2016 Honda Civic · symptom sheet
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails
- 214owner reports
- 40,000median miles
- $1,300median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 17, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
214 of the 1,081 complaints on this car describe A/C failure. Only sticky steering is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 214 reports
A/C failure on other Civic years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Most A/C complaints start the same way: the fan still blows, but the air coming out of the vents is warm or only a little cool. Some owners get cold air that fades after a while, and others hear a noise from the compressor before it quits. It's rarely a safety problem on its own, which is also why it seldom gets a recall.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the compressor (102 reports), the condenser (78 reports), the evaporator (40 reports) and the clutch (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on this problem covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
98 of the 214 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $450 to $2,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 30,038 and 55,000 miles, from the 108 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 11 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Honda Civic that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C condenser to 10 years from the original date of purchase with unlimited miles. This warranty extension only covers vehicles that have a defective A/C condenser from the factory.
Due to supplier process concerns, the A/C compressor may not have been manufactured to specifications. As a result, abnormal wearing of the rubber seal may occur causing gaps in the compressor shaft to develop allowing refrigerant to leak out.
We have identified a potential concern with GUIDE, AC COMP SEAL 07AAG-5AAA100, which was a part of 6CVC SEAL REPLACEMENT KIT, 07AAC-5AAA1Z0 that was recently sent to all Honda dealers.
Customers have complained of the air conditioning system not blowing cold air due to the oil/refrigerant leak from the A/C compressor main shaft seal.
7 more on the 2016 Honda Civic page.
What owners wrote
“Air conditioner leaking Freon at 40k miles and itâs a known problem $2000 repair. Known problem with Honda civics”
Filed Jul 3, 2023 · 40,000 miles
“Air conditioning unit slowly quit blowing out cold air. Actually it happened in 2020. I read there was a problem with the unit holding Freon.”
Filed Apr 22, 2022
“The day i bought this car the ac went out. I had to go back to dealer the next morning. I later on learned They just fiddled with it to make it work temporarily. By the next summer ac went out again, this time defrosters didn't work, heater didn't work, ac obviously didn't work. And ive Been dealing with it like this for over 2 years. Honda is not helping at all.”
Filed Jul 9, 2021
“2016 Civic air conditioner continues to blow hot air. Problem started in spring of 2018. Honda claimed they fixed in in summer of 2020 but it hasnât worked at all in 2021. Seems to repeat pattern every spring.”
Filed Jul 7, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 214 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 354 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 94 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 76 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 48 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 39 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 39 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 28 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 27 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 27 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 27 reports