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How Many Miles Can A Honda Civic Last? (+Reliability Scores)

How Many Miles Can A Honda Civic Last? (+Reliability Scores)

How many miles can a Honda Civic last? When you’re in the market for a new or second-hand Civic, that’s a very reasonable question to ask. After all, you’re probably looking to get the most bang for your buck. In this blog, we’ll look at this question in great detail but first, let’s start with a quick answer:

On average, a Honda Civic lasts between 250.000 – 300.000 miles. A Civic needs to go to the garage for unscheduled repairs about 0.22 times per year, with a 10% chance of severe problems. Furthermore, Civic owners spend an average of $368 per year on repair costs.

Having said that, we’re certainly not done. Below, we’ll explain in more detail how many miles a Civic can last. After that, we’ll also show you how much a Civic costs annually and which production years are the most and least expensive. Furthermore, we also discuss the common problems that the car can have. Read on!

How Many Miles Can A Honda Civic Last?

Today, we will analyze how many miles a Honda Civic can last. We conducted in-depth research on several different platforms to answer these questions. First, we have to look at the Honda Civic as a group. For this, we went to Autotrader.com to gather our sample size.

We took a pool of 23.732 Honda Civics and divided them into groups based on the miles they had already driven. The results of this research are displayed in the table below.

Number Of MilesPercentage Of Cars
Cars With 150.000+4.20%
Cars With 100.000 – 149.0008.41%
Cars With 45.000 – 99.99925.01%
Cars With 0 – 44.99962.38%

What we can see in the table above is the fact that 4.20% of Civics that are for sale in the United States have crossed the 150.000 miles mark. By itself, this number doesn´t say a lot. However, from writing hundreds of articles like this, we know that we expect a car to achieve a number between 3-5%.

Therefore it seems that the Civic performs quite well at first glance. This won´t come as a surprise to many because the Civic does have a good reputation. However, we also see many units that haven´t even crossed the 45.000 miles mark yet. It´s good to know this is a common occurrence with vehicles that are still being sold, and it´s nothing to worry about.

Nevertheless, this is a good beginning for the Civic overall, but more research is needed. Let´s move on.

silver 2012 honda civic for sale on autotrader.com with 433987 miles and an asking price of $4998
At the time of updating this article, this is the highest mileage Honda Civic for sale on autotrader.com

How Reliable Is A Honda Civic Compared To Its Competitors?

Even when you see a vehicle having hundreds of thousands of miles on the gauge cluster, more proof is necessary to know for sure what you are buying is, in fact, the most reliable and long-lasting vehicle.

In the table below, we´ve displayed the expected and highest recorded mileage of different Civic competitors. Please keep in mind we´ve written separate articles for these vehicles as well, and therefore we´re confident in the displayed results.

ModelSample SizeExpected MileageHighest Mileage
Honda Civic23.731275.000430.000
Toyota Corolla20.435265.000328.000
Nissan Sentra13.322 225.000326.000
Hyundai Elantra14.374260.000280.000
Mazda 37.536215.000280.000

What becomes apparent in the table above is the fact that the Civic is the vehicle with the highest expected lifespan. The Toyota Corolla and the Hyundai Elantra are also up there, but the Nissan Sentra and Mazda 3 fall short.

Overall, this is impressive, given that the Civic competes in a class of vehicles known for their long lifespan. However, it again proves that the Civic seems to have a terrific lifespan. Let´s move on.

How Reliable Is A Honda Civic Compared To Other Hondas?

We took several Honda models and examined their reliability based on the same data. We took the mileage numbers of these models and compared them with the mileage numbers of the Honda Civic. 

What becomes clear from this table immediately is the fact that Honda builds vehicles with an incredible lifespan. Car brands typically have vehicles that last between 200.000 – 250.000 miles, and anything above that is rare. However, Honda has many cars with an expected mileage of 250.000 or slightly higher.

What becomes apparent in the table below is the fact that the Civic holds up incredibly well compared to other Hondas, and it´s even the best-performing Honda of them all. This again indicates that the Civic seems to have a long lifespan.

ModelSample SizeExpected MileageHighest Mileage
Honda Civic23.731275.000430.000
Honda Accord25.976250.000359.000
Honda CR-V27.747250.000320.000
Honda HR-V8.622250.000215.000
Honda Odyssey10.034225.000350.000
Honda Pilot15.385 240.000346.000

How Much Does Honda Civic Maintenance Cost Per Year?

The maintenance cost must be as low as possible for a vehicle to be truly reliable. Any unreliable vehicle can achieve high mileage if money is put into repairs. But a reliable car does not require those expensive repairs. In the table below, we´ve gathered the maintenance costs for many model years of the Civic. This data was acquired from Repairpal and Caredge.com.

On average, we expect to pay $368 in annual maintenance costs for a Honda Civic. Let it be clear that this is an incredibly low number. Typically, it costs a car owner $526 per year to keep a compact car like the Civic on the road. Therefore, the Civic is well over $150 cheaper yearly than its competition.

What becomes clear from the table below as well is the fact that all model years that are older than five years have relatively consistent maintenance costs. This indicates that there aren´t any problematic models that we should look out for not to overpay. We´ll get into that in a moment, but these are good signs.

Model YearAnnual Maintenance Cost
2023$183
2022$241
2021$262
2020$339
2019$403
2018$311
2017$290
2016$339
2015$352
2014$368
2013$387
2012$400
2011$392
2010$371
2009$375
2008$361
2007$320

Owners’ Reviews Of The Honda Civics Reliability

Besides knowing all the data, it’s, of course, also essential to see how owners experience the Civic. For this, we went to Kelley Blue Book, Truecar, and Cars.com. All three platforms have gathered hundreds of reviews from actual car owners. We summarized our findings in the image below.

Owners review of the 2016 - 2021 Honda Civic (tenth generation) on kelley blue book, edmunds and truecar.com
Owners review of the 2016 – 2021 Honda Civic (tenth generation)

Let´s start with the tenth generation Honda Civic (2016 – 2021) because the eleventh generation is relatively new and doesn´t have many reviews yet. Overall, the tenth generation receives incredibly high scores and seems an all-around crowd pleaser. Furthermore, there are very few, if any, complaints about reliability. The quote below sums up the general sentiment quite well:

Such a beautiful family car. We like the gas mileage. The interior design is really nice. Comfortable seats and heated. This car is definitely low cost maintenance.

Source, 2021 owner
Owners review of the 2022 - Present-day Honda Civic (eleventh generation) on cars.com, edmunds and truecar.com
Owners review of the 2022 – Present-day Honda Civic (eleventh generation)

Moving on to the eleventh generation, which is currently only in its second model year, we see that this generation is also off to a solid start. The ratings are slightly skewed (Cars.com only had four ratings, Kelley Blue Book had none). But Truecar did have 196 reviews already, and the car scores 4.8 out of 5 stars there.

Now, a few complaints aren´t unusual for the first model year in a new generation. Putting it all into perspective, the eleventh generation seems to be what the Civic stands for: fun and reliability.

I have the 2022 Civic Sport and it’s honestly the best car I have till date. Honda really went out of their way with new features in this car and she is a beauty. The front end definitely grew on me and it rides very smoothly. I traded in my 2020 LX model for this car and I love everything about it.

Source, 2022 owner

Honda Civic Common Problems

When looking for a Honda Civic in the used market, it is crucial to know all the common problems and while the Honda Civic is generally affordable to maintain, it’s going to have issues just as any other car will.

After our research, we have found the most common issues that you will find in a Civic. If you want to learn more about the problems of the Hybrid Civic, click that link.

Eleventh Generation (2022 – Present-day)

At the time of updating this article, the eleventh generation is still relatively new. However, the 2022 model year does have a persistent issue we want to warn you about. That´s because the car is having problems with its speed regulations systems. However, it´s also good to know that Honda has had these problems for the past 5-10 years with the Civic.

Specifically, we´re talking about the fact that the (adaptive) cruise control will disengage without warning or that the car will perform emergency braking without needing such a drastic maneuver. For both these issues, technical service bulletins have been issued, but problems seem so widespread that a recall may be issued in the near future.

The disengagement of the (adaptive) cruise control is caused by the malfunctioning of the multipurpose camera, and the TSBs state that the software of this camera needs to be updated (bulletin number: A22-022).

The unexpected braking is most likely caused by faulty parking sensors software, which dealers will update (bulletin number: A22-006)

Tenth Generation (2016 – 2021)

The tenth generation started kind of rough with quite a number of complaints. Practically only the 2020 and 2021 models seem to have most problems resolved. This doesn´t mean the generation was a disaster (the owners’ ratings are positive, after all), just that it wasn´t perfect.

Reduced Steering Input

One of the most prevalent issues was the sudden lack of steering maneuverability. A couple of hundred complaints were filed about this problem. Honda did issue a recall for a very small number of 2017 – 2018 Civic models, but this was also a significant problem in the 2016 model that was never addressed. The issue was as follows:

The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.

Source

Oil Dilution Causing Engine Failure

Another significant problem you need to be aware of is the engine dilution problem in the 2016 – 2019 Civics equipped with 1.5L direct injection engines. In these vehicles, fuel would mix with oil, resulting in insufficient lubrication of the engine, leading to possible engine failure. This is bad no matter what type of fuel you use in your Civic.

Furthermore, this would generate a strong odor that would get into the passenger compartment through the AC vents, causing headaches.

Honda never issued a recall for this, so a class-action lawsuit was started. However, this lawsuit only affected the 2019 model year.

A Range Of Electrical Problems

Ongoing electrical problems have been an issue for the 2016 – 2019 model years of the Honda Civic. Especially the 2016 and 2017 models had quite some troubles here. There was talk about failing exterior lighting, specifically the marker lights, caused by a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly. Honda did issue a recall for this issue (16V526000).

However, there was more than that. For example, these Civics also have received complaints about the complete dashboard going blank, alarms going off randomly, and the vehicle not recognizing the keys, among others. Dealers discovered this was due to a faulty body control module (BCM) that needed to be replaced, but a recall was never issued.

Leaking Airconditioning Compressor

Airconditioning failure is widespread in the 2016 – 2018 model years of the Civic. The problem is that the compressor starts leaking, causing coolant to leak into the engine bay, and this causes the air conditioning to fail and creates a potential fire hazard. Honda did issue this TSB for this issue which also serves as a warranty extension.

Is a Honda Civic A Smart Buy?

When we look at the expected lifespan of the Honda Civic, we see this is very good. Typically, we expect a Civic to last around 275.000 miles, making it the best performing vehicle in its category. It’s not going to do a great job towing your RV but it will be around for the long haul with the right care.

Furthermore, we also saw that Honda overall does an excellent job at making reliable vehicles.

When we continue to the annual maintenance costs, we see that Civics are expected to be $150 per year cheaper than their competitors. That´s another positive point for the Civic.

Looking at the owner’s ratings of the Civic, we see that the tenth and eleventh generations were received very well. The tenth generation has been out longer and has gathered thousands of ratings but still averages a score of 4.5 out of 5 stars for many owners. We see that the Civic does an excellent job at having all the features, space, design, and fuel economy that owners are looking for while still being very reliable.

Finally, we looked at the common problems of the two most recent generations. We saw that the eleventh generation currently has a problem with the sensors responsible for speed regulation, which is something to be aware of.

The 2016 – 2018 model years also had quite some problems, although the 2019 – 2021 model years were practically complaint free. Furthermore, we haven´t taken a deep dive into the 2012 – 2015 model years (ninth generation), but it´s worth mentioning that these were quite problematic, and it´s best to steer clear of those.

In the end, we would definitely recommend a Civic. However, currently, it does seem like the 2019 – 2021 model years are the most reliable ones on the market.

What Is High Mileage For A Honda Civic?

High mileage for a Honda Civic is typically considered beyond its average lifespan, which ranges from 250,000 to 300,000 miles. While many Civics can exceed this range, surpassing it starts to classify the vehicle as high-mileage, potentially implying more wear and tear, and an increased likelihood of maintenance or repairs in the future.

Unless you’re getting an incredible deal and only need it for short-term use, I’d advise against buying a Civic with that high mileage. While they’re known for reliability, you’re likely to face more repairs soon. It’s probably wiser to invest in a car with lower mileage.

Honda Civic Maintenance Schedule

Maintaining your Honda according to the factory-recommended maintenance schedule is the most effective method to keep it in top shape. The Honda maintenance schedule explains various chores necessary to cover the essential sections of your vehicle to achieve maximum performance. 

Before/On Every 10,000 Miles

  • Valve adjustment is one of the most important maintenance checks you need to consider. 
  • Most of the latest models come equipped with the Maintenance Minder, which indicates when your oil needs to be replaced. 
  • Most older models would require frequent oil changes or top-ups as the oil levels will go down after every thousand miles accumulated. 

Before/On Every 20,000 Miles

  • Tire replacement
  • Brake pad inspection and replacement if necessary
  • Brake pad/rotor Change
  • Cabin filter replacement

At this distance, your vehicle’s brake pads and the tires on some cars may need to be replaced.

Before/On Every 40,000 Miles

  • Tire replacement
  • Brake pad replacement
  • Brake pad/rotor change
  • Coolant replacement
  • Drive belt inspection and replacement if necessary
  • Transmission fluid replacement
  • Cabin filter replacement
  • Timing belt replacement if necessary

Before/On Every 60,000 Miles

  • A crankshaft belt replacement or a valve change may be required, so have these inspected. 
  • Inspect the spark plugs and replace them if necessary. While at it, inspect the fuel pump and lines to ensure there´s no carbon buildup that might clog them. 

Closing Thoughts

The Honda Civic stands as a testament to durability, with many models clocking in impressive mileages between 250,000 to 300,000 miles. Of course, durability is why most folks end up with a Honda Civic and some models aren’t exactly known for the sporty style (except for the Civic R-Type which is an actual sports car by most standards).

When we dove deeper into the Civic’s stats, we found that things look even better with about 0.22 unscheduled garage visits annually, albeit only a minor chance of significant issues arising. Usually, we’re talking about a wheel change which you could do yourself if you understand the Civic’s lug pattern.

When it comes to the wallet, Civic owners should be prepared for an average annual repair bill of $368- which is not bad compared to most other vehicles!

While the longevity of a Civic is commendable, it’s essential to understand its journey over the years. Considering factors like annual costs and the track record of specific production years can give potential owners a clearer picture.

Overall, it’s hard to go wrong with a Civic!

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