Is a honda civic a reliable car

The Honda Civic earned its reputation as a reliable daily driver early on. Older model years can easily last over 100,000 miles, and some have pushed odometers past 500,000 miles. But the increasing complexity of modern Civics could affect long-term reliability.

Is a honda civic a reliable car

Key Points

  • The Honda Civic has a proven track record of reaching and going well over 100,000 miles in its lifetime; one owner proudly exceeded 500,000 miles on their 2011 Civic.
  • Consistently lower maintenance costs, good fuel efficiency, and good safety ratings overall drive Civic’s reliability and popularity as a daily commuter.
  • Creating quality products is built in to Honda’s design philosophy.
  • Honda and the Civic are not immune to problems, but the few problematic years are still not that bad.

Is a honda civic a reliable car

Automotive Data Supports Honda Civic will Go 100,000 Miles with Minimal Problems, with Low Annual Maintenance Cost a Bonus

The Honda Civic is the automaker’s longest-running automotive nameplate in company history. As one of the top best-selling cars in North America, the Civic has proven to be one of the best subcompact/compact cars on the market.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that Civic owners have experienced minimal issues overall in the last 10 model years; however, a couple Civic model years have had more problems than others.

For context, the 2016 model year was the only Civic model year in the last 10 years with more than 500 complaints reported by owners.

A report based on analysis of cars sold in 2019 shows the Civic was ranked among the longest-lasting cars to reach 200,000 miles plus, with over 2% of Civics sold estimated to do so (double the average); however, the Civic has fallen off this list according to the same report updated for cars sold in 2020.

Despite this, annual maintenance costs for the Civic are relatively low overall.

Repair Pal reports the Honda Civics annual maintenance costs are $400 or below on average for the last 10 model years they have data for (pre-2018); they ranked the Civic 3rd out of 36 compact cars for reliability.

This is good, because with modern vehicles becoming increasingly complex with added computers, batteries, and sensors, failure of these components could become expensive.

Is a honda civic a reliable car

Owner’s Rave Most Honda Civics will Reach 100,000 Miles with Good Care, Some have Documented Road to 500,000 Miles

Consensus about Honda Civic reliability among owners is that the Civic will go for as long as you’re willing to take great care of it.

Owners praise their Civics low maintenance cost and ease of ownership; one reported hitting 300,000 miles after only performing routine and preventative maintenance like oil changes and replacing spark plugs, brakes, belts, and batteries.

A couple owners were found with Civics passing 500,000 miles. One Honda dealership documented a customer trading in a 2013 Honda Civic with 500,000 miles on it; the owner said they have only replaced the alternator, one wheel bearing, and brakes (rear brakes were not replaced until 400,000 miles) aside from other routine maintenance.

Another owner posted on Reddit about their 2011 Honda Civic also reaching 500,000 miles. They stated they change their oil every 10,000-12,000 miles, and flush the coolant and transmission fluid every 40,000 miles. The owner also noted they changed the timing chain at 350,000 miles as a preventative measure.

Is a honda civic a reliable car

Honda Civic Reliability has Earned it Awards, but Problem Years haven’t Gone Unnoticed

Safety, efficiency, and capability dominate Civic’s recent design history. Honda sets high standards for itself, with the idea of creating quality products that exceed expectations being built into the automaker’s fundamental beliefs.

Despite quality control issues creating problem areas for certain Civic model years, the Honda Civic is designed to be reliable overall.

The Civic’s reliability history has earned it many awards by the automotive industry. It is consistently an IIHS Top Safety Pick, receives a five-star NHTSA Safety Rating, and J.D. Power award winner.

However, J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study revealed the Honda fell on its dependability rating from 19th to 28th overall, out of 33 automakers. With an uptick in problems on newer model years being reported, newer model years might experience more problems earlier on.

Is a honda civic a reliable car

The Honda Civic is Reliable, but Remaining Reliable Could be a Challenge

Data and owner experience support that the Honda Civic is reliable. The NHTSA reports relatively minimal issues with the Civic over the last 10 years. In addition, owners of Civics between 2010 and 2015 have proven they can last 500,000 miles and more.

At present, Honda Civic is one of the best compact cars on the market because it is a safe, reliable, and affordable vehicle, despite a few model years being more problematic than others. It may, however, be a challenge for Honda to keep the Civic as reliable in the future as the automotive industry continues to evolve.

Photos: Honda

Owner Reviews

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M.Sanchez on July 9, 2021

NOT A RELIABLE CAR

NO I DO NOT RECOMMEND 2020 HONDA CIVIC SPORT SEDAN. I BOUGHT ONE FROM TAMPA HONDA DEC 26 2020 AND HAS A A/C BLOWER MAKING A NOISE WHEN A/C IS ON. I TOO THE CAR TO TAMPA HONDA FOR INSPECTION AND THE SALES MAN STARTED AN ARGUMENT WITH ME. AND TOLD ME TO BUY A ROLLS ROYCE IF I WANT A PERFECT CAR. AT LEAST HE RECOGNIZES HE SELLS TRASH. AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME TO DO A PERFECT HONDA REVIEW. AND HE WILL SWAP THE A/C BLOWER. FOR ME. THAT IS SOMETHING UNDER WARRANTY I HAD TO CALL THE BANK TO.STOP THE RETAIL CONTRACT PAYMENT. VERY BAD EXPERIENCE WITH TAMPA HONDA.

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Manuel R on June 19, 2021

2010 Honda Civic Review Reliable and dependable like a girlfriend

I love my Honda Civic! Very reliable the only work I've had to do to it other then oil change was brake work. Very dependable and reliable. My car has 140,000 miles on it and I am sure it will easily last until 200,000 because I have kept up with oil changes. I have a tune up that I have to schedule soon so that it'll last 200 or 200+ thousand miles.

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Lindsey G on June 12, 2021

I love my 2020 Honda Civic. It get great gas mileage, looks great, and I know it is reliable.

I have always owned Honda’s. They are very reliable and my last one I had over 220k miles. I have had no problems with my Honda’s. There has been minimal upkeep for them aside from the normal, oil change, brakes, etc. Even in the snow my Honda civic does pretty well. It also gets great gas mileage.

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Angela R on February 11, 2022

It is extremely reliable, if you keep up with the maintenance of it.

I love the car that I drive because it is extremely reliable. I have over 100,000 miles on it and it still works as if it is brand new. Although as long as you keep up with oil changes and all of the maintenance on the car you should be fine and it will last you for years to come.

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Kim H on December 31, 2021

Reliable car ?? I love her.

My Honda has been a very reliable car, I haven’t had any major issues and I have had it for over 6 years. I put on an average of 35,000 miles per year and I have taken it on many long road trips, I think the key to maintaining this vehicle is following it is routine checkups.

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Jiana G on January 11, 2022

2016 Honda civic lx - review.

Specific steering wheel issues which required a major repair before 50k miles. Also had rotor issues before 50k miles. All repairs were under my gap warranty. No major issues with engine or transmission yet at 60k miles. Reliable and comfortable for up to 4 people maximum.

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Caroline W on November 16, 2021

Love the reliability and efficiency

I commute to work around 25 miles everyday. I really like my civic because it is good on gas and cheap to fill up the tank. I've had my civic for three years with a little less than 100000 miles on it but have never had an issue with it to date. Very reliable car.

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Andrea O on June 13, 2021

Honda civic - best. Choice. Ever.

My civic has been completely reliable with only routine maintenance needed for the last six years of ownership. We are well over 100,000 miles with no major repairs! Gas mileage is excellent, getting anywhere from lower to upper 30 miles per gallon.

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Quentavious K on August 17, 2021

Great ride, comfortable will not hurt your pocket as much and great on gas.

It's a really good and reliable vehicle and really great on gas. I have had it about 2 weeks now, bought it with about 30,000 miles. I think that anyone buying a Honda should not even second guess because they are great, comfortable and affordable.

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Jenny K on October 5, 2021

I don't like the 2012 Honda Civic, performance is terrible.

It's a stick shift, I don't like that too much. Sometimes it just cuts off in the middle of me driving, so the performance is not great at all. Not really much of a reliable car. I had to go to the auto shop multiple times throughout the year.

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Kaitlin F on July 1, 2021

Gray 4 door Honda civic with close to 100k miles.

Very reliable vehicle that has required extremely low maintenance this far. Keeping up with regular oil changes and service checks have been helpful. I am close to 100k miles and the back right window just stopped working - minor problem.

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Carolyn D on November 28, 2021

Would highly recommend! Wonderful reliable car!

Very reliable vehicle. Great on gas mileage. Interior and exterior are very durable. Great for around town and highway driving. Lasts a long time before needing an oil change. Very smooth even with close to 150,000 miles.

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Anita S on November 15, 2021

Ok but not great 2018 Civic

I always buy Honda’s since they are reliable and last a long time. However the radio is not good and you cannot even get a CD layer on it. Also you can feel every bump on the road.

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Phillip D on December 29, 2021

A sporty and fun 2013 Civic to drive, yet safe and practical small sedan.

It has been a very reliable car the past 5 years and 78k+ miles. One of the main reasons I purchased this car was for the great crash rating including offset frontal crash.

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Andrew A on August 25, 2021

Reliable solid car with a few bells and whistles, not too flash but not boring.

5000 miles in with no problems, runs very well. I usually keep my car on eco mode, but taking it off gives me more power and responsiveness of energy at times I want it.

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Maria L on July 5, 2021

The vehicle is reliable and can get you from point A to B without any problems!

Honda Civic is a reliable and dependable vehicle. It is also affordable. What I don't like is the new design but can live with it since I know it will last a long time.

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Jenae C on December 2, 2021

Reliable, long lasting vehicle

Basic features but reliable car. Keeps oil changed and fluids checked and will run for a very long time.

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Emma K on September 10, 2021

It is very reliable, it should go 300,000 miles or more until I need another car.

Good MPG, compact (easy for parking), sturdy (no maintenance problems/ very reliable)

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Alyssa G on November 27, 2021

Would buy this car again and again.

Incredibly reliable with many great passenger features. A very comfortable ride.

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DeeDee A on July 20, 2021

How reliable the car is and how long they last compared to other vehicles

I like knowing that Honda vehicles last and the cost to repair is very low

Is a honda civic a reliable car
Geoffrey Piehl

Geoff Piehl holds an MBA from the University of Illinois Springfield and has been covering industry trends for many popular automotive websites for over two years. He is a longtime content creator for the IB Auto Group, and in addition to contributing to Vehicle History his byline can be found on Club Lexus and Ford Trucks.

Is Honda Civic still reliable?

Is the Honda Civic Reliable ? The 2022 Civic has a predicted reliability score of 82 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

How long will my Honda Civic last?

It's not uncommon for a Civic to last upward of 20 years, and you can tack on the miles during that expanse of time. You could get from 200,000 to 300,000 miles with a Honda Civic before it completely breaks down or requires extensive repairs.

Why are Honda Civics so reliable?

One of the reasons Honda are so reliable is due to their low repair costs and the fact that they aren't off the road too long. Ultimately, if you want a reliable car, then you should definitely look at a Honda.

Are Honda Civic engines reliable?

The Honda Civic earned its reputation as a reliable daily driver early on. Older model years can easily last over 100,000 miles, and some have pushed odometers past 500,000 miles. But the increasing complexity of modern Civics could affect long-term reliability.