Honda Civic Si
Problems & Worst Years
Every reported problem for the Honda Civic Si, model year by model year — ranked from 512 federal NHTSA complaints across 2018–2020.
Steering and fuel-system problems trade off atop the complaint list for the Civic Si across its three reported model years, with 2018 standing out for sheer volume. That year drew 368 total complaints, led by steering wheel sticking and locking at a substantial 112 occurrences, followed by fuel-system issues tied to an outstanding recall repair (97) and a steering gearbox failure rated as a safety concern (60). Engine misfires and failures (30) and unresolved recall complaints (25) round out the top five, with two clusters overall carrying a safety designation.
The following year, 2019, flips the order: fuel pump failure becomes the top complaint at 58 occurrences, with steering rack and pinion failure close behind at 50 and a power steering system failure rated as a safety concern at 40. Engine stalling during driving, also safety-rated, added 26 more reports, and total complaints for the year reached 233 across three safety clusters — the most of any year for this model. By 2020, volume had eased considerably to 105 complaints with no safety-rated clusters, topped by a forward collision avoidance malfunction (15), continued steering wheel sticking (14), and an airbag deployment malfunction (13).
Between the two dominant systems here — steering and fuel delivery — it's the steering complaints that persist across all three years, making that the area worth the closest look on a test drive, particularly any sticking, locking, or resistance while turning. Owners in 2018 and 2019 also flagged unresolved recall repairs tied to the fuel system, so ask specifically whether any outstanding recall work was completed before buying. As always, these numbers reflect what drivers reported to NHTSA rather than a precise failure rate, and a full service history combined with an independent mechanical inspection will tell you more than the complaint tally alone.
Honda Civic Si problems by year
Complaint volume by model year (bar = relative to the worst year). Theworst yearsare the most-complained-about, weighted by safety-risk problems.
| Year | Complaint volume | Problems | Safety / High | Most common problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018worst | 253 | 9 | 2/6 | Steering Wheel Sticking and Locking Steering · 112 complaints |
| 2019worst | 170 | 10 | 3/3 | Fuel Pump Failure Fuel system · 58 complaints |
| 2020worst | 89 | 13 | 0/4 | Forward Collision Avoidance System Malfunction Other · 15 complaints |
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls, 2018–2020. Problem clustering and year rankings are derived from the complaint record; complaint volume reflects reports filed, not total incidence or fault rate. Vehicle image is illustrative.