Vehicle report

2020 Honda Civic

Free recalls, owner complaints, and NHTSA safety ratings for the 2020 Honda Civic, plus how to check this specific vehicle before you buy.

The 2020 Honda Civic has 5 NHTSA recalls on record and 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Its overall NHTSA crash-test rating is 5 out of 5. Below is the full breakdown, plus how to check this specific vehicle by VIN before you buy in Alberta.

5

Open recalls

15

Complaints

5

Overall safety

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2020 Honda Civic recalls (5)

  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.

  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.

  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

  • AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.

  • AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

2020 Honda Civic safety ratings

5

Overall

4

Front

5

Side

5

Rollover

Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.

2020 Honda Civic owner complaints (15)

  • POWER TRAIN

    I am the second owner of this year and model of Civic. I initially bought it back in 2021 with 14,000 miles on it. The clutch slipped and blew at around 29K miles in 2023. I brought it into a honda dealership and they were at least able to replace the clutch with the SAME CLUTCH under warranty but now it's 2026 and the clutch is going out again. Clutches should not be going out this frequently. I've driven several manuals and if you were to look up this specific year and model, it is a known issue across several forums online and youtube videos for having a "weak clutch". Despite it being a known issue, Honda refuses to announce a recall or make right by their customers who bought this specific year and model. I along with other owners of this specific year and model had our "Good Will" declined after the warranty period ended; how convenient for Honda. It would've essentially cost at least $10K in repairs for an average owner over 5 years on a relatively brand new car. That's more than 30% of the car's worth and value at MSRP.. They keep saying that all of these issues and feedbacks are being reported to the NHTSA but I honestly believe they're waiting for it to be long enough for warranties to expire and hop they can sweep it under the rug. I've driven Hondas all of my life and have loved their cars but their refusal to do right by this well known issue is leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

  • VISIBILITY/WIPER

    The vehicle has experienced a complete failure of the A/C condenser unit due to refrigerant leaks originating from manufacturing defects in the tube walls. This matches the exact physical failure described in Honda Service Bulletin TSB #19-091. However, the manufacturer is refusing coverage because this specific VIN falls just outside their current arbitrary cutoff list. This component failure directly impacts vehicle safety by disabling the vehicle's capability to dehumidify the cabin and clear a heavily fogged windshield during sudden humidity or temperature changes, causing an immediate visibility hazard.

  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    I am writing to file a complaint regarding the air conditioning system failure in my 2020 Honda Civic Sport. The air conditioner in my vehicle began blowing hot air instead of cold air. I took the vehicle to Honda for inspection and paid $545.15 to have the system recharged and dye inserted in order to diagnose the issue. After this service was completed, I was informed that the evaporator has failed and needs to be replaced. I was then quoted $2,475.13 for the repair. While researching this issue, I discovered that many other Honda Civic owners have reported similar air conditioning problems involving the evaporator and AC system. I also became aware of a 2021 letter involving American Honda Motor Co. and Honda dealership personnel regarding evaporator leaks in vehicles with VIN numbers beginning with 2HG or 19X. The letter stated that Honda was researching these vehicles in an effort to better understand the issue. Given the number of similar complaints and Honda’s apparent awareness and investigation into evaporator leaks, this appears to be a potentially widespread defect affecting these vehicles, even when properly maintained. The failure of the air conditioning system has caused significant inconvenience and financial burden. I believe this issue should be investigated further, as it may indicate a defect in the vehicle’s air conditioning system. I respectfully request that the NHTSA review this matter and investigate whether the evaporator failure in the 2020 Honda Civic Sport is a recurring manufacturing defect that may warrant further action or assistance for affected vehicle owners. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally address a serious issue regarding my recent service experience at Freeway Honda and the unfair handling of my case by American Honda concerning my Honda Civic (VIN: [XXX] ). On January 2, 2024, I brought my vehicle to Freeway Honda due to recurring air conditioning issues. My service advisor, Erick Zermeno, informed me that the system had three leaks: the condenser, the compressor, and the evaporator. While he acknowledged that the condenser and compressor were covered under warranty, he stated that the evaporator was not and quoted approximately $1,900.00 for the repair. Furthermore, he refused to repair the warranty-covered parts unless I agreed to pay out-of-pocket for the evaporator repair at the same time. When I declined, the manager, Jamie, required me to pay a $175.00 diagnostic fee to have my vehicle released, despite the fact that the inspection identified defects covered by the extended warranty. Seeking a second opinion, I visited Norm Reeves Honda in Irvine on January 31, 2024. Their technicians determined that only the A/C condenser and compressor were leaking. They repaired both parts at no charge under the warranty and found no issues with the evaporator at that time. It appears Freeway Honda attempted to charge me for an unnecessary repair and wrongfully collected a diagnostic fee for a warranty-related inspection. This matter has been reported to the Bureau of Automotive Repair. I previously filed a complaint with American Honda (Case #XXX) and requested a full refund of the $175.00 fee. Later on, the defroster and the A/C started to cause problems. On October 8, 2024, the A/C failed again, and Norm Reeves Honda confirmed the evaporator was leaking, resulting in a repair cost of $1,797.79. Although American Honda initially offered a partial reimbursement of approximately $960.00, which I declined due to the ongoing nature of these failures. Now, they rescinded the offer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

  • STEERING

    Steering system failed and started to jerk -- Contacted Honda and while there was a recall on the NEWER models, we experienced a similar issue on our 2020 Civic.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    I have owned my vehicle for nearly 18 months and absolutely NO ACTION has been taken on Honda's part to remedy this solution with the capacitor in the circuit board of the front passenger seat weight sensor. Tired of waiting! I want results. This could lead to the front passenger frontal and knee airbags deploying unexpectedly.

  • STEERING

    The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the steering wheel became sticky and jerked while turning in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the electronic steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V744000 (STEERING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 64,000.

  • WHEELS

    The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. While driving 50 MPH on the highway, the passenger’s side wheel felt as if the wheel was about to detach, causing the vehicle to veer to the right. The vehicle returned to normal functionality and operated as designed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25E071000 (Wheels). The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.

  • AIR BAGS

    The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, a bobcat crossed the road, and the bobcat was struck by the vehicle. The contact stated that there was extensive front-end damage and undercarriage damage to the vehicle. The driver’s and passenger’s side air bags did not deploy. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was driven to a gas station, inspected, and then driven back to the residence. However, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a collision center for repair. The contact received a call from the collision center and was informed that all the air bags in the vehicle had been removed and that the wires were cut and twisted together, which led the sensors to believe the air bags were still connected. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

  • FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    On 04/2025 the car was driving fine with no warnings or indication of a problem. Turned my car on at a parking lot and as I was driving away the car suddenly stopped, all the warning lights started coming on. I was able to turn it back on and drove it to a nearby dealer. I am the second owner of the car and Honda dealer said the fuel pump had already been replaced due to a recall. This time they said it was a secondary fuel pump that was the problem and the very expensive repair was done. Fast forward to 2/2026 and the same thing happened. This time it was scarier as it shut off as a car was backing up from a parking spot. Fortunately, the driver saw the car and was able to stop before running into me. The car failed to start, and I had to get it towed. Could not tow it to the dealer since it was late in the evening. The next morning, the car did start, but all the warnings continued to flash on the dash. The car is being towed to the dealer where the "repair" was done. All this happening within a year of repairs. This should be a recall and Honda should refund my initial repairs as this is happening to other drivers as well.

  • POWER TRAIN

    Clutch started slipping all of a sudden. Check to see if it was under warranty said the warranty had expired because the car was over 36,000 MI did not know about the extended clutch warranty at the time that Honda was extending it due to defective parts so we replaced it ourselves. Upon tear down it was discovered that the clutch disc was only about 30% worn down there were no hot spots in the flywheel or the clutch cover so the problem was related to the holding force of the clutch cover have we continued to drive the car the way it was it would have burnt it up because it would barely move. I've been in Autotech for 50 years never seen a clutch slipping with this much material left on it and the parts in this condition it is obviously a defect with the part and I submitted a claim to Honda and they denied it had I had known Honda would have taken care of it I would have brought it to them.

  • FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    Fuel pump issue. There is an active recall for this make and model but this vin isn’t included. The car will be fine and either completely shut down or once parked it won’t restart. After about an hour it will start and be fine. We took to a local mechanic who diagnosed the fuel pump. Said there was a recall so we went to the local dealership. They said it isn’t included and they can’t get the fuel pumps as they are being held for recalls only. The car continues to have this issue which is unsafe. I’ve contacted Honda corporate who are trying to get a fuel pump for us. We believe this should be included in the recall and should be looked into further I’m listing the most recent incident date but it’s happened at least 20 times since August 2025

  • POWER TRAIN

    This model Civic Si was build by Honda with a defective clutch. Mine began to fail at less than 60K miles. It started in the higher RPM 5K to 6K in the taller overdrive gears. This clutch design was unable to support the torque of the motor, which led to its premature failure. It's well documented in Honda forums that the clutch is weak and prone to early failure. It usually starts to fail in the upper gears under moderate acceleration. Once it starts to fail it does become a problem. Honda appears to be aware of the problem as they did have a TSB out that allowed for replacement for 5 years of 60K miles. However, reports on the internet seem to state Honda charges $2K just to tear down the car to look at the clutch. My car was low mileage and still hasn't hit 60K miles but outside the 5 year warranty. However, even if Honda had agreed to replace the clutch they reportedly leave the original dual mass flywheel, which would contribute to a shorter life span for the new clutch they just installed. The OEM manufacturer Exedy won't sell you the same clutch that Honda put into this car, and will only sell you the clutch from the type R. Thus it does appear clear that both Exedy and Honda were fully aware of the manufacturer defective clutch. A clutch like this should last over 100K miles. However, Honda rather then recalling them appears to have just thrown it to the wind and is willing to just let whatever happens pan out and see what's left . The failure of this clutch once it starts to slip does appear to be a relatively short process before total failure. Although it appears there has been no deaths so far there is a good chance someone will delay replacing that clutch because of cost, which could lead to a severe auto-accident or death. Even if Honda doesn't want to do a recall or reimburse their car owners they should at least issue an alert to owners about their defective clutch with free inspections. Respectfully submitted.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    The air conditioning system in my 2020 Honda Civic EX has a refrigerant leak at the evaporator assembly, causing very weak or almost no cooling even when set to the lowest temperature settings. This happens consistently, including in moderate to hot outside temperatures, making the cabin uncomfortably warm during drives as it could get pretty hot in inland southern California. The A/C evaporator assembly is the failed component, and the part remains in the vehicle available for inspection if requested. This issue creates a safety risk because reduced visibility from window fogging in humid or rainy conditions (due to lack of proper dehumidification and cooling) can impair safe driving. In extreme heat, it also increases driver fatigue and distraction from discomfort. The problem was confirmed by a Honda dealership through diagnostic testing, which identified the evaporator leaking refrigerant. They previously repaired a related condenser leak under warranty, but the cooling issue persisted and was later traced to the evaporator. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership (manufacturer-authorized) on multiple occasions for this A/C concern. No specific warning lamps or messages appeared on the dashboard related to the A/C system. This appears to be part of a broader pattern reported by owners of similar 2016-2021 Honda Civics, where condenser failures (sometimes covered by extended warranty) are followed by evaporator leaks, possibly related to the vehicle's use of R-1234yf refrigerant and system pressures. I recently received partial goodwill assistance from the manufacturer toward repair costs, but the issue highlights a recurring defect in the A/C system that affects cooling reliability. This car is driven by my 20 years old daughter as a commuter car to college and she is really suffering. I feel I am putting her at risk and need to get it fixed ASAP at whatever cost.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    vehicle turns on in to accessory mode, does not allow me to turn off vehicle sometimes car turns on at night by itself, alarm goes off when parked and locked

Checking a used Honda Civic before you buy

The recall, complaint, and safety data above describes the 2020 Civic in general. To know the condition and history of the specific vehicle you're looking at, check it by VIN. A VIN check shows whether this particular Civic's recalls are still outstanding, and a full history report adds accident, title, and ownership records the data above can't show.

Before you buy a 2020 Honda Civic in Alberta:

See other model years of the Honda Civic, or browse more Honda models.

2020 Honda Civic — questions and answers

Does the 2020 Honda Civic have any recalls?+

Our check found 5 NHTSA recalls associated with the 2020 Honda Civic. Check the specific vehicle by VIN to see which remain outstanding, since some may already have been repaired. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.

How many complaints does the 2020 Honda Civic have?+

NHTSA lists 15 owner complaints for the 2020 Honda Civic in our results. Complaints are problems reported by owners and don't always lead to a recall, but a pattern of similar complaints is worth weighing before you buy.

Is the 2020 Honda Civic safe?+

The 2020 Honda Civic has an overall NHTSA crash-test rating of 5. Review the front-crash, side-crash, and rollover ratings above, and pair safety ratings with a mechanical inspection of the specific vehicle.

How do I check a 2020 Honda Civic VIN?+

Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN into our free VIN check to see recalls, complaints, and safety ratings for that exact vehicle, then run an Alberta Personal Property Registry (PPR) lien search before you pay.

Are recall repairs on a Honda free?+

Yes. Safety recall repairs are performed at no cost by a franchised Honda dealer, even for a used vehicle and even if you're not the original owner. Confirm the required parts are in stock before relying on the fix.

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