Used Honda Civic Type R 2017-2022 reliability

These are cars that are built to be thrashed, so it’s no problem if it has been, but look for signs of careful ownership – such as an owner who allows the car to warm up before using full throttle.

Gearbox issues

Some owners have reported issues with the gearbox graunching when changing between first and second gears. Honda maintains that there isn’t an issue, but it’s still worth checking; and it might be worth avoiding any car exhibiting this symptom, just in case it’s a sign of bigger problems down the line.

Bodywork damage

Those low bumpers and skirts are easy to damage on low kerbs, so check them carefully for splits and scrapes. And check, too, that the huge rear spoiler hasn’t been damaged by a garage or car park roof; look for scrapes along the top corners and edges.

Always look for evidence of meticulous maintenance, too – stamps in the book are a good sign, but a stack of invoices to go with them is even better.

Side airbag

The side airbags fitted to the front seats of a small number of Civics may not deploy as they should in a collision and therefore put occupants at risk of injury. Most will have been sorted by now, but it's worth checking this if you own a car built between 12 April and 13 September 2017.

Our reliability data focuses on the Civic as a whole, but if that’s anything to go by, the signs are mixed. In our 2022 reliability survey, the Civic managed a surprisingly low 28th finish out of 37 cars in the family car class.

Honda, as a brand, has a very good reputation for reliability. In our latest survey, it finished in 12th place out of 32 manufacturers.

If you want to read more of our What Car? reliability survey results, click here.