2018 Honda Civic Engine Problems

•I am an Indiana resident. •I purchased a vehicle from a private seller in Ohio (seller operates through an LLC) on 1/16/2026 •Fraudulent title activity was discovered by mechanic on 1/26/26 (taken to mechanic due to sudden and unexpected issues) •The purchase agreement and price ($9,000) were confirmed via text message; there was no written bill of sale and no “as-is” agreement. •Prior to purchase, the seller provided a VIN that belonged to a different vehicle than the one sold. •After purchase, I discovered the vehicle has evidence of odometer rollback; the Ohio title indicates “odometer inaccurate,” which was not disclosed prior to sale. •The vehicle was previously salvage titled and originated from Canada, neither of which were disclosed. •The Ohio title lists an incorrect purchase price of $4,000, despite the agreed purchase price of $9,000. •Title was sold under dealer name permit number XXX •The vehicle was shown and represented as being in “great condition”; however, shortly after purchase, a licensed mechanic determined the vehicle requires a replacement engine, battery, and additional major mechanical repairs, rendering it unsafe and not drivable. Files attached support all of the above. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The engine gasket failed, leaking coolant into Cylinder 3. This created misfires while the vehicle was driving, leading to unpredictable loss of power while driving. Eventually, the coolant purged unbeknownst to the driver and created overheating conditions while driving which could have led to complete engine failure on the road. This behavior was confirmed and reproduced by an independent shop, WenMac Repair, in Hardin County, Ohio. They replaced the spark plugs and coils, thinking the misfire was not necessarily related to the head gasket. The vehicle was then taken to Honda Development and Manufacturing of America, LLC's official repair center for Honda Associates attached to Honda's Marysville Auto Plant 10/1/25 and diagnosed by a Honda master technician. My fiance and I both directly work for Honda. It is currently having the head gasket replaced at a cost of $2,700.00 plus taxes. The vehicle is still in the shop. The failure was observed on vehicle first around 150,000 miles.

Engine failure while driving down the highway. Was able to safely get off the highway without being able to accelerate. Car was towed to the Honda dealership where all the maintenance has been done. They said the car had a cylinder misfire and would need the engine replaced. It would cost $13,000. This car had already had the A/C, fuel pump and transmission replaced in the five short years I owned it. It was garage stored and had under 50,000 miles. All the maintenance was done through a certified Honda dealership.

1.Component or System Failure: •What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? •The air conditioning (AC) system in my 2018 Honda Civic has malfunctioned. Initially, the AC compressor failed and was replaced under warranty in 2018. However, the AC never functioned properly afterward. Recently, the AC failed completely, and the dealership diagnosed a leaking evaporator. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2.Safety Risk: •How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? •The malfunctioning AC system poses a significant safety risk, especially considering the high temperatures in the Central Valley of California. Driving without a functional AC in extreme heat can lead to driver fatigue, reduced concentration, and potential heat-related illnesses, increasing the risk of accidents. 3.Problem Reproduction: •Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? •Yes, the problem has been confirmed by an authorized Honda dealership. They diagnosed the issue as a leaking evaporator and provided a repair estimate of $2,520.16. 4.Inspection by Others: •Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? •The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Honda dealership, which diagnosed the issue. There have been no inspections by police or insurance representatives. 5.Warning Indicators: •Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? •There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the AC failure. The only symptom was the AC’s inability to cool the cabin effectively, which persisted since the initial compressor replacement in 2018 and culminated in complete failure recently.

my AC in blowing hot air on one side and cool air on the other side

Loss of power during drive. Hesitation while acceleration and check engine light on. Unable to accelerate. Fuel pump recall on other same generation models.

Headgasket problem Fuel injector Problem Head bolt problem Engine enters limb mode when cold start due to head gasket leak Misfire on multiple cylinders due to fuel injector failure.

Poor acceleration after stop, then twice again car loss power, I almost get into an accident due to this.

The engine light pops up on the dashboard stating an “emissions” issue. When scanned, it says that the fuel pump is malfunctioning.

Strong smell of fuel in the cabin due to known Honda oil dilution associated with the 1.5 turbo engine. Honda has a “fix” for issue but states only cold weather states are affected. Our 2018 Honda Civic has had this issue for over 2 years now. Strong smell of fuel in the oil, along with oil above normal mark on dipstick. On oil change, oil is filled to the normal mark (3.7 quarts) and upon oil change, 4.5 quarts will come out (likely fuel in the oil). The major safety issue is that the smell of fuel in the cabin is strong to the point of causing driver and passengers to have burning eyes, and in some occasions, dizziness. No warning lights have come on as a result of this issue. Vehicle was taken to dealership over a year ago and dealership stated this is a problem in cold weather states and not in California. Dealership could not replicate issue.

Clutch failure resulting in a non-moveable vehicle in heavy traffic

Water leakage from the engine bay that damages coil packs and spark plugs. Coil pack seal is not durable enough to repel water once its introduce from the hood scoop.

There is fuel leaking into engine oil and thinning it out. My mechanic said there's a software issue causing it but a recall hasn't happened for it. It's hurting my car performance and making my car speed up faster even when breaking.

Driving on the highway and my check engine light starting to flash. I experienced loss of power and hesitation during acceleration. I got home and scanned my computer and it returned P0304. I then removed the #4 ignition coil and that's when I noticed rust. Seems like the seal on the ignition coil failed and water has been leaking into the #4 cylinder over time.

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH ON THE RIGHT LANE OF THE SAW MILL PARKWAY THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING. THE CAR CAME TO A HALT IN THE RIGHT LANE. IT WAS IMMOVABLE. I PUT THE FLASHERS ON, PUT THE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK AND PUSHED THE START BUTTON. THE CAR DID START. I DROVE IT HOME BUT AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AGAIN.

This car's evaporator is defective. Evaporator failure left many individuals, including myself, without air conditioning. In California, where I live, the temperature can rise above 100 degrees. Due to the leak and the high flammability of the freon, it is a safety risk. Additionally, drivers who must commute in hot weather may have dehydration due to the lack of air conditioning. Whenever i'm traveling the heat makes me feel weak and dizzy. Honda dealerships charge between $1,500 and $2,000 for repairs. I believe a recall should be issued to repair the entire A/C system in Honda vehicles from 2017 to 2019.

THE A/C EVAPORATOR HAS APPARENTLY STOPPED WORKING. THE CONDENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATIONS, AND A RECALL WAS GENERATED. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THE EVAPORATOR, AS THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SERVICE CENTER AT HOLMAN HONDA LOCATED AT 12 EAST SUNRISE BLVD, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304 PHONE (954) 607-6730. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT FOUND THAT THE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the vehicle started to idle very rough. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was an engine cylinder misfire failure with DTC codes: P0302 and P0303. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a strong smell of gasoline in the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Fuel injectors were replaced by owner April 10, 2022. Upon oil change the same day, oil was very dark, despite only having 600 miles use since last changed and there was fuel noted in oil. Pictures were sent to NHTSA. Since changing injectors fuel mileage has improved greatly. The car has gone from averaging 37MPG to around 41MPG. Oil changed on 6/27/22, coloration was normal for routing change and did not note fuel in oil. No warning lights or issues with operation since injectors changed. The P0302 & P0303 codes were to be covered as part of a service bulletin relating to oil dilution but both Honda corp & dealership stated that injectors were not covered as part of the service bulletin. Even though the injectors could be directly responsible for the oil dilution issue if not properly functioning and throwing codes associated with the bulletin. Owner incurred the expense of rental car for a week, two lost days of onsite work with employer, and cost to purchase injectors. Will provide receipts.

10/16/2020 I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 HONDA CIVIC LEASE VEHICLE WITH 20,099 MILES STILL UNDER HONDA BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING AND WILL NOT START, IT WAS TOW IN TO HONDA DEALER & AS OF TODAYS DATE 1/23/2021 ITS STILL SITTING AT HONDA OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES CAN NOT FIGURED OUT AND HAS HONDA CASE # 11791655 - UN SAFE DEFECTIVE INTERNAL ENGINE POSSIBLY AND THEY DO NOT WANT OTHER CONSUMER'S TO KNOW