalls	Most reported problem
2026	Too new	–	–	1.6	1	Automatic emergency braking: hard braking with nothing ahead
2025	Provisional 75	–	–	3.5	2	Steering: sticking or stiffness
2024	Good	76	0.60×	4.7	3	Steering: sticking or stiffness
2023 This year	Caution	67	1.5×	20.1	5	Steering: sticking or stiffness
2022	Caution	64	2.5×	43.7	4	Steering: sticking or stiffness
2021	Good	78	0.41×	8.1	4	Steering: sticking or stiffness

See every Civic year

2023 Honda Civic Recalls

A recall can cover some or all cars of this model year. Look up a specific car by its VIN at NHTSA to see which recalls are still open on it.

Seats: critical fasteners
An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA 24V859000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Nov 14, 2024. By the second quarter of 2026, 59% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Steering
Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA 24V744000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Oct 3, 2024. By the second quarter of 2026, 88% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Steering: rack and pinion
A damaged tire can fail and increase the risk of a crash or injury.
NHTSA 23V704000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Oct 19, 2023. By the third quarter of 2025, 84% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module
Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
NHTSA 23V430000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 15, 2023. By the second quarter of 2025, 88% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Seats
A broken seat cushion frame may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA 23V229000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Mar 30, 2023. By the first quarter of 2025, 79% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.

NHTSA Investigations

Defect investigations by NHTSA that cover this model year, with what they found.

Sticky steering with momentary extra effort in Civics
Closed
NHTSA's preliminary evaluation looked at 2022-2023 Civics where steering briefly became harder, often at highway speeds. Honda traced it to stress in a steering gear wheel and uneven grease. Honda issued service bulletin 23-037. NHTSA had 13 crashes reported. In November 2023 it upgraded the case to engineering analysis EA23-003 and added the CR-V and Acura Integra.
NHTSA PE23005 Opening report (PDF)Closing report (PDF)Mar 17, 2023 to Nov 30, 2023
Momentary heavy steering in Civics and CR-Vs
Led to a recall
NHTSA's engineering analysis covered momentary hard steering in 2022-2024 Civics and 2023-2024 CR-Vs. NHTSA's test center reproduced it. Causes included gear wheel deformation, uneven grease and a spring load set too high. Twenty-three crashes were reported. Honda filed recall 24V-744 in October 2024 to replace the spring and add grease. NHTSA closed the case in January 2025.
NHTSA EA23003 Opening report (PDF)Closing report (PDF)Nov 29, 2023 to Jan 28, 2025

NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for this model year. See the 2023 Civic ratings on NHTSA.gov.

Hatchback 5-door FWD, Sedan 4-door FWD and Sedan Si 4-door FWD

Overall5/5

Frontal crash4/5

Side crash5/5

Rollover5/5

Hatchback Type R 5-door FWD

OverallNot rated

Frontal crashNot rated

Side crashNot rated

Rollover5/5

Check Before You Buy

A checklist for the 2023 Civic, from its recalls, Honda's programs and the problems owners report most.

Confirm the Recalls Were Done

Ask the seller for proof that each of these recalls was repaired.

Seats: critical fasteners NHTSA 24V859000
Steering NHTSA 24V744000
Steering: rack and pinion NHTSA 23V704000
Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module NHTSA 23V430000
Seats NHTSA 23V229000

On the Test Drive

Turn the wheel fully left and right, parked and at low speed. Sticking, notches or stiffness are warning signs.
Brake firmly from a moderate speed. A soft, hard or pulsing pedal, or a brake warning light, is a warning sign.
Confirm every airbag recall on this VIN has been repaired before you buy.

Ask the Seller

Ask whether any of these were ever repaired, and ask to see the receipts.

Steering
Brakes
Airbags
Also ask for the service records, especially oil changes.

Before You Pay

Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
Decode the VIN to confirm the model year, engine and trim.
Check the title for salvage, flood or rebuilt branding.

What to do next

All Civic Years →Best years and years to avoid, side by side.Compare With Other Years →Put up to four model years side by side.Find Warranty Extensions →Repairs Honda may still cover for this year.Decode a VIN →Confirm the exact year, engine and trim of a car.