Honda Civic Seats Problems
Owners have filed 191 complaints with NHTSA about seats problems on the Honda Civic across 30 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (16). The words owners use most often: “driver seat” (20% of reports).
- 191seats complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 24mention a crash
- 34mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Driver seat: mentioned in 39 of 191 complaints (20%)
- Head rest: mentioned in 18 of 191 complaints (9%)
- Neck pain: mentioned in 12 of 191 complaints (6%)
- Far forward: mentioned in 10 of 191 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do seats problems happen?
Based on 92 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 191 complaints, 24 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 34 an injury.
Honda Civic seats complaints by model year
| Model year | Seats complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Civic | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2024 Civic | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2023 Civic | 2 | 1% | 14,000 |
| 2022 Civic | 3 | 0% | — |
| 2021 Civic | 3 | 2% | — |
| 2020 Civic | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2018 Civic | 8 | 1% | 6,650 |
| 2017 Civic | 3 | 1% | 300 |
| 2016 Civic | 4 | 0% | 64 |
| 2015 Civic | 8 | 2% | 18,000 |
| 2014 Civic | 3 | 1% | 8,756 |
| 2013 Civic | 16 | 5% | 14,000 |
| 2012 Civic | 12 | 3% | 19,800 |
| 2011 Civic | 5 | 3% | 38,000 |
| 2010 Civic | 6 | 2% | 35,000 |
| 2009 Civic | 9 | 2% | 55 |
| 2008 Civic | 7 | 1% | 70,000 |
| 2007 Civic | 8 | 1% | 107,700 |
| 2006 Civic | 16 | 1% | 104,404 |
| 2005 Civic | 4 | 1% | 25,000 |
| 2004 Civic | 7 | 2% | 25,750 |
| 2003 Civic | 13 | 3% | 30,000 |
| 2002 Civic | 9 | 1% | 10,000 |
| 2001 Civic | 11 | 1% | 111,500 |
| 2000 Civic | 4 | 1% | 130,000 |
| 1999 Civic | 2 | 1% | 147,500 |
| 1998 Civic | 6 | 1% | 32,523 |
| 1997 Civic | 1 | 0% | — |
| 1996 Civic | 4 | 1% | — |
| 1995 Civic | 12 | 6% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Seats:critical fasteners
Model years: 2023, 2024
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Pilot, and 2024 HR-V, Acura Integra and Acura Integra Type S vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in an unsecured seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's seat cushion frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Seats; air bags
Model years: 2017
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback and Civic Type R vehicles. Driver and front passenger seatback pads sold as replacement service parts were made without slit openings for the seat-mounted side air bags. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the seatback pad would interfere and adversely affect air bag performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Risk: If the seat-mounted air bags cannot not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seatback pads, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is E1D, U1B, and X1C.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Accident happened while driving on a two-way county road without center lane markings. The driver was leaning to the right of the road. The lane keep assisting overcorrected to the left hitting a culvert. Upon the crash the seat unlocked from its position and slid towards the steering wheel. The…
Passenger seat dings and interior light comes on when making a left turn. It sounds like the seat belt alert even when the passengers and driver have their seat belts on. It also happens when rhe passenger shifts their weight. This is a distraction while driving.
Since purchasing my vehicle in 2022, Iâve experienced my seat âclick and unclickâ after adjusting it as well as at random times when driving. As Iâve been reviewing recalls for my own year/make/model, I recently found that 2023-24 Hondas & Acuras were experiencing a similar issue and have…
When using the backseat armrest and cup holders, if you have a hot coffee, to go, from letâs say Starbucks, no matter the size, it will come out of the cup holder in certain turns, when the car is moving. Itâs spilled multiple times on my kids and a friend, who had scalding on their hands. This…
My boyfriend has a Honda Civic 2018 EXL and on 11/07/2025 around noonish, I briefly turned on the passenger side seat warmer for approximately 15 minutes and received second degree burns/blisters on the back of my thighs from the seat. I knew something was wrong because I had to peel my thighs off…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda Civics have seats problems?
No. NHTSA has 191 owner complaints about seats for the Honda Civic. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Honda Civic seats?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list seats. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about seats problems on the Honda Civic?
The most frequent phrase is “driver seat”, in 39 of 191 complaints, followed by “head rest” (18).
Other Honda Civic problems
- Air Bags problems (2,757)
- Steering problems (2,548)
- Power Train problems (1,732)
- Electrical System problems (1,426)
- Engine problems (1,107)
- Suspension problems (854)
- Visibility problems (792)
- Structure problems (778)
See all Honda Civic problems.