2006 Honda Civic

Photo: OSX / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

2006 Honda Civic: common problems and reliability

· 8th generation

One of the worst Civic years.

One of the Honda Civic years to avoid. All Civic years

2,866 owner complaints, most about engine. 17 recalls.

Should I buy a 2006 Civic?

The 2006 Honda Civic has 2866 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 17 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and visibility. Owners most often flag d17 engine head gasket failure causing overheating and coolant loss.

Safety record for the 2006 model year

2,866
Owner complaints
17
Recalls
159
Crash reports
42
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2006 Honda Civic vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Civic years only. How we score it

Is 2006 a good year for the Civic?

Across the 31 Civic model years we track, complaint volume runs from 300 (2000) to 2,866 (2006). With 2,866 complaints, the 2006 Civic sits above the model's median of 720.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

engine
462
visibility
420
suspension
408
air bags
369
engine and engine cooling
308

Recalls affecting the 2006 Civic

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 18V268000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 19V502000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

equipment:other:owners/service/other manual

Campaign 06V270000

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES, THE OWNER'S MANUALS CONTAIN INCORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE.

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 19V378000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

Show 13 more recalls

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 17V545000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 17V030000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 16V346000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless already included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic GX, and 2007-2008 CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:wheel speed sensor/tone ring

Campaign 07V399000

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HOUSING USES AN O-RING SEAL TO PREVENT LEAKAGE TO OR FROM THE WHEEL BEARING. IF ASSEMBLED IMPROPERLY, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE WHEEL BEARING AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BEARING, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE USE OF ROAD SALT IS PREVALENT. IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO DRIVE WITH THIS CONDITION IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE WHEEL BEARING TO BECOME LOOSE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE BEARING TO FAIL.

exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

Campaign 07V402000

ON CERTAIN SEDAN AND HYBRID (CNG) VEHICLES, DURING ASSEMBLY, THE TELESCOPIC STEERING COLUMN MECHANISM MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-LUBRICATED WITH SILICONE GREASE. OVER TIME, SOME OF THIS EXTRA GREASE MAY DRIP ON THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAUSING THE SWITCH TO FAIL.

vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal

Campaign 05V509000

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE PEDAL WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAY COME LOOSE AT THE FLOOR MOUNTING.

exterior lighting:headlights

Campaign 06E023000

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

exterior lighting

Campaign 06E064000

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

visibility:glass, side/rear

Campaign 06V326000

ON CERTAIN 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR WINDSHIELD OR REAR QUARTER GLASS PANELS DO NOT PROPERLY ADHERE TO THE BODY OF THE CAR DUE TO IMPROPER WINDOW OPENING PREPARATION.

air bags:frontal

Campaign 05V572000

ON CERTAIN 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) CONTAINS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC COMPONENT. AS A RESULT, THE ODS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND WILL NOT SUPPRESS FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHEN THE WEIGHT OF AN INFANT OR SMALL CHILD IS DETECTED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.

fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly

Campaign 07V512000

ON CERTAIN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES, IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE INTERIOR FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE REAR SEAT, THE CNG TANK MAY BE HEATED UNEVENLY, PREVENTING THE PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE FROM VENTING THE CONTENTS OF THE TANK AS DESIGNED.

electrical system

Campaign 11V106000

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID VEHICLES. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE VOLTAGE CONVERTER THAT RELAYS POWER FROM THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST (IMA) SYSTEM TO THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL.

engine and engine cooling:engine

Campaign 07V034000

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN PARTS OF THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST (IMA) SYSTEM ARE LOCATED UNDER A METAL COVER BEHIND THE REAR SEAT-BACK. OVER TIME THE WEIGHT OF REAR SEAT PASSENGERS MAY CAUSE THE METAL COVER TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH A RUBBER CAP COVERING AN ELECTRICAL TERMINAL. THE RUBBER CAP MAY GET PINCHED, EXPOSING THE ELECTRICAL TERMINAL.

What owners report on the 8th generation Civic

Owners generally view this generation as a solid, reliable daily driver with cheap parts and good fuel economy, though many note it is not exciting or fast.

  • Very frequentD17 engine head gasket failure causing overheating and coolant loss
  • Very frequentClear coat failure and paint peeling, especially on hood, roof, and trunk
  • Recurrent2nd gear grind and 3rd gear pop-out in the Si manual transmission
  • IsolatedPassenger side motor mount bolts snapping and destroying the mount (Si, TSB issued)
  • IsolatedEngine block cracking (one 2008 Si owner reported this after 11 years)

Owner insights for the 8th generation Civic. Read the full 8th generation owner report.

Typical used price

Used Civic listings typically run $15,226–$22,795.

Other Civic model years

Compare every Civic year side by side to see how 2006 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Civic against its rivals

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