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2023 Honda Civic Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2023 Honda Civic carries 4 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering control unit/module and rack and pinion. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Electric power steering gearbox sticking at speed.” Honda vehicles use the Maintenance Minder system — your dashboard displays a Code A (oil change) or Code B (oil change plus inspections) along with sub-codes 1-6 for additional services. Intervals adjust based on how you drive. The schedule below reflects Honda's underlying targets.

4 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Campaign #23V430000 · Jun 15, 2023

Issue: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel.

Risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

Campaign #23V704000 · Oct 19, 2023

Issue: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Civic 4-door and Civic 5-door vehicles that received a replacement power steering rack as part of a service repair. The steering rack may have been incorrectly assembled, which can allow the tire to chafe against the lower suspension or tie rod end, possibly resulting in tire damage.

Risk: A damaged tire can fail and increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the electric power steering rack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 16, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is YFW.

STEERING

Campaign #24V744000 · Mar 10, 2024

Issue: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle.

Risk: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are SJS, MJU, QJT and VJV.

SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Campaign #24V859000 · Nov 14, 2024

Issue: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Pilot, and 2024 HR-V, Acura Integra and Acura Integra Type S vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in an unsecured seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems."

Risk: An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's seat cushion frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2023 Honda Civic.

Reported to NHTSA

Electric power steering gearbox sticking at speed

STEERING

138 NHTSA complaints · 2023-11 → 2026-07 (200 most-recent of 251 total complaints shown)

“This vehicle has sticky steering which seems to start or become much more of an issue after driving the car for about 30 minutes. The effort needed to turn the steering wheel increases, especially when making small corrections like freeway driving. The issue starts become very…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11576080
“Steering in a straight line has become virtually impossible. The Steering Wheel feels "stuck" in position when driving straight or even at a slight curve, with no self-centering or smooth motion. In order to correct, I have to push the steering out of its stuck position and as a…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11559818
“When driving either in a straight line or in a turn, the EPS (electronic power steering) motor fails to sufficiently adhere to driver input (left or right turn). Problem was witnessed by service manager Tony Rocha of Ed Morse Honda 3790 W Blue Heron Blvd, Riviera Beach, FL…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11554275

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering recall repair parts unavailability

STEERING

18 NHTSA complaints · 2024-10 → 2026-04 (200 most-recent of 251 total complaints shown)

“The contact owns a 2023 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V744000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11627579
“I am writing to report a critical safety concern regarding the recall of the steering system on my 2023 Honda Civic Sport Hatchback. Honda has informed me that the repair will not be available until July 6, 2025—an unacceptably long delay for such…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11633708
“I received a recall notice for my vehicle in November 2024, and immediately called Honda to schedule an appointment for repair. My original date for the recall repair was scheduled for 12/7/24. Days before the repair was scheduled to take place, Honda called me to cancel my…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11645880

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in crash events

AIR BAGS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2024-02 → 2026-07 (200 most-recent of 251 total complaints shown)

“On August 11, 2025, the 2023 Honda Civic, VIN # [XXX] , was involved in an accident on the Miami/Gainesville Highway, resulting in a side impact with a truck. Fortunately, nothing serious happened to the health of my son, who was driving the vehicle. However, I am writing to…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11689447
“So we were in a accident the front right of the bumper was completely destroyed and the airbags didn’t deploy”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11653023
“On 12/03/2023, We were involved in serious accident. During this accident, only driver door air bag was deployed. No other air bags were deployed.My wife was on passenger side. She was seriously injured and hospitalized for several days”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11570497

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

ADAS and forward collision system warning malfunctions

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

10 NHTSA complaints · 2023-12 → 2026-01 (200 most-recent of 251 total complaints shown)

“Phantom braking when there is no cars or anything on the road. The car would immediately brake out no where. It could cause an accident randomly braking when using cruise control”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11712093
“Under multiple conditions, both intercity highways and two-lane country highways the cars adaptive cruise control with randomly slowdown/brakes extremely hard. In one specific instance I was driving home in the middle of the night with a vehicle behind me and with no other…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11561942
“In June 2025, while driving at highway speed, multiple warning lights and messages suddenly appeared, including: Brake System Warning, Road Departure Mitigation System Warning, Parking Brake/Brake Hold Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control Warning. These warnings appeared…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11709763

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Premature head gasket failure

ENGINE

2 NHTSA complaints · 2026-04 → 2026-06 (200 most-recent of 251 total complaints shown)

“The headgasket failed prematurely at 76,000 miles causing coolant to begin leaking out of the vehicle. The safety of myself and others is put at risk because a head gasket blowing caused the car to lose power on the way home from work which has caused me to have to slow down and…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11734647
“Premature Head Gasket Failure at 75,000 miles”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11742830

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear hatch water intrusion into cargo area

STRUCTURE:BODY

3 NHTSA complaints · 2023-12 → 2024-05 (200 most-recent of 251 total complaints shown)

“Rear hatchback fills internally with water and only drains when tailgate is raised. Standing water and freeze/thaw cycle has potential to damage electrical components (taillights, rear camera, license plate light, rear defroster, rear wiper). This issue has been confirmed by…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11579074
“Rear hatch holds water inside after rain”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11571113

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Lane departure and driver assistance camera recalibration failures

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

4 NHTSA complaints · 2024-04 → 2026-01 (200 most-recent of 251 total complaints shown)

“In December 2024 I started having issue with my driver assistant technologies. My driver assistant technologies lights started flashing . As they were flashing none of my assistant technologies were working. When they finally went off it gave me a message to call the dealer.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11666985
“I get a random warning that is an issue with the braking system and the Brake light comes on. The lane departure and cruise control is shut off while the vehicle is in motion. There is a sudden and unexpected drop in speed when the cruise control is shut off by the vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11635477

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 2 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Code A)

Every 7,500 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter. The Maintenance Minder triggers Code A between 7,500 and 10,000 miles depending on driving conditions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation (Sub-code 1)

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires front-to-back to even out wear. Honda triggers Sub-code 1 alongside every other oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection (Code B)

Every 15,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake. Code B includes a multi-point inspection of brakes, suspension, and fluids.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid (Sub-code 5)

Every 45,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 3 years regardless of mileage to prevent moisture absorption and corrosion of ABS components.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission / CVT Fluid (Sub-code 3)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace ATF or CVT fluid. Honda CVT models (Civic, HR-V, Accord LX) use Honda HCF-2 — do not substitute. The Maintenance Minder triggers earlier under heavy stop-and-go.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid (AWD models, Sub-code 5)

Every 30,000 mi

AWD CR-V, Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline: replace rear diff fluid every 30,000 miles, sooner if towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter (Sub-code 4)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Honda uses a long-life cellulose element on most port-injected engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs (Sub-code 6)

Every 105,000 mi

Honda uses iridium-tipped plugs rated for 100,000+ miles. Replace at 105,000 miles or whenever Sub-code 6 displays.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Coolant (Sub-code 5)

Every 60,000 mi

Honda Long-Life Type 2 (blue) coolant: first change at 120,000 miles, then every 60,000 miles. Do not mix with other coolant types.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter (Sub-code 3)

Every 15,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter — accessible behind the glove box on most Hondas. Honda recommends 15,000 miles in dusty conditions, longer in clean climates.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Valve Clearance Adjustment (Sub-code 6)

Every 105,000 mi

Inspect and adjust valve clearances at 105,000 miles. Critical on K-series and L-series engines to prevent valve recession.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$495–$535

Shop

~$345–$375

DIY

Pro only

Mechanical-bucket valvetrains (many Honda 4-cyls, older Toyotas) need this. Hydraulic lifters don't. Shop work — feeler-gauge precision required.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Modern Honda engines (K-series, L-series, R-series, plus all Earth Dreams 1.5T and 2.0T) use a timing chain designed to last the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

20 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

0

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2023 Honda Civic reflects Honda's published service intervals and the Maintenance Minder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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