The 11th-gen Civic is a genuinely reliable car with one asterisk the size of a recall notice. Consumer Reports gave the 2025 model a well-above-average reliability score and perfect marks in 15 of 17 trouble spots. But before you get excited about that, there's a steering defect that touched nearly 1.7 million Honda and Acura vehicles, and the Civic sits right in the middle of it. So let's start there.
The steering gearbox recall (2022–2025)
This is the defining problem of the generation. The electric power steering gearbox, built by Hitachi Astemo, left the factory with a defect that causes excessive internal friction. Owners describe the steering suddenly "sticking" or needing much more effort than usual. The affected production dates run from February 2021 through September 2024, which is why the recall sweeps up 2022 through 2025 Civics, hatchbacks, hybrids, and Type Rs alike.
Here's the part that should shape how you shop. Honda first heard about it in September 2021. NHTSA opened a probe in March 2023, escalated to a full engineering analysis that November, and the formal recall didn't land until fall 2024. Owner letters went out November 18, 2024. In Canada it's Transport Canada recall #2024588. The fix is free: dealers replace the worm gear spring and add or redistribute grease. One owner who took a car in before the recall was quoted over $3,000 for the job.
The catch is that the fix has been slow to reach cars. An April 2025 NHTSA report showed barely half of affected vehicles had been repaired more than a year after notification started. Honda estimates only about 1% of the recalled population actually has the defect, but you have no way of knowing which side of that line your car is on. Run the VIN through Honda or Transport Canada and confirm the steering recall is closed before you buy. There was also a separate October 2023 recall (23V-704) covering service-replacement gearboxes with an incorrect rack stroke, so if a car already had steering work done, ask which part went in.
Oil leaks, infotainment, and the developing A/C issue
The 1.5L turbo has a documented tendency toward oil leaks. Honda dealer bulletins targeted 2019–2022 Civic and CR-V 1.5T engines for timing chain case cover leaks, plus separate campaigns for head cover gasket leaks on 2022–2023 Civic 1.5Ls and 2023 2.0Ls. A valve cover gasket job runs roughly $293 to $418 (USD shop estimate, so budget a bit more in Canadian dollars). Not covered by any recall, so factor it into an older, higher-mileage car.
Infotainment is the other soft spot Consumer Reports flagged. The two areas where the 2025 Civic fell to merely average were electrical accessories and in-car electronics. Most complaints involve dropping audio during Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, or Bluetooth calls. Owners of the newer Android-based 2025 head units report the screen freezing when switching between apps like Spotify. There's also a bulletin for a black rearview camera screen on 2023–2025 Civics, CR-Vs, and Pilots. These are usually free software fixes under warranty.
A newer one to watch: Honda is investigating A/C compressors seizing on 2024–2025 1.5L Civics, with the A/C blowing warm air. This isn't a recall yet, and bulletins were still expanding into 2026. If you're looking at a 2024 or 2025 1.5L, test the air conditioning hard on the drive.
Cold-weather quirks and the rest of the recall list
Canadian buyers should know about two winter annoyances that aren't recalls but show up year after year. The 1.5T can suffer oil dilution, where fuel washes into the oil during cold, short trips. Forum owners claim the redesigned engine and new GF-6B oil warm up faster and help, but I couldn't find independent lab data confirming the 11th-gen actually fixed it. The bigger gripe is the wipers: mounted low and outside the defrost zone, the arms and washer nozzles ice up and stick. Consumer Reports confirms it, and owners have been complaining since the 10th gen without a fix.
Beyond steering, the recall history is typical for a new platform. There's a VSA modulator brake fluid leak (2023 Civic), a driver's seat frame welding defect (2023–2024 sedan and hatchback, plus Type R), a front passenger airbag weight sensor, a high-pressure fuel pump crack on the 2025 Civic, and accessory aluminum wheels that could loosen. Paint is a common early-2022 complaint too, with owners reporting thin or peeling paint, though there's no official TSB and dealers handle it case by case.
| Problem | Years | Severity | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPS steering gearbox | 2022–2025 | High | Free recall |
| Oil leaks (1.5T/2.0L) | 2022–2023 | Medium | ~$293–418 USD |
| Infotainment freeze/audio | 2022–2025 | Low–Med | Free software |
| A/C compressor seizure | 2024–2025 (1.5L) | Medium | Under investigation |
| Wiper/nozzle icing | All years | Low | No fix |
What holds up and what to buy
Once you clear the steering recall, this is a strong car. RepairPal rates it 4.5 of 5, J.D. Power gives it 85, and owners lean hard on the naturally aspirated 2.0L in the LX and Sport for its port-injection simplicity and no turbo to fuss over. One long-time owner called the Sport 2.0 "probably the most reliable Honda on sale right now." The Type R's K20C1 turbo has a strong reputation, though the fleet is young and low-volume. The 2.0L skips the oil dilution and 1.5T leak worries entirely.
On price, the early cars aren't a screaming deal once you weigh the risk. The median 2022 sits at $25,492 against a 2023 at $26,000, so the roughly $500 you save by going a year older buys you the highest complaint and paint-chip volume of the generation. A 2024 runs $27,990 with far lower mileage, and later years scored better on reliability. If you want the 1.5T, verify the oil-leak and A/C history. If you just want a Civic that lasts, get a 2.0L Sport, confirm the steering recall shows complete, and test the air on the way home.
What these Honda Civic years cost right now
Live Canadian price benchmarks for every year in this generation:
2022 Civic prices2023 Civic prices2024 Civic prices2025 Civic prices2026 Civic prices