longevity/reliability of current gen Civics?

[flinter]

Hi,

With the current generation 2019 model of the Honda Civic lineup (except for the LX trim) now all turbo, GDI and CVT, will this generation last nearly as long WITHOUT major issues and rock solid reliability as the older models with NO turbo, port injection and standard traditional transmission??

Thanks

 

[Cujet]

As I'm sure you know. It's impossible to predict 10 years down the road without some long term data. Certainly, Honda and Toyota have a continuing reputation for the highest real world reliability. Websites like truedata.com have taken years of user data, directly provided, and the results are clear. The Camry has been the most reliable car, followed by the Accord. Both are 10X more reliable than a VW Passat.

Whether that translates into trouble free ownership today remains to be seen. Clearly, MPG requirements are driving the trend towards direct injection, turbocharging and CVT's.

If I were to guess, I'd say that the fuel dilution issues on the Honda 1.5 turbo engines can be mitigated by frequent oil changes and the choice of sufficient viscosity. If I owned one, I'd want to understand what actually worked to address the problem. So I'd perform UOA tests and try various viscosities.

I'd also guess that the Hyundai/Kia continuing engine failures are an order of magnitude worse than Honda.

 

[skyactiv]

As I've stated on here before, I started my career off working as a tech at a Honda dealer. I quit, went to Nashville Auto Diesel College and am a semi mechanic for UPS.
I have a friend that still works at that Honda dealer. The current 10th gen Civic with a gas turbo direct injected engine and CVT will have a lower percentage of cars on the road when they reach 15-20 years old vs the prior generations. Honda did have a CVT going back to the 96 Civic HX. The CVT in those usually died and got replaced before the warranty ended, if you were lucky.

 

[CharBaby]

Yeah, there's a lot going on this generation of Civic & the Accord too!
As mentioned, time will tell but I don't feel as confident owning them for 18yrs as I once did.
Of course, I don't think that I really want to own any DD vehicle for that long anymore.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Nope. They already have issues with the 1.5T

Honda should go back to the R18 in the base model and the R20 in higher models.

 

[dbias]

I have a 2016 Civic coupe 1.5t and would not buy one again.
1. 3rd taillight cover fell down flooding rear window in red light at night, dangerous took 2 months to fix.
2. On hot restarts a valve in the CVT makes a God awful grinding noise and Honda wont fix until dealership can duplicate. Happens maybe 3 times a month and sounds like engine is about to explode and of course 3 trips to dealer and they've never been able to duplicate and wont accept my video of it happening.
3. Several times the push to start button goes dead. Sold my daughter a 9 dollar key fob battery and it still does from time to time.
4. Fuel dilution climbed an inch and a half on the dipstick before I caught it the first time.
5. Deafening road noise, 3 different sets of tires and no joy.

Next small sedan will be a VW Golf.

 

[HangFire]

Originally Posted by dbias
Next small sedan will be a VW Golf.

At least then, when the dealer can't duplicate your many problems, you'll have a great support group of fellow VW owners, instead of scoffing Honda deniers!

 

[gregk24]

Originally Posted by Cujet
As I'm sure you know. It's impossible to predict 10 years down the road without some long term data. Certainly, Honda and Toyota have a continuing reputation for the highest real world reliability. Websites like truedata.com have taken years of user data, directly provided, and the results are clear. The Camry has been the most reliable car, followed by the Accord. Both are 10X more reliable than a VW Passat.

Whether that translates into trouble free ownership today remains to be seen. Clearly, MPG requirements are driving the trend towards direct injection, turbocharging and CVT's.

If I were to guess, I'd say that the fuel dilution issues on the Honda 1.5 turbo engines can be mitigated by frequent oil changes and the choice of sufficient viscosity. If I owned one, I'd want to understand what actually worked to address the problem. So I'd perform UOA tests and try various viscosities.

I'd also guess that the Hyundai/Kia continuing engine failures are an order of magnitude worse than Honda.


Those websites can be helpful for sure, and I give them more credence than Consumer Reports, however I can't imagine a Passat would be 10 times less reliable than a Honda / Toyota. So far, our VW Jetta has been on par reliability wise with my Accord.

 

[gregk24]

Oh, and in response to the original post, from what I have read I wouldn't be rushing out to get a new Civic for reliability reasons. Not only that it seems interior quality is lacking as well.

 

[atikovi]

Originally Posted by flinter
Hi,

With the current generation 2019 model of the Honda Civic lineup (except for the LX trim) now all turbo, GDI and CVT, will this generation last nearly as long WITHOUT major issues and rock solid reliability as the older models


Do you plan on keeping it 20+ years? If so, probably not. But why would you want to own the same Civic 20 years? Chances are it will be totaled in a wreck long before that anyway.

 

[atikovi]

Originally Posted by skyactiv
Honda did have a CVT going back to the 96 Civic HX. The CVT in those usually died and got replaced before the warranty ended, if you were lucky.


Always a learning curve on new tech. Had a few Insight CVT's with well over 200,000 miles and no CVT issues. On the other hand, the CVT in Subaru Justys was junk.

 

[dishdude]

I'd rather buy a Jetta that has a 6 year/72k mile bumper to bumper warranty, do the minimum amount of maintenance required by the book and dump it as the warranty is up.

 

[Revving2Redline]

I would run 0w30 with 5k oci. Honda makes a factory 0w30 oil.https://www.famousautopart.com/honda-full-synthetic-sn-0w-30-4l

I am looking at buying the new 2.0 because its NA and I like the reliability better. I think what scares me most is the sub four qt oil supply along with GDi AND BOOST! Minimum would be the 5 qt capacity of the Civic Type R and the thickest 0w20/30 depending on climate. I luck out on fuel dilution problems because like my GDi Hyundai I drove plenty highway each day and it wasnt a issue. I'll ask the guys in the shop what ideas/issues the got with the new Accord/Civic. GDi is okay, turbochargers are okay too but both together with a thimble for a oil pan is a disaster.

 

[parshisa]

30000mi later and one visit to the dealer for recall work - 3 way coolant crossover (or whatever it was called). Oil changes between 5 and 6.5K, tire rotations, manual transmission fluid upgrade to Amsoil MTF, full body pain correction/ceramic coating (did it myself) and still enjoying the car. Low wear numbers on UOAs with 5w30 despite somewhat high fuel dilution. The only problem that needs to be addressed - AC system making annoying sounds (whine and slushing/gurgling sound) - known issue with civics and usually addressed under warranty. But that's it, getting 36-38mpg on daily basis pushing that motor to 5-6K everyday. Love the car and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone

 

[double vanos]

It's a curious thing about Volkswagens, the car magazines just love them yet here on bitog ( and many other places ) VWs get no love. And its a shame too because they delight the reviewers (yet fall apart for the owners). A simple Golf would be a blast to have but all the negativity scares one away.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Originally Posted by double vanos
It's a curious thing about Volkswagens, the car magazines just love them yet here on bitog ( and many other places ) VWs get no love. And its a shame too because they delight the reviewers (yet fall apart for the owners). A simple Golf would be a blast to have but all the negativity scares one away.


That's because the car magazines don't have to pay for their high maintenance or expensive repair bills, and if they're ever stranded, they can easily arrange alternate transportation.

 

[Revving2Redline]

Dealership can make or brake it for a car owner. Honda lets me have a car whenever. I just order a part that will take a week to get and get a loaner Fit. I like VAG group but the dealer for them is kinda a pita. I miss the Corrado/Scirocco. VW doesnt leak oil, they mark their spot.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

There will never be another Honda B or F series of motors . Reliable, cheap to maintain and bulletproof .

 

[PWMDMD]

I can't speak specifically about the current generation Civic but as someone who has owned multiple Honda/Acura products in the past 8 years I can say I do not think Honda's reputation for quality and reliability is as deserved as it was 10-15+ years ago. I don't think they make a bad car - they just seem more focused on keeping costs down than high quality. This has been particularly true of build quality and especially out of the North American plants where I've seen things that just make you scratch your head and wonder if the car was built on a day everyone was hung over.

Unfortunately, they earned the reliability reputation years ago, it became entrenched in society and they've been riding that wave since even though they've had some products that have really sucked. Go ask a current generation RDX owner....those things are a mess. All that said, I still own a 2018 Pilot and while I have my gripes it does it's job. This is not a car I will try and hold onto 10+ years - just need it to hold together to get past the 5 year financing and I ill likely unload it.

 

[PWMDMD]

Originally Posted by double vanos
It's a curious thing about Volkswagens, the car magazines just love them yet here on bitog ( and many other places ) VWs get no love. And its a shame too because they delight the reviewers (yet fall apart for the owners). A simple Golf would be a blast to have but all the negativity scares one away.



It was between the Atlas and Pilot and I went Pilot but a coworker went Atlas. Her car has under 10K on it and has been to the dealership 6x with the last time being a transmission replacement. The packaging of the Atlas was perfect but I just don't trust VW reliability. I've heard too many first hand stories from family and friends and let's face it the VW diesel scandal doesn't instill a whole lot of trust in the company.