Honda Civic Visibility Problems
Owners have filed 792 complaints with NHTSA about visibility problems on the Honda Civic across 27 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (210). The words owners use most often: “sun visor” (33% of reports).
- 792visibility complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 47%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.
- Sun visor: mentioned in 265 of 792 complaints (33%)
- Driver side: mentioned in 239 of 792 complaints (30%)
- Split open: mentioned in 40 of 792 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical visibility repair on the Honda Civic at $150, and half of them between $110 and $290.
Based on 36 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do visibility problems happen?
Based on 542 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 792 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 7 an injury.
Honda Civic visibility complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Civic | 1 | 1% | 15,071 |
| 2020 Civic | 7 | 3% | 50,318 |
| 2019 Civic | 2 | 0% | 43,000 |
| 2018 Civic | 6 | 1% | 53,897 |
| 2017 Civic | 14 | 2% | 29,000 |
| 2016 Civic | 20 | 2% | 36,978 |
| 2015 Civic | 1 | 0% | 24,500 |
| 2014 Civic | 3 | 1% | 53,000 |
| 2013 Civic | 5 | 2% | 2,480 |
| 2012 Civic | 7 | 2% | 20,000 |
| 2011 Civic | 8 | 5% | 10,262 |
| 2010 Civic | 18 | 5% | 35,000 |
| 2009 Civic | 18 | 5% | 28,500 |
| 2008 Civic | 112 | 12% | 41,000 |
| 2007 Civic | 176 | 15% | 40,000 |
| 2006 Civic | 210 | 15% | 44,000 |
| 2005 Civic | 7 | 2% | 27,000 |
| 2004 Civic | 9 | 3% | 16,515 |
| 2003 Civic | 10 | 2% | 17,000 |
| 2002 Civic | 16 | 2% | 33,025 |
| 2001 Civic | 28 | 3% | 63,975 |
| 2000 Civic | 5 | 2% | 65,500 |
| 1999 Civic | 13 | 4% | 78,000 |
| 1998 Civic | 23 | 5% | 95,000 |
| 1997 Civic | 33 | 9% | 103,000 |
| 1996 Civic | 34 | 11% | 125,000 |
| 1995 Civic | 6 | 3% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Visibility:glass, side/rear
Model years: 2006
Problem: 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.
Risk: The rear windshield or rear quarter glass panels may become loose, rattle or lift from the window opening or separate from the window while driving increasing the safety hazard to traffic.
Fix: Dealers will repair the vehicle by removing the glass, properly preparing the window opening, and reinstalling the glass. The recall began on august 25, 2006. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My air conditioning failed producing cool air in late 2020. I took it to Honda Penske in Ontario. The said at that time the Evaporator core is leaking but it not covered by warranty. I had pay out of pocket to install freon and that would like me for 5-6 months however the same problem would…
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the compressor shaft failed, and the shaft seal caused further damage to the compressor and caused an additional failure. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: 23-039…
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while purchasing the vehicle, the contact became aware that the A/C was inoperable. Before purchasing the vehicle, the contact asked the dealer to replace the A/C condenser, and the component was replaced. The contact stated that three…
The contact's father owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the A/C unit was blowing warm air while activated. Due to the failure, the defroster system failed to clear the glass as intended. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the mechanic discovered that the A/C compressor shaft…
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while sitting in the vehicle with the vehicle turned off, the contact heard a pop. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the rear windshield had cracked without impact. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda Civics have visibility problems?
No. NHTSA has 792 owner complaints about visibility 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 visibility?
Yes: 1 safety recall list visibility. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix visibility problems on the Honda Civic?
Owners report a typical cost of $150 (half paid between $110 and $290), from 36 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about visibility problems on the Honda Civic?
The most frequent phrase is “sun visor”, in 265 of 792 complaints, followed by “driver side” (239).
Other Honda Civic problems
- Air Bags problems (2,756)
- Steering problems (2,542)
- Power Train problems (1,730)
- Electrical System problems (1,423)
- Engine problems (1,107)
- Suspension problems (854)
- Structure problems (777)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (682)
See all Honda Civic problems.