NHTSA (USA)Critical
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.
This page covers 6 recalls, 211 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2020 Honda Civic.
The 2016 to 2020 Honda Civic received a five-star overall rating in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. The model earned five stars in side crash, rollover, and side pole tests. It received four stars in frontal crash testing. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this rating covers the entire 2016 to 2020 range.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2020 Civic draws complaints spread fairly evenly across three main areas: the powertrain, airbags, and steering. On the powertrain side, owners describe a range of engine and transmission concerns, including rough running, stalling, and hesitation. The airbag complaints center on the passenger seat occupant sensor, owners report the system misreads the seat's occupancy status, and several describe concerns about airbag deployment behavior tied to that sensor malfunction. Steering is the third notable cluster, with owners reporting a sticky or jerky steering feel, particularly during turns, sometimes leading to a diagnosis of a faulty electric steering rack. A smaller but recurring thread involves the air conditioning losing cooling ability and blowing warm air, though that system ranks lower by volume than the three leading categories.
211
Total Complaints
14
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
9
With Injuries
By System
The 2020 Honda Civic has 6 recalls, the most serious being a faulty front passenger seat weight sensor that can cause the front passenger airbag and knee airbag to deploy when they should not, raising the risk of injury in a crash.
The brake system carries a separate serious concern: a fastener connecting the brake booster to the brake master cylinder can work loose, causing the master cylinder to detach entirely from the booster assembly. When that happens, the brake pedal loses hydraulic pressure and braking function can fail. A warning sign of the airbag sensor issue is the SRS warning light illuminating on the instrument panel, though the sensor may fail without warning in a crash.
Two recalls address fuel pump failures, covering a broad range of model years across the Honda and Acura lineup. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank can stop working while the car is moving, cutting fuel delivery to the engine and causing a stall. A stall at speed or in traffic reduces the driver's ability to control the vehicle and creates a collision risk. Prior repair attempts for this fuel pump issue did not fully resolve the problem for all affected vehicles, which is why it appears in more than one recall campaign.
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.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 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 →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat weight sensor at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which could prevent the front passenger air bag from deactivating when it should.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat weight sensors at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat weight sensor may be defective, causing the passenger-front and knee airbags to deploy unnecessarily during a crash.
What the fix does
The weight sensor will be replaced. Honda will mail instructions and notify you when parts are available to schedule replacement at a dealership.
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 fastener connecting the brake booster to the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled, allowing the master cylinder to separate from the booster.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The low-pressure 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 assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
