Most of the time, this Corolla rival just keeps going
Not many automotive nameplates survive for long enough to reach 11 generations, but the Honda Civic is one of them. Since the 1970s, the Civic has come to represent affordable, dependable motoring—often with a fun-to-drive edge lacking in its Corolla rival.
The Honda Civic’s reliability reputation has without a doubt contributed to its success. Be it the hatchback, coupe, or sedan, the compact Honda has always been a solid bet if you want to keep running costs low, and there are many high-mileage Civics still roaming around. But what are the Civic model years that are most reliable? Let’s dive in and find out.
Related: These Are The Toyota Camry’s Best Years For Reliability
How We Found The Most Reliable Civic Years
We used the total number and severity of complaints/recalls to determine which Honda Civic years stand out. This information was found via sources like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), J.D. Power, and Car Complaints.
A few Civic model years have been excluded. Civics from the 2021 model year and newer have not been considered, since they’ve not been on the road for long enough to accurately gauge their long-term reliability. This rules out the current Civic generation, which only arrived for the 2022 model year.
Furthermore, because reliability data is incomplete or less accessible for older models, Civics older than the 1990 model year have also been excluded. One can also expect that such old Civics will require more intensive maintenance at this stage, regardless of how reliable they were.
Related: This Is The Most Reliable Honda CR-V Model Year
The Most Reliable Civic Model Years
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There have been many dependable Honda Civics through the years, so choosing just a single model year as the most reliable is close to impossible. Our research indicates that the following Civic model years are particularly reliable:
1990-1997
1999-2000
2011
2013-2015
2019-2020
Overall, the model years listed above have a lower overall number of complaints and recalls, or when there are many recalls, they do not directly impact reliability. For example, the 2000 Honda Civic has 18 recalls, but 12 of these were for headlights and/or amber reflectors that were deemed poorly illuminated; while this can be considered a safety issue, it doesn’t impact the longevity of the vehicle. Similarly, many Civics were involved in airbag recalls, but these affected hundreds of thousands of models—when purchasing any used car, you should always check that recalls have been attended to.
Many fifth- and sixth-gen Civics from the 1990s are considered extremely reliable, which is part of the reason they became so popular with tuners. Some of these Civics tapped into reliable Honda engine families like the D-Series, a low-powered but dependable four-cylinder.
Fast-forward to the tenth-gen Civic, and the 2019 and 2020 models are rated highly for reliability despite having a lot more tech. According to Kelley Blue Book, for instance, the 2020 Civic has a brilliant 4.7 rating out of 5 for reliability.
All the Civic model years listed above have a lower-than-average number of issues posted on Car Complaints. As far as the Honda Civic’s lifespan goes, a well-maintained example from one of these model years can be expected to last for over 200,000 miles.
The Most Reliable Honda Civic Generations
There have been many dependable Camry generations since 1990, with just a few model years here and there bringing down their overall scores. These are a few highly regarded Civic generations, based purely on how reliable they’ve been:
Fifth Generation (1992-1995)
Sixth Generation (1996-2000)
Ninth Generation (2012-2015)
Tenth Generation (2017-2021)
Note that while we have singled out the above generations, this does not mean you can’t find a seventh- or eighth-generation Civic that won’t last a long, long time. The generations above, on average for the nameplate, do represent some of the best Honda Civic years with regard to lower complaints and recalls, though.
The ninth-gen Civic suffered from poor interior quality, especially for the early 2012 model, but again, this issue did not directly impact reliability. The simpler powertrains of the earlier fifth and sixth gens served them well, and there were fewer electronics to worry about back then.
On Car Complaints, there are only eight complaints logged for the 1992 model, so this also looks like one of the most reliable Honda Civic model years.
Common Problems And Honda Civic Years To Avoid
So, what years of the Honda Civic are best to avoid? It’s impossible for any car to sail through life without any issues, even one as dependable as the Civic. Fortunately, by shopping for less trouble-prone trims or model years, you can lower your risk of a major, expensive repair.
According to RepairPal, these are the most common Civic problems:
Vibration from steering wheel when brakes are applied
Front door glass off track
Faulty regulator could cause headlights to dim
Front compliance bushings may crack
Most of these should be fairly easy to resolve, and RepairPal still gives the Civic a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. The average annual cost for repairs is $368, much lower than the average of $526 for all compact cars.
Other issues that were noted for various Civics include:
Transmission failure (conventional automatics and CVTs)
Engine failure
Peeling paint
Airbag faults
Let's look into some of these in more detail.
Transmission Failure: Seventh-Generation Civic
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With 27 recalls and 1,126 complaints logged on the NHTSA, the 2001 Honda Civic stands out as a serious red flag. Car Complaints has noted 1,128 complaints for the 2001 Civic, more than any other model year, with the vast majority related to transmission issues.
According to the site, there is a flaw with the four-speed automatic transmission, which often requires a rebuild or replacement. Those who had to replace their transmissions spent an average of $2,320 on the job, and they had to do so with an average mileage of only 105,000 miles.
According to CarBuzz, the transmission issue is as a result of defective materials that cause the transmission to burn through the fluid before it fails, preceded by leaks or shifting/slipping problems. If you plan on buying a seventh-gen Civic, rather go for a manual model.
If you buy a CVT-equipped Civic, be aware that a recall was issued in 2015 for 2014 and 2015 Civics, as some of these could experience in a breaking drive pulley shaft. In general, CVT transmissions should be meticulously maintained to avoid any issues, especially as the miles pile up.
Airbag Recalls: Multiple Model Years
Even some of the most reliable Honda Civics have been affected by airbag-related recalls, and it’s important to check that any used example you buy has been checked for potential safety issues.
Takata airbags, which affected millions of vehicles globally, were equipped to numerous Honda Civics, many of which were recalled several times. In a worst-case scenario, metal fragments could be ejected upon airbag deployment, causing injuries that have been fatal in some cases.
Due to the massive number of cars affected, we advise visiting the NHTSA site to find out if a used Civic you’re interested in has been implicated in any of the recalls.
Cracked Engine Block: Eighth-Generation Civics
These Civics also missed our list of recommended Civic generations due to an issue where the engine blocks could crack. This is the primary issue for the 2006 Civic, according to Car Complaints.
The issue affected Civics with the R18A1 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, whereby the engine block could crack without warning, although some owners reported hearing a tapping sound from the engine bay. The average mileage of the issue was around 98,000 miles, with a repair cost of close to $3,000.
Honda extended the warranty for the engine to 10 years, but that no longer matters, since this Civic was introduced for the 2006 model year.
Final Thoughts
Although there have been some alarming mechanical faults on certain Honda Civics, these tend to be isolated to specific model years or generations. As long as you steer clear of these models, there’s no reason that a used and well-maintained Civic shouldn’t last a long time.
Civics have mostly proven themselves with robust mechanicals and excellent build quality, and many of them are fun to drive. Your most reliable bets are the newer ninth and tenth generations, although the former is not a particularly memorable iteration of the Civic.
Overall, though, it’s easy to see why this car rates as the Toyota Corolla’s most important rival.
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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