The Lemon Index2023 Honda Civic.
The 2023 Honda Civic is so far worse than average by owner complaints: 332 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 140, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 32 to 36 mpg combined. The best Honda Civic year is 2011.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 332 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda Civic year. 2023 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 6K to 25K miles on the car (27 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 7K–31K miles
Recalls 4
- seats 2024
The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in an unsecured seat.
- steering 2024
The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle.
- steering 2023
The steering rack may have been incorrectly assembled, which can allow the tire to chafe against the lower suspension or tie rod end, possibly resulting in tire damage.
Show all 4 recalls
- brakes 2023
A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 95 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Service Bulletin - Potential steering effort complaint while driving at moderate or highway…
- Dealer Message - Today December 8, 2023, American Honda is announcing a product update for…
- Service Bulletin - Due to a manufacturing error, certain service part electric power steering…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedMomentary increased steering effort2023–2025
- ClosedMomentary increased steering effort2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CIVIC HATCHBACK 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Honda CIVIC HATCHBACK TYPE R 5 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1800–2000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
My steering wheel is staying stuck when I am making slight turns on the highway
2023 Honda Civic owner · NHTSA complaint 11613133
More owner reports
When driving the wheels feels sticky and would sometimes get stuck in positions only when driving highway speeds above 30 mph. Making minor adjustments while driving feel harsh.
NHTSA complaint 11563840
When steering the car the steering feels âstuckâ when trying to make slight adjustments to maintain the car in its lane. Extra force is required to make minor steering adjustments causing over correction.
NHTSA complaint 11553509
Quick answers
Is the 2023 Honda Civic reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.4× the average car's complaints per car sold, against other 2023 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 140; 100 is average). The best Honda Civic year by this measure is 2011.
What are the most common 2023 Honda Civic problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (77%), lane assist (10%) and automatic emergency braking (7%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2023 Honda Civic have?
4 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Honda Civic get?
32 to 36 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2023 Honda Civic safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2023 Honda Civic problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 6,300 and 25,000 miles. The middle report was at 10,000 miles, from 27 complaints.
Does the 2023 Honda Civic have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2023 Honda Civic cost in fuel a year?
About $1800 to $2000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2023 Honda Civic have?
1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What Honda Civic year is better than the 2023?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works