2018 Honda Civic Safety Report
2018 Honda Civic Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Honda Civic
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 Honda Civic. 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 | High (5) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (603) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 0 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Steering | Compare steering issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Honda Civic with 121 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2016 | Check the 2016 Honda Civic before buying across this generation. |
Honda Civic 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 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 | 355 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Honda Civic | 551 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Honda Civic | 206 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Honda Civic | 1021 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Honda Civic | 121 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Honda Civic | 373 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2018 Honda Civic Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 Honda Civic, 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.
Steering
193 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Honda onlyFuel System, Gasoline
82 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel System, Gasoline issues Honda onlyUnknown Or Other
72 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Honda onlyFuel/Propulsion System
50 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Honda onlyElectrical System
23 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Honda onlyEngine
21 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Honda onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Honda Civic
Reliability Score
The 2018 Honda Civic receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2018 Honda Civic
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 2018 Honda Civic
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Honda Civic:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump Honda has issued recalls for certain 2013-2023 Honda Accords, Civics, and other models due to potential fuel pump failures that could lead to vehicle inoperability. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering: Electric Power Assist System Honda has issued recalls for certain 2017-2018 Honda Civics and CR-Vs due to the electric power steering (EPS) system failing at high speeds. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Air Bags No specific issues have been reported regarding air bags. |
Low | Occasional | N/A miles |
| Structure No specific issues have been reported regarding the vehicle's structure. |
Low | Occasional | N/A miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Honda Civic:
Issues with the electric power steering (EPS) system have been reported, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to maneuver at high speeds.
Recalls have been issued for certain models due to potential fuel pump failures that could lead to vehicle inoperability.
No specific issues have been reported regarding air bags.
No specific issues have been reported regarding the vehicle's structure.
Recall Details for the 2018 Honda Civic
The following 5 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Honda Civic by NHTSA:
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic Hatchback and Civic Type R vehicles. The owners guide in these vehicles may not have been included or if included, the owner's guide may not have been properly provided required information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Consequence: If the information is missing or improper, it can increase the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the owners information kit, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O3A.
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.
Consequence: The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C2N, P2O.
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Civic vehicles. The manufacturing date area of the certification labels may have random characters which can affect the owner's ability to determine if a safety recall includes their vehicle.
Consequence: If the owner is not able to verify if their vehicle is involved in safety recall, it can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is U23.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Honda Civic
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Honda Civic with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The electric power steering (EPS) system failed/malfunctioned this past week. When going over 35 mph my steering wheel would become "knotchy/jerky" and lock up and be difficult to turn. As a result, I took it to Honda to which they stated my whole rack and pinion needed total replacement. No warning signs, messages, icons, or lights came on in my car.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at high speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was drivable. The contact stated that the failure persisted while his wife was driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer or an indep...
We have noticed a clicking noise and her steering has begun to stick. Took to Honda and they told us they have been seeing this issue and even sent video telling us they see this is an ongoing problem. Filed claim with Honda. They refused to fix the faulty part because there is not recall with my VIN even though many have been recalled. Again, multiple managers at service told us they are just wai...
At speed the steering sticks when turning.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer and an independent mechanic were contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and then taken to an independent mechanic, where both diagnosed that the steering assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not...
Rack and Pinion steering failure. Sticking, hard to make wheel adjustments. loss of steering control. issue confirmed but Honda Dealership. Honda Dealership contacted Honda North America and was rejected as warranty issue. repair will exceed $7500. This issue corresponded with the fuel Pump recall and failure of the AC system which were covered under warranty recall. Due the High volume of failure...
The steering wheel becomes sticky and stiff. There is also a clicking noise when I try to center it. It is difficult to keep the car within my lane of traffic. There is presently 38,565 miles on this vehicle. I keep up with required maintenance. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the dealership. There is a Safety Recall for 2017-18 civic: steering box . My VIN number is not included on thi...
My complaint is similar to most of the other ones shown here. Notchy steering. I took it to the dealer. They told me that the steering rack was bad and needed to be replaced. How much? $6500! The car has under 30,000 miles on it. Got to give the service rep credit. He asked me if I wanted them to contact American Honda. I said heck yes. While they were making their decision, which took about 2 w...
Steering wheel gets really loose and very stiff at random while driving. I get power steering failure notifications on dash. I spoke with Honda dealership and was told my vehicle doesn’t belong to the recall. I have all the symptoms of the power steering recall issue.
Paint job on this vehicle is awful 3+ yrs ago it started peeling and flaking off now there is no paint on my side mirrors Contacted Honda just to be ignored
We purchased the vehicle in Jan 2025. As the weather or the car warmed the steering gets stiff and hard to maneuver, making it difficult to stay in the center of the lane. There are times when it gets so bad I think a cop could pull me over for swerving. As I researched the symptoms I found that recall SB18-102 matched the symptoms and was for the same year, make, and model; however, my car’s VIN ...
I own a 2018 Honda Civic that is subject to an open fuel pump recall. My vehicle suddenly became completely inoperable. When attempting to start the car, all of the dashboard lights come on, but the engine will not start or crank. The vehicle has power but will not turn over at all. This failure happened without any prior warning. I contacted Nalley Honda in Union City, GA, and they confirmed tha...
Steering wheel sticks, creating an issue to keep vehicle driving in a straight line. Alignment is not out, having to bump the steering wheel back and forth to stay in lane. Feeling of "dropout" in the steering driving at higher rates of speed. No warning lights or other symptoms prior to the failure. Issue has continued since first noticed. Service center can recreate the issue easily and says tha...
Steering sticks and makes it difficult to correct or straighten the car. Feels jerky and hard to handle
The steering wheel sticks when slight turning on both sides.
Steering wheel sticks when making slight left/right adjustments at speeds of 55+ causing you to overcorrect. Most noticeable while driving on the freeway trying to maintain a straight line.
Body Control Module The part was detected by Honda agency and they changed it because the battery was discharging. This Honda part already had problems with another model, but I don't want to admit that it also has them with the Civic models. The repair has a cost of $1000
Sticky steering on highways. Takes effort to make micro adjustments on the wheel. Steering wheel makes a sound when trying to turn or change lanes, especially on the highway.
The steering wheel sticks when moving it. Can't make any subtle moves on the steering wheel because of this and have to jerk the wheel.
Hello my name is [XXX] I sold this car to a buyer and would like to double remind the buyer about the recall so they can get it done, but they are not responding so I would like if you guys can remind them about the recall for safety measures thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Showing 20 of 603 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Honda Civic
Has the 2018 HONDA CIVIC been recalled?
Yes, the 2018 HONDA CIVIC has 5 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2018 HONDA CIVIC have?
The 2018 HONDA CIVIC has 603 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. 21 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 HONDA CIVIC?
The 2018 HONDA CIVIC received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 HONDA CIVIC?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 HONDA CIVIC involve steering (193 complaints), fuel system, gasoline (82 complaints), unknown or other (72 complaints). Other affected components include fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, engine.
How many crash reports does the 2018 HONDA CIVIC have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2018 HONDA CIVIC in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2018 HONDA CIVIC have?
There are no fire reports for the 2018 HONDA CIVIC in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 HONDA CIVIC?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 HONDA CIVIC. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2018 HONDA CIVIC?
21 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 HONDA CIVIC. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2018 HONDA CIVIC?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 HONDA CIVIC is proceed with caution. It has 603 complaints, 5 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2018 HONDA CIVIC?
The components with the most failures on the 2018 HONDA CIVIC are: 1. STEERING (193 complaints), 2. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE (82 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (72 complaints), 4. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (50 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (23 complaints). STEERING is the single most-reported problem area with 193 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2018 HONDA CIVIC?
Be aware of potential steering and fuel system issues, especially with the electric power steering and fuel pump. Check for recalls and have the vehicle serviced regularly. The 2018 HONDA CIVIC has 603 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2018 HONDA CIVIC?
The 2018 HONDA CIVIC receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 603 owner complaints, 5 recalls, and 0 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump and Steering: Electric Power Assist System.
What are the known issues with the 2018 HONDA CIVIC?
Known issues with the 2018 HONDA CIVIC include: Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump, Steering: Electric Power Assist System, Air Bags, Structure. These are based on patterns found across 603 NHTSA complaints. 5 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 Honda Civic?
Yes, there are recalls for fuel pump and electric power steering issues.
What are the common steering issues reported?
Steering wheel becomes difficult to maneuver at high speeds, sticking, and a clicking noise.
Is the paint quality a concern?
There have been reports of paint peeling and flaking, but this is not a widespread issue.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential steering and fuel system issues, especially with the electric power steering and fuel pump. Check for recalls and have the vehicle serviced regularly.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Honda Civic
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Honda Civic. The data includes 603 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 5 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 21 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2018 Honda Civic an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 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