2006 Honda Civic

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

63/100

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AVOIR's read: the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 1,402 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Honda Civic, and it carries 15 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Visibility	195	14%
Engine	193	14%
Air bags	149	11%
Suspension	147	10%
Engine and engine cooling	126	9%
Structure	52	4%
Electrical system	45	3%
Power train	41	3%
Unknown or other	26	2%
Service brakes	26	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

The contact's daughter owns a 2006 Honda Civic equipped with Kumho Tires, Tire Line: Kumho ECSTA XII, Tire Size: 205/55/R16, DOT Number: 15MA0-1AH0-2424. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, the rear driv
NHTSA complaint: Tires

cracked engine block leaking coolant. Honda says it's not covered after the extended warranty expired. The issue starts happening in many vehicles after 100K miles and my car started seeing the issue at 135K miles . Deal
NHTSA complaint: Engine

- What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? My 2006 Honda Civic engine overheated. Upon diagnosis it was found that radiator coolant had leaked out due to cracks
NHTSA complaint: Engine

LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM LEFT FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY RIGHT FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK ENGINE OIL LEAK GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED STARTER FAILE
NHTSA complaint: Steering

There's crack in the engine block, my car out of no wear started over heating we thought it was the water pump then we took it in to get it look at and turn out there's cracks on the engine block
NHTSA complaint: Engine

I have a 2006 Honda Civic GX compressed natural gas vehicle. The problem with the vehicle is the compressed natural gas cylinder that holds the fuel. The cylinders are only certified for a period of time 15 or 20 years.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

The contact owns a 2006 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was informed by a driver that her brake lights were not operating as needed. The vehicle was taken to the indepen
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

The contact owned a 2006 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the husband was idling behind a bus, a second vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into the rear end of the vehicle. The impact of the rear
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns for the 2006 Honda Civic. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 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 b

Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 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, 2010-201

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-21

Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual 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.

Risk: THE LANGUAGE IN THE OWNER'S MANUALS IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS.

Fix: HONDA WILL SEND A POSTCARD TO DEALERS AND OWNERS WITH THE CORRECT NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE INFORMATION AND WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO INSERT THE CARD INTO THE "REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS" SECTION OF THE O

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 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

Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019.

The seven scores

Reliability	40	below average
Longevity est.	64	average
Maintenance	90	excellent
Depreciation	83	excellent
Performance	43	below average
Efficiency	53	average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 1% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 3% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 100% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 85% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 40: from NHTSA recalls and complaints, divided by approximate units sold so it is comparable between models.
Longevity 64: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2006 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 90: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2006 Honda Civic?

Owners have filed 1,402 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and visibility is the most reported area with 195 of them (14%). There are 15 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2006 Honda Civic reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 40/100 (below average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.

How long will a 2006 Honda Civic last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 64/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2006 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2006 Honda Civic?

AVOIR's read: skip, because the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here. Its overall ownership score is 63/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.