How reliable is the Honda Civic?
Owner-reported reliability data: inspection results, typical mileage, and the most common failures.
The Honda Civic passes first-time inspections somewhat below the European average. The most commonly reported issues are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. Typical mileage by age and a year-by-year breakdown of reliability are shown below. All figures are owner-reported real-world data, not a marketing rating.
Below average reliability
Based on 60,582 inspection tests. First-time pass rate: 64.7%.
Honda Civic reliability by year
How the Honda Civic performs at first-time inspection, broken down by the year cohort. Empty cells mean we don't have enough owner-reported data for that year yet.
| Year cohort | Pass rate | Typical mileage @ 5 yrs |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 80.9% | – |
| 1990 | 76% | – |
| 1991 | 79.4% | – |
| 1992 | 83.5% | – |
| 1993 | 84.1% | – |
| 1994 | 77.4% | – |
| 1995 | 76% | – |
| 1996 | 66.9% | – |
| 1997 | 66.2% | – |
| 1998 | 67.2% | – |
| 1999 | 70% | – |
| 2000 | 70.4% | – |
| 2001 | 63% | – |
| 2002 | 64.9% | – |
| 2003 | 63.5% | – |
| 2004 | 65.5% | – |
| 2005 | 65.9% | – |
| 2006 | 63.8% | – |
| 2007 | 64.7% | – |
| 2008 | 65.1% | – |
Model-level pattern, not per-car prediction
These figures describe the Honda Civic as a model. The reliability of any individual Honda Civic also depends on service history, accident history, and how it was driven. Run a free VIN check to see the records attached to a specific car you're considering.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Honda Civic reliable?
Based on owner-reported inspection records, the Honda Civic passes first-time inspections somewhat below the European average. Its first-time inspection pass rate sits around 65%. Reliability varies by year and engine: see the year-by-year breakdown on this page for the specific cohort you're considering.
What are the common problems on the Honda Civic?
The most common owner-reported issues are: The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (5.1% of inspections); A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (4.1% of inspections); Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (2.3% of inspections); Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (2.3% of inspections); A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (2.1% of inspections).
What mileage is normal for a Honda Civic?
For a typical Honda Civic, owner-reported average mileage works out to about – at 3 years, – at 5 years, and – at 10 years. The mileage section on this page shows the full distribution, high-use vs low-use cars often differ by a factor of three.
How do I check a specific Honda Civic before buying?
Enter the 17-character VIN on Carlytics. The free check shows decoded specs and open safety recalls. The full vehicle history report (from EUR 8.90) cross-references owner-reported issues, mileage records, and stolen-vehicle databases for the specific car, model-level reliability tells you the pattern, the VIN check tells you the car.