Recall 16V074 covers 42,129 2016 Honda Civic vehicles for piston circlips that can let the engine seize. Repair is free at any franchised Honda dealer.
Honda is recalling 42,129 2016 Civic vehicles because some 2.0L engines were built with a missing or incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip. A loose wrist pin can damage the engine cylinder, seize the engine, and raise the risk of a crash or fire; Honda dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The 2.0L engine in the 2016 Honda Civic uses pistons to turn fuel combustion into the motion that drives the car. Each piston is connected to a connecting rod by a wrist pin, and a circlip is the small retaining clip that keeps that pin seated where it belongs. That clip has a simple job: hold the pin in place while the piston moves at high speed inside the cylinder.
On recalled Civics, a piston assembly was built with the wrist pin circlip missing or installed incorrectly. Engine vibration can let the unsecured wrist pin move out of place. Once the pin shifts far enough, it can scrape or interfere with the cylinder wall, which can seize the engine and stop power to the vehicle.
There is no warning sign before failure. A normal-starting engine can still have this assembly defect, so the VIN decides whether the vehicle is included in recall 16V074.
Who's affected?
| 2016 Honda Civic | Engine |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 42,129 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 14 field incidents to date. |
Not every 2016 Honda Civic is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
A missing or incorrectly installed circlip can leave the piston wrist pin unsecured. If the pin drifts, it can damage the engine cylinder, seize the engine, and increase the risk of a crash or fire. Schedule the recall inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Honda dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016 Honda Civic is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Honda dealer to schedule the free piston-assembly inspection and replacement that corrects the wrist-pin circlip defect linked to engine seizure, crash, or fire risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Honda mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V074 when you call.
- Avoid unnecessary driving until the dealer completes the repair, because an unsecured piston wrist pin can damage the engine.
- Call Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138 with questions, and reference Honda recall JX9.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Honda technician inspects the engine piston assemblies and replaces the piston assemblies and any damaged engine components that need replacement. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Honda does not offer a separate reimbursement program for repairs before the owner notice because the new vehicle warranty would have provided this repair at no cost. If you have prior repair paperwork, ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies to that work.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| February 9, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 15, 2016 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| March 15, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 25, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V074?
Recall 16V074 covers 42,129 2016 Honda Civic vehicles with 2.0L engines. The engine piston wrist pin circlip was missing or installed incorrectly, leaving the piston wrist pin unsecured. Honda dealers will inspect the engine and replace piston assemblies and damaged engine components for free.
What should I do if my 2016 Honda Civic is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific 2016 Honda Civic is included in recall 16V074. If it is, contact a franchised Honda dealer and ask for recall JX9. The dealer will inspect the engine, replace affected piston assemblies or damaged engine parts, and complete the recall repair for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair covered safety defects at no cost. Honda dealers will inspect the engine and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as needed, free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is engine seizure, with increased crash or fire risk. In affected engines, an unsecured piston wrist pin can move out of place, damage the cylinder, and stop the engine. If your VIN is included, arrange the free inspection and repair with a Honda dealer.
What if I bought my 2016 Honda Civic used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Civic is included in recall 16V074, then call a franchised Honda dealer and reference recall JX9 when scheduling the repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V074000 |
|---|---|
| Honda customer service | 1-888-234-2138 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V074 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V074000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →