2015 Honda Civic Safety Report

The 2015 Honda Civic presents a mixed safety picture. While it achieved strong crash test ratings from NHTSA, including a 5-star overall rating, 5-star side impact, and 4-star frontal and rollover ratings, its complaint data reveals significant concerns, particularly with the power train. With 373 total complaints, a substantial 144 (38.6%) are related to the POWER TRAIN, indicating a widespread issue. This is further underscored by a recall for the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE, affecting certain 2014-2015 Civics, where a damaged transmission drive pulley shaft could lead to loss of acceleration or wheel lock-up. Despite the recall, numerous complaints detail transmission failures, shuddering, and loss of motive power, often at mileages between 80,000 and 120,000, with some owners reporting their VINs were not included in the recall despite experiencing the exact described failure. Beyond the power train, AIR BAGS account for 41 complaints, with several reports of non-deployment in crashes, raising serious safety questions despite the vehicle's high crash test scores. Other notable complaint areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER (34 complaints), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (12 complaints, including battery drain issues), and ENGINE (11 complaints, some detailing sudden loss of power or stalling). The presence of 22 reported injuries, with 0 crashes and 0 fires, suggests that some of these component failures are directly contributing to hazardous situations. The recall specifically addresses a critical transmission component that could lead to a complete loss of vehicle control. While the recall is a positive step, the volume of ongoing transmission complaints, even from vehicles supposedly outside the recall scope, suggests a broader reliability issue with the CVT transmission. The high number of airbag non-deployment complaints is particularly concerning given the vehicle's otherwise strong crash test performance, indicating a potential flaw in the airbag system's real-world activation. Overall, while the 2015 Civic performs well in controlled crash tests, its real-world reliability and safety, particularly concerning the power train and airbags, are significantly undermined by the high volume and severity of owner complaints.

Our recommendation: While the 2015 Honda Civic boasts excellent crash test ratings, potential buyers should be aware of widespread CVT transmission issues and airbag non-deployment complaints; a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially of the transmission, is highly recommended.