Honda Civic Type R Complaints

42 consumer complaints on file.

#11774237October 28, 2026
ENGINE
I recently discovered that coolant has been leaking into two of my cylinders, causing an overheating issue. The Honda dealership tells me this is a known issue for their engines for that year range, so much so that an extended warranty has been added to all other engines but there is a carve out for the Type-R. The same damage is occurring and they know about it but they are failing to address it. I am a lawyer and I will also be working on putting together other owners to certify a class if this route is not successful. I first became aware of it based on a rev match error and an emissions system error being thrown at the same time, and then the engine started to overheat when it was started from cold. I could get the engine temperature to come down by manually engaging the air conditioning. This was some type of cooling system error as well, but I didn't see that on the checklist above. The dealership has confirmed the error and reproduced it. It is currently still at the dealer and is available for inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773846October 26, 2026
ENGINE
In April 2026, while the vehicle was being driven, the engine shut off once. Inspection at Valley-Hi Honda found a cracked engine with metal debris in the oil, with diagnostic codes P0017 and P0219. A sudden engine shutdown and engine failure while driving is a safety hazard because it causes loss of power in traffic. The manufacturer, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., denied warranty coverage, claiming driver abuse based on a stored code showing about 7,675 RPM for 0.6 seconds. The engine (longblock) was replaced at a cost of $9,988.08 paid out of pocket, Repair Order #480665. There was no crash and no injuries, and there were no prior similar incidents. The vehicle was purchased new on November 2, 2023.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770532October 12, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Evaporator failed at 63,000 miles, resulting in poor window defogging during morning hours. The failed evaporator also led to loss of cabin cooling resulting in excessive heat stress during daytime operation. Additionally the flammable R-1234yf refrigerant leaked into my cabin creating a fire risk. I noted the odd odor to the dealership and manufacturer. The decomposition of R-1234yf inside the cabin potentially exposed me and the technician replacing the evaporator to hydroflouric acid, trifluoroacetic acid, and carbonyl fluoride, which are hazardous decomposition products.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11767295September 27, 2026
STEERING
Steering wheel is locking with left hand curves at highway speeds especially when the car has been driven for more than 20 minutes. Multiple incidents where I almost end up on the opposite lane because of this. Car has been brought to dealership 3-4 times but they refused to look further into the problem because they claim they cannot replicate it during their test drives.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765474September 19, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER
Less than 6 month old 2025 Honda Civic Type R, with structural issues. hatchback holding water after it rains and rear passenger door doing the same. Rear hatch has condensentation on inside window anytime it rains. They want a $160 diagnostic fee to look at it for something that clearly is a warranty covered issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763354September 10, 2026
ENGINE
Head Gasket failure, coolant was found while inspecting a spark plug at my local Honda dealership. Noticed spark plug in cylinder 2 was damaged. Stuck a camera down to find coolant mixed with oil.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762818September 8, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield is soft and the small pits are making driving into the sun mire difficult.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11761048August 31, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
During a controlled low-speed autocross event (~55 mph entry), I applied the brake pedal firmly to decelerate for an upcoming turn. The vehicle failed to decelerate at anywhere near its rated capability. Despite full, sustained pedal application, the car would not slow adequately, departed the course, and struck a barrier, resulting in a total loss. No injuries occurred. This happened on smooth, dry pavement where 100+ other vehicles braked normally. The failed system appears to be the electronic brake control (ABS/VSA) and/or its input signaling. Event Data Recorder (EDR) data was professionally extracted and shows: accelerator at 0% for ~3.5 seconds before impact (ruling out pedal misapplication); ABS logged ACTIVE while stability control was "not engaged"; and peak deceleration of only ~0.67 g with a momentary 0.00 g dropout, versus this model's documented ~0.9–1.0 g capability. Notably, the service-brake switch intermittently read OFF while ABS was simultaneously active — a signal inconsistency, since ABS modulates driver-applied pressure. This indicates a possible brake-switch/signal-integrity or ABS/VSA control anomaly that reduced or withheld commanded braking. Safety risk: complete loss of expected stopping power at speed. Had this occurred on a public road with a pedestrian, crossing traffic, or a stopped vehicle ahead, it could have caused serious injury or death. The vehicle was under the 3-year/36,000-mile warranty with a stock, unmodified brake system. Prior symptom: on the immediately preceding run, dashcam footage shows an abnormal brake hop/oscillation, which may have been an early sign of the same fault. The vehicle, EDR data, and synchronized dashcam footage are preserved and available for inspection. The manufacturer extracted the EDR but has not yet performed a root-cause teardown. No dealer, police, or insurance inspection has occurred. Root cause: UNKNOWN pending modulator interrogation.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757847August 19, 2026
STEERING
Sticky steering at highway speeds
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755767August 9, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
On Thursday [XXX] I left San Marcos, CA and drove north to meet with my future father-in-law who lives in Shady Canyon, located in Irvine, CA. My car, a 2018 Honda Civic Type R, performed normally on the way to his house, without any warning lamps, messages, etc shown. The tires had regular pressure and all maintenance on the vehicle was current. Upon leaving my friend's house, I drove 1/4 mile down the road and stopped at a 3way stop sign before turning left through a gate which has an electronic arm--once a vehicle is sensed, the arm is raised and the vehicle continues forward. As I proceeded to the gate, the car accelerated, the steering froze, and I could not steer the car away from the oncoming gate. I slammed on the brakes and the brakes were non responsive although I applied immediate, hard pressure on the pedal. This is a performance car with very strong brakes capable of stopping it in a very short distance. Within a split second, my right front bumper slammed into a post right of the gate, and both front air bags and the side airbags deployed, and vehicle's momentum was stopped. I was unhurt other than a small scratch on my finger. Within minutes, the Community Security and Irvine police responded, and I told them what had happened: The steering froze and the brakes were unresponsive which led to this accident. The Police Officer confirmed from the accident scene that speed was not involved in this incident. My car was towed to a salvage yard (CoPart) affiliated with my insurance company, USAA. I asked the USAA Customer Agent if they could check the Electronic Data Recorder (EDR) on my vehicle, to learn what had occurred in the moments up to the incident. They referred me to Honda USA whom I called on June 22, 2026. However, Honda did not call me for 17 days, and they stated that they could not check the EDR and I should have hired an Inspector to do this. During this time, the car was declared a loss. So, the accident cause is unknown. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747700July 1, 2026
ENGINE
I respectfully request that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles investigate Rick Case Honda for a repair I believe was performed negligently and the dealership's refusal to accept responsibility. On December 2, 2025, Rick Case Honda performed a cylinder head replacement on my 2023 Honda Civic before selling it at auction. I later purchased the vehicle on March 16, 2026, from Newton Nissan South, which had acquired it through the auction. Several months later, the engine developed an oil leak. Newton Nissan South diagnosed the leak at the front crankshaft seal using UV dye and referred me to Honda of Murfreesboro for warranty repair. During disassembly, Honda of Murfreesboro discovered a broken timing chain tensioner retaining bolt inside the engine. I met with the Service Director and a Honda North America Field Technical Specialist, who showed me the failed parts, including the broken bolt, broken tensioner, wear marks on the timing cover, and grooves in the engine block consistent with prolonged movement before the bolt failed. I was advised that this bolt requires only 7-9 ft-lbs of torque and that improper installation can cause delayed failure. Honda of Murfreesboro advised that the last repair involving removal of this component was Rick Case Honda's December 2, 2025 repair. Since then, no repairs have been performed in that area of the engine, only routine maintenance and diagnosis of the oil leak. Rick Case Honda has denied responsibility based primarily on the passage of time and changes in ownership, despite being the last dealership to perform this engine repair. I respectfully request that your office investigate whether Rick Case Honda failed to perform the repair according to Honda specifications and improperly refused responsibility for the resulting engine damage. I am seeking repair of my vehicle and any other relief deemed appropriate.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746791June 26, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Civic Type R. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH and slowing down for a red light, the vehicle failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a CV axle failure which also caused excessive wear to the disc brakes. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 19,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740562May 28, 2026
ENGINE
It is a common issue on the Honda Civic Type R from 2017 to 2021 in which water will leak through the hood scoop causing water to drip onto cylinder 4 causing a misfire. Misfire No. 4 Cylinder (DTC P0304). There is a TSB for it under 25-062 for this same issue. Water could enter the hood scoop and accumulate down inside the no. 4 spark plug hole. This can corrode the ignition coil, plug tube, and spark plug, leading to a misfire to the no. 4 cylinder. If a misfire is detected, DTC P0304 is stored. The only warning signs will be the check engine light once the coil pack goes bad in which mosts cases there is corrosion on the plug tube and the spark plug from the water accumulating. There is lost of power and can happen during drives.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727070March 25, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While operating my 2021 Honda Civic Type R (VIN: [XXX] ) in high-ambient temperatures (approximately 95°F), the vehicle experienced a sudden and total loss of motive power during acceleration while exiting a busy intersection. This resulted in an immediate engine stall in the path of oncoming traffic, creating a severe risk of a collision. Following the stall, the vehicle was extremely difficult to restart. Once restarted, it entered a 'limp home' mode with a severely restricted RPM limit and multiple dashboard warnings, including 'Emissions System Problem' and 'Rev Match System Problem.' A diagnostic scan performed immediately after the incident revealed a DTC P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too Low). The symptoms—thermal-related failure, stalling under load, and the P0087 code—are identical to the documented mechanical failures of the Denso fuel pump impeller swelling defect. Although this production year and model are known to be part of the expanded fuel pump recall population, my specific VIN is not currently showing as 'remedied' or 'open' in the manufacturer's database. I am reporting this as an active, unaddressed safety defect that poses an unreasonable risk of crash or injury due to unpredictable engine failure in traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724754March 16, 2026
STEERING
I’ve been having some strange steering issues with my car. It feels like I’m driving something with a bent frame, especially when I go over 40 mph. The front driver’s side wheel pulls to one side, and sometimes it feels like the rug is being pulled out from under me. It really freaks me out. I haven’t been able to get a clear answer from any dealers yet, even after taking it to two different places, and they’re still checking it out. It's kind of funny because I had the same issue with my old Civic Sport, and they never figured it out back then either. No warning lights or anything have come up, but I can really feel the steering acting weird, especially when it’s cold, and that pulling sensation has just gotten worse over time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11703504December 7, 2025
STEERING
On November 8, 2025,at approximately 9:00 a.m. , I was driving on the freeway at approximately 60 to 65 mph. All of a sudden the steering wheel stiffened and locked up and car pulled to right, at same time the engine malfunction light flashed on. This lasted for a moment then steering felt normal and engine malfunction light went off. Car steered normal after that and I exited the freeway to my destination. At around 11:30a.m. I got back on the freeway and after a few minutes my steering wheel stiffened again and locked momentarily and car veered to the right at approximately 60 to 65 mph. The engine malfunction light flashed again and then the steering returned to normal and the engine malfunction light went off. My vehicle is available for inspection. My safety was at risk because when the steering got stiff and locked up momentarily I did not have control of the car. I was traveling at 60-65 mph on the freeway and cars were next to me in the other lanes. Since for this moment I did not have control of the car I could have veered into other vehicles putting others at risk. On December 2,2025 I had car checked by Hollywood Honda (dealer). They checked car and found no history of any error codes. They also test drove the car on the freeway and did not encounter any problems. They indicated the car had no problems they could detect. The car has not been inspected by anyone else. There were no warning lamps,messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure . The warning light only came on at time of failure. Since November 8, I have not taken the car on the freeway because I feel it is unsafe. I only use the car on surface streets for now and have not encountered any problems so far.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702971December 4, 2025
ENGINE
Misfire in cylinder 4 led to head gasket failure. The problem was diagnosed at the dealership, and there is an active TSB for this issue - however my vehicle is not covered.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701996November 29, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
The engine is making a knocking noise, but there’s no code or check engine light. The noise is more pronounced when the vehicle is idling and when you apply and release the brakes. Start the car, let it warm up on idle, open the oil cap, apply the brakes, and then release them. The noise becomes louder. It could be the vacuum pump, but Honda has never addressed this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701031November 23, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The navigation on the civic would reset and cut out for no reason and sometimes takes a long time to come back on or it never reboots and the screen stays black until you have to turn off the car and wait and then turn it back on. My experience was I was on a trip 2 hours away and I had my family in the car. We were traveling to somewhere new. During the trip, approximately 30 minutes into the drive, the navigation went out. Screen went black and took 3 minutes to come back on with my set destination on the navigation. The 2nd time it cut out was when we were on a mountain road. There were quite a bit of twist and turns and then when I lost the navigation, there were exits I missed because I was relying on the navigation to guide me to my destination. I had to ask my wife to use the GPS on her phone so we could resume back to our destination after a bit of a detour. The navigate never came back on for the next 20 minutes until I pulled over to a nearby gas station and turned the car completely off and waited 5 minutes to turn it back on. After a long reboot, it came back on. My point is that Honda should resolve this issue because I feel like it is potentially a safety issue. I am using and relying on a system the manufacturer provided and installed into my vehicle to get me to my set destinations. It has a failure rate to the point people get lost, get frustrated and literally get distracted from actually driving to try to get it to come back on by rebooting it manually. It is not reliable and when it never comes back, that's a whole issue. It is sometimes not possible to pull over and turn my car off to reset the navigation of I am lost. Like for me, I was on a 2 lane mountain pass with no shoulders, just a guard rail and the the cliff. It just distracts you and can cause you to get lost and that can take your attention away from driving safely. Honda should be required to address this issue as this is a unreliable equipment that can leave you stranded.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700828November 21, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Entertainment system turns on and off while driving suspected bad alternator.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Honda Civic Type R