Used Honda Civic 2017-2022 reliability
Category: Family car
The Civic is good to drive and used prices are competitive. Its infotainment system is poor, though.
What should I look for in a used Honda Civic hatchback?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
Brakes
Some Civic owners have complained of squealing brakes; Honda is said to be aware of the problem and working on a fix, though it's worth keeping in mind that any Civic you test drive with noisy brakes may not be easy to fix.
Electrics
It'll also pay you to check the electrics carefully, as some owners have also described electrical niggles. And cast a keen eye over the paintwork and lights, because both of these areas have caused concern too.
Bodywork
Check the bodywork for any dings picked up in car parks or stone chips from motorway driving, too, and look at the alloy wheels to make sure there are no signs of kerb damage. It'll also pay you to look closely around the interior; Civics are family cars, so they may have been trashed by unsympathetic owners.
What are the most common problems with a used Honda Civic hatchback?
Fuel pump
An issue has been found with the fuel pump module on Civics manufactured from the start of production up until 5 March 2019. Check this with your local Honda dealer because a new module will need to be fitted to sort the issue.
Side airbags
A small number of examples built between 12 April and 31 July 2017 might not deploy as intended in a collision, so speak with your Honda dealer to establish if your car is affected by this.
Emissions
Some Civics made from the start of production up until 23 May 2018 could have a problem with the engine's emission control software that would require an update to be performed by a Honda technician. Find out if your example is affected by this by contacting your dealer.
Click here for more information. Contact your local Honda dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.
Is a used Honda Civic hatchback reliable?
Our data suggests the Honda Civic is a mostly reliable car. In our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, it ranked 16th out 29 cars in the family car class. Its reliability score of 90.5% means the Civic is more reliable than the Mazda 3 and Mercedes A-Class, but less reliable than the Ford Focus and Kia Ceed.
The largest complaint was about the car's air-con, with 15.3% of owners in our survey saying they had experienced problems with it. Second to that was non-engine electrics, which attracted 9.7% of complaints.
As a car brand, Honda as a brand managed a very respectable sixth place finish out of 32 manufacturers featured, with an excellent overall score of 95.9%. It finished above Audi, BMW and Mercedes, but below Lexus, Mini and Suzuki.
Used Honda Civic reliability: owners' view
Our readers have also shared their experiences with the Honda Civic. We know the Civic comes with a strong reliability record, with few reports of major faults or breakdowns. Specifically, the engine and transmission systems are praised for their durability, and the electrical components, including infotainment and dashboard displays, are nearly all faultless.
However, when it comes to dealer service, opinions were more mixed. Some readers commend their dealership for prompt and efficient service, particularly in handling minor repairs under warranty. Others, though, have faced challenges with dealer responsiveness and repair times, mentioning that some issues took longer than expected to resolve, which affected their overall satisfaction.
The Civic maintains its reputation for reliability, but the variability in dealer service experiences suggests room for improvement in ensuring consistency across the brand's network.
If you'd like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
To take part in our annual reliability survey with your car, please follow the link here
