2020 Honda Civic Si Safety Report
2020 Honda Civic SI Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2020 Honda Civic Si
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2020 Honda Civic Si. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Low (0) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (209) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 15 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2016 | Compare against the 2016 Honda Civic Si with 1 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2018 | Check the 2018 Honda Civic Si before buying across this generation. |
Honda Civic Si Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Honda Civic Si years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Honda Civic Si | 363 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Honda Civic Si | 603 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2016 Honda Civic Si | 1 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Honda Civic Si | 8 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2020 Honda Civic Si Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2020 Honda Civic Si, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
25 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Honda onlyAir Bags
23 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Honda onlySteering
19 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Honda onlyUnknown Or Other
18 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Honda onlyElectrical System
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Honda onlyFuel/Propulsion System
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Honda onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2020 Honda Civic Si
Reliability Score
The 2020 Honda Civic Si receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2020 Honda Civic Si
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2020 Honda Civic Si
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2020 Honda Civic Si:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering System Reports indicate that the steering system can feel unstable at high speeds, potentially leading to loss of control. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Air Bag System There is a high-severity recall for the air bag system, which could result in failure to deploy in an accident. |
High | Common | 0-100k miles |
| Clutch Several reports mention clutch failure, with some vehicles experiencing complete clutch failure at under 60,000 miles. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Transmission Transmission fluid seal leaks have been reported, causing issues with the Honda CVT transmission. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2020 Honda Civic Si:
Issues with the steering system, including wheel detachment, are common.
Recalled air bag systems have been reported to malfunction.
Clutch failures have been reported, causing sudden loss of power.
Transmission fluid seal leaks have been reported, leading to transmission issues.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2020 Honda Civic Si
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2020 Honda Civic Si with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. While driving 50 MPH on the highway, the passenger’s side wheel felt as if the wheel was about to detach, causing the vehicle to veer to the right. The vehicle returned to normal functionality and operated as designed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact relat...
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, a bobcat crossed the road, and the bobcat was struck by the vehicle. The contact stated that there was extensive front-end damage and undercarriage damage to the vehicle. The driver’s and passenger’s side air bags did not deploy. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The contact was n...
On 04/2025 the car was driving fine with no warnings or indication of a problem. Turned my car on at a parking lot and as I was driving away the car suddenly stopped, all the warning lights started coming on. I was able to turn it back on and drove it to a nearby dealer. I am the second owner of the car and Honda dealer said the fuel pump had already been replaced due to a recall. This time they s...
Clutch started slipping all of a sudden. Check to see if it was under warranty said the warranty had expired because the car was over 36,000 MI did not know about the extended clutch warranty at the time that Honda was extending it due to defective parts so we replaced it ourselves. Upon tear down it was discovered that the clutch disc was only about 30% worn down there were no hot spots in the fl...
Fuel pump issue. There is an active recall for this make and model but this vin isn’t included. The car will be fine and either completely shut down or once parked it won’t restart. After about an hour it will start and be fine. We took to a local mechanic who diagnosed the fuel pump. Said there was a recall so we went to the local dealership. They said it isn’t included and they can’t get the f...
This model Civic Si was build by Honda with a defective clutch. Mine began to fail at less than 60K miles. It started in the higher RPM 5K to 6K in the taller overdrive gears. This clutch design was unable to support the torque of the motor, which led to its premature failure. It's well documented in Honda forums that the clutch is weak and prone to early failure. It usually starts to fail in...
The air conditioning system in my 2020 Honda Civic EX has a refrigerant leak at the evaporator assembly, causing very weak or almost no cooling even when set to the lowest temperature settings. This happens consistently, including in moderate to hot outside temperatures, making the cabin uncomfortably warm during drives as it could get pretty hot in inland southern California. The A/C evaporator a...
vehicle turns on in to accessory mode, does not allow me to turn off vehicle sometimes car turns on at night by itself, alarm goes off when parked and locked
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (AIR BAGS). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repairs, and the contact was informed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not m...
The collision mitigation braking system consistently detects objects in the road and forcibly brakes when the road ahead of me is completely empty. This has happened 4 or 5 times just in the last year. The first time it happened I was driving on a completely empty road when the CMBS activated and kept slamming on the brakes until I pulled over and restarted the entire car. I don't always have to r...
I was driving to work in the rain on the highway and I heard a big thump and I thought I had hit something and my wheel went sideways and I kept trying to keep my car on the road even though I didn’t hit anything.
My 2020 Civic Si had a total clutch failure at <32,000 miles matching TSB22-017 exactly. The vehicle failed to accelerate on a major interstate. The posted speed limit is 65 mph. While attempting to reach that speed the vehicle was revving at >6000RPM in all gears. I was able to reach 50 mph for short periods, but the vehicle would then slow to 45 or lower. An extreme safety risk on a busy high...
Honda CVT transmission fluid seal leak cause by failed torque converter. Car has a perfect maintenance history, all fluid changes done on time with Allen Honda at Bryan Texas including filters associated. Car is garage kept, not driven hard. Always driven in economy mode for smooth efficiency. Failure occurred at 86,165 miles. Significant enough I am reporting this, as it is a safety issue, howeve...
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while sitting in the vehicle with the vehicle turned off, the contact heard a pop. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the rear windshield had cracked without impact. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage wa...
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that parts for the recall repair were on backorder. No information on when parts would be available was provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceede...
My 2020 Honda Civic's passenger seat weight sensor failed due to an internal electrical failure. This is an officially diagnosed issue from a Honda Dealership. This put's my passenger's at risk as the airbags will not deploy due to the sensor not reading the passenger's weight. The vehicle has not been in an accident that would have caused this sensor to fail. On 10/16 the SRS light (reading airba...
My steering gradually stiffens then suddenly releases while traveling the highway. It cycled this way during the entire trip. It acted this way for the first time Oct 22, 2025 on the outgoing part of my hour long trip. It acted this way the second time Oct 25, 2025 on the hour long return drive home. I was the only one in the car at the time. Therefor, it put my own safety in jeopardy plus tho...
The vehicle was moving forward at 10 mph and went over a manhole cover that was protruding 4 inches out of the ground that was on the driver’s side. The manhole cover came in contact with the underside of the car and set the front driver’s side airbag off.
Q: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A: BCM (body mechanical module) became faulty, causing car to turn on ignition by itself. Would be sitting in car with it off and the ignition would turn on causing issues with battery and gas consumption. Also in order to save that until it was figured out what was wrong I had to disconnect the ...
There is a known recall on the fuel pump and the last bulletin from Feb 25 #24008 lists All Vins except ones starting with JHM. My Honda has shut down on 6 occasions. I took it to a mechanic who diagnosed it as the fuel pump is bad. He showed me the bulletin. When I contacted Honda I was told this Vin is not included. it has under 50,000 miles on it. I believe this is somehow being overlooked in t...
Showing 20 of 209 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2020 Honda Civic Si
Has the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI been recalled?
No, the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI has no recalls on record with NHTSA as of our latest data update.
How many complaints does the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI have?
The 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI has 209 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 14 involved crashes. 11 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI?
The 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI involve power train (25 complaints), air bags (23 complaints), steering (19 complaints). Other affected components include unknown or other, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system.
How many crash reports does the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI have?
There are 14 crash reports associated with the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI out of 209 total complaints (6.7% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI out of 209 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI.
How many injuries are reported for the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI?
11 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 209 complaints, 0 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI?
The components with the most failures on the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI are: 1. POWER TRAIN (25 complaints), 2. AIR BAGS (23 complaints), 3. STEERING (19 complaints), 4. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (18 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (16 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 25 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI?
Be cautious of the steering and air bag systems, as they have reported issues. Regular maintenance is crucial to avoid clutch and transmission failures. The 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI has 209 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI?
The 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 209 owner complaints, 0 recalls, and 15 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Steering System and Air Bag System.
What are the known issues with the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI?
Known issues with the 2020 HONDA CIVIC SI include: Steering System, Air Bag System, Clutch, Transmission. These are based on patterns found across 209 NHTSA complaints.
Are there any recalls for the 2020 Honda Civic SI?
Yes, there are recalls for the air bag system and transmission fluid seal leaks.
What are the common issues with the steering system?
The steering system can feel unstable at high speeds, potentially leading to wheel detachment.
Is the clutch prone to failure?
Yes, several reports indicate clutch failure at under 60,000 miles.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of the steering and air bag systems, as they have reported issues. Regular maintenance is crucial to avoid clutch and transmission failures.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2020 Honda Civic Si
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2020 Honda Civic Si. The data includes 209 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 14 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 11 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2020 Honda Civic Si an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16