Recall 16V526 affects 11,846 2016 Honda Civic vehicles for damaged side marker light circuit boards. Repair is free at any franchised Honda dealer.
Honda is recalling 11,846 2016 Civic 2-Door vehicles because a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly can make the marker light stop working. A failed side marker light makes the car harder for other drivers to see, increasing crash risk, and Honda dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The rear side marker light in the taillight assembly on the 2016 Honda Civic is a small exterior lamp that marks the rear corner of the car. It uses an LED and a circuit board inside the taillight housing. When the lights are on, that circuit board sends power to the LED so the marker light stays visible from the side.
On the recalled Civics, the circuit board for the rear side marker LED light was damaged before the taillight assembly reached Honda's production line. Honda traced the damage to shipping from a sub-supplier to the tail lamp supplier. A damaged board can leave the marker light inoperable, which means the vehicle does not meet the federal lighting standard referenced in NHTSA campaign 16V526.
There is no warning sign before failure. The owner-visible issue is simple: the rear side marker light does not illuminate when the exterior lights are on.
Who's affected?
| 2016 Honda Civic | Exterior lighting |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 11,846 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no 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 side marker light that does not work makes the Civic less visible to other drivers and increases the risk of a crash. Check exterior lighting before driving at night or in low visibility, and schedule the inspection soon if your VIN is included. 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 taillight inspection and replacement that fixes the inoperable side marker light.
- Bring the recall notice if Honda mailed one, or reference recall number 16V526 when you call.
- Use extra care until the repair is complete because a failed side marker light reduces visibility to other drivers.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Honda technician inspects both taillight assemblies for damage to the LED side marker light circuit board. If an assembly is affected, the technician replaces it. Parts and labor are covered under recall 16V526, and the repair is available now. Honda has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for this taillight repair before the recall notice. Ask Honda customer service or the service desk what documentation they need for a reimbursement claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 9, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| July 11, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
| August 8, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| August 31, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V526?
Recall 16V526 covers 11,846 2016 Honda Civic 2-Door vehicles with a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly. If the marker light does not work, other drivers have less visibility of the vehicle, which increases crash risk. Honda dealers inspect both taillight assemblies and replace them as necessary for free.
What should I do if my 2016 Honda Civic is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Civic is included in recall 16V526. If it is, contact a franchised Honda dealer to schedule the taillight inspection. Reference recall 16V526 or Honda recall KB8 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Honda's remedy says dealers will inspect both taillight assemblies and replace them as necessary free of charge at a franchised Honda dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced vehicle visibility. If the side marker light does not function, other drivers have less warning of the Civic's position, which increases the risk of a crash. The dealer repair addresses the lighting defect for free.
Which 2016 Honda Civic vehicles are included?
This recall applies to certain 2016 Honda Civic 2-Door vehicles built from February 23, 2016, through May 20, 2016. The year and model are not enough to confirm coverage. Check your VIN to see whether your specific Civic is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V526000 |
|---|---|
| Honda customer service | 1-888-234-2138 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V526 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V526000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation 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 →