This page covers 7 recalls, 682 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2018 Honda Civic.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Steering dominates the complaint picture for the 2018 Honda Civic by a wide margin. Owners consistently describe the electric power steering as feeling "sticky" or resistant during small directional adjustments, particularly at highway speeds above 40 mph. The common pattern is that the wheel resists input and then snaps or jerks toward the intended direction when the driver applies extra force to break through the resistance, making smooth lane corrections difficult. Some owners report the issue is directional, occurring mainly when turning one way. The fuel system is the second most-reported area, though complaint volume there is notably lower. Back on steering, multiple owners report bringing the car to dealers repeatedly without a lasting fix, with the sticking sensation persisting even after component replacements like ball joints.
682
Total Complaints
26
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
17
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Honda Civic has 7 recalls, the most serious involving a fuel pump that can fail and stall the engine while driving, and a power steering defect where a dislodged magnet can cause the steering to suddenly pull in the opposite direction of input.
A separate but related concern covers the front passenger seat sensor, where an error can cause the airbag to deploy at the wrong time in a crash, raising the risk of injury. These fuel pump and airbag issues span several recalls that describe the same core defects across different filing scopes, but the underlying problems are the same.
On the documentation side, two lower-severity recalls affect certain Hatchback and Type R trims: the owner's guide may be missing or incomplete, and on some vehicles the certification label shows garbled characters in the manufacturing date field, making it harder to confirm whether a specific vehicle is included in a safety recall.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and create an electrical short, potentially causing airbags to deploy unexpectedly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat weight sensor at no cost to you.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 3 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail, potentially stopping fuel delivery to the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail, which could prevent fuel from reaching the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, causing rough engine operation, starting problems, check engine light illumination, or sudden loss of engine power while driving.
What the fix does
The fuel pump motor will be replaced at a dealer. Owners will receive notification by mail with instructions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The owner's guide may be missing or incomplete, lacking required information about child safety seat anchor systems.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the owner's information kit at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The magnet that controls the power steering assist signal may become loose and shift during a full lock turn, causing steering assist to apply in the opposite direction.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly at no cost to restore proper steering operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The certification label on some 2018 Honda Civic vehicles may display random characters in the manufacturing date area, making it difficult to verify whether your vehicle is included in a safety recall.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the certification label at no cost. Recall began August 7, 2018. Contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138 (recall U23).
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
