8th generation · FA (sedan) / FG (coupe) / FD · 5,467 complaints, 4,056 with mileage
Owners filed 5,467 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006–2011 Honda Civic, and 4,056 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 21,000 and 87,000 miles. The median is 49,605 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (14.0% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles), the suspension (11.1% of complaints, typically around 30,000 miles), the engine (11.1% of complaints, typically around 107,440 miles).
9 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 768 | 14.0% | 75,000 | 35,000–116,000 |
| Suspension | 608 | 11.1% | 30,000 | 18,000–60,000 |
| Engine | 606 | 11.1% | 107,440 | 75,000–140,000 |
| Visibility | 546 | 10.0% | 40,000 | 25,000–55,000 |
| Structure | 334 | 6.1% | 60,000 | 38,000–90,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 317 | 5.8% | 55,000 | 31,000–80,050 |
| Electrical System | 296 | 5.4% | 43,000 | 18,500–76,000 |
| Power Train | 278 | 5.1% | 28,000 | 9,000–65,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 250 | 4.6% | 68,400 | 42,763–105,000 |
| Tires | 195 | 3.6% | 21,000 | 13,362–30,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,709 | 1,318 |
| 2007 | 1,466 | 1,089 |
| 2008 | 1,083 | 818 |
| 2009 | 499 | 340 |
| 2010 | 489 | 328 |
| 2011 | 221 | 163 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 49,605 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 14.0% of complaints (768 reports, 370 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 75,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 116,000 miles.
The suspension accounts for 11.1% of complaints (608 reports, 507 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 30,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 18,000 and 60,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 11.1% of complaints (606 reports, 477 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 107,440 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 75,000 and 140,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 10.0% of complaints (546 reports, 443 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 40,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 25,000 and 55,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 6.1% of complaints (334 reports, 216 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 38,000 and 90,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 5.8% of complaints (317 reports, 275 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 31,000 and 80,050 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2006 model year drew the most — 1,709 complaints — while 2011 drew the fewest at 221. The median year sits at 791.
That makes 2006 an outlier: roughly 2.2 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (8), the fuel system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 5,467 complaints filed against this generation, 405 reported a crash; 65 reported a fire; 381 reported an injury; 152 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.4% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 21,000 and 87,000 miles, with a median of 49,605. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the suspension are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The suspension in particular shows a median failure mileage of 30,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Cylinder block casting flaw on the 1.8L R18 allows the block to crack and seep coolant, leading to overheating, warped cylinder head and eventual engine failure. Honda extended engine block warranty coverage to 10 years from purchase with no mileage limit and replaces the block or full engine at no charge.
Integrated Motor Assist battery pack degradation causing sharply reduced assist and fuel economy. Honda's remedial software update reduced electric assist to protect the pack, which prompted a class action settlement over the resulting performance and economy loss.
Takata inflator recall population; rupture risk on driver and passenger inflators.
A/C condenser and compressor failure, with compressor debris contaminating the system and requiring full-system replacement.
Sun visor hinge failure causing the visor to droop; Honda issued a warranty extension for replacement.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 19V502000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 19V378000 | 2019-07-05 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V661000 | 2018-11-06 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V268000 | 2018-06-22 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V042000 | 2018-02-16 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 17V545000 | 2017-10-30 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 17V030000 | 2017-02-22 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 16V346000 | 2016-11-15 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 11V176000 | 2011-04-25 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump |