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Honda Civic: common problems & condition

139
Cars inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
56/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100
44%
In good shape (60+)all cars we check: 53%



Across 139 used Honda Civics we inspected, this model scores noticeably below average — average condition 56/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.

What we found

Most common faults

Fuel trim out of range · Engine
59%
Oil leaks · Engine
52%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
43%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
37%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
35%

Share of inspected Honda Civics where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 9% Good 35% Mediocre 39% Poor 17%
Hidden history

What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on this model.

85%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
8%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
1%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%
How long does a Civic stay good?
Good cars by mileage
0 25 50 75 100 0–20k mi: 100% in good shape (6 cars) 40–60k mi: 80% in good shape (15 cars) 60–80k mi: 67% in good shape (18 cars) 80–100k mi: 57% in good shape (23 cars) 100–120k mi: 47% in good shape (15 cars) 120–140k mi: 45% in good shape (20 cars) 140–160k mi: 25% in good shape (24 cars) 160–180k mi: 33% in good shape (9 cars) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
0 25 50 75 100 4 years old: 60% in good shape (5 cars) 5 years old: 88% in good shape (8 cars) 6 years old: 30% in good shape (10 cars) 7 years old: 71% in good shape (21 cars) 8 years old: 38% in good shape (8 cars) 9 years old: 89% in good shape (9 cars) 10 years old: 58% in good shape (19 cars) 11 years old: 60% in good shape (10 cars) 12 years old: 83% in good shape (6 cars) 15 years old: 0% in good shape (6 cars) 16 years old: 0% in good shape (9 cars) 2y 4y 6y 8y 10y 12y 14y 16y vehicle age when we inspected it

Share of Honda Civics in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.

What else does ~$13k buy? A used Honda Civic typically sells for around $13,158 — compare the odds of getting a good car across every make at that budget. Compare →
More on Honda
Fit 30 cars · 53% good CR-V 83 cars · 52% good Odyssey 50 cars · 44% good Accord 109 cars · 39% good Pilot 42 cars · 36% good

Other Honda models we've inspected — or see the full Honda profile.

Straight from recent Honda Civic reports

2016 Honda Civic · 169k mi — flagged: oil leaks, signs of recent repair, fault codes recently cleared. Inspected Jul 25.
2015 Honda Civic · 79k mi — flagged: low coolant / cooling system issues, fuel trim out of range, oil leaks. Inspected Jul 23.
The bottom line

These Civics often hide bodywork and carry engine troubles that stack up fast. With repaints on 85 percent of them and fuel-trim problems hitting nearly six in ten, start every inspection under the hood—check for oil leaks, coolant levels, and those out-of-range trims—then crawl the panels for fresh paint and any structural clues. Tires and active codes round out the usual suspects, so budget for fresh rubber and a full scan. Lean toward cleaner examples and use the common engine wear to negotiate hard or walk if the leaks and trims both show up.

FAQ
?
Is the Honda Civic reliable?
44% of the 139 we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, with an average of 56/100 — it scores noticeably below average.
?
What are the most common problems on a used Honda Civic?
The items we flag most often are fuel trim out of range (59%), oil leaks (52%), tires condition & wear (43%). Have these checked before buying.
?
Should I worry about cleared fault codes?
On 1% of these cars the ECU codes had been erased shortly before sale, which can hide active faults. Ask for a diagnostic scan and start the engine from cold.
Thinking of buying a Honda Civic? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 139 inspections · updated Aug 1, 2026