Recall 18V421 affects 13 2018 Honda Civic vehicles with certification-label errors that affect recall verification. Repair is free at any franchised Honda dealer.
Honda is recalling 13 2018 Civic vehicles because random characters in the certification label's manufacturing date area can make recall eligibility harder for an owner to confirm. That confusion can leave a safety recall unresolved and increase the risk of injury or crash, and Honda dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The certification label on a 2018 Honda Civic is the factory label that identifies key vehicle information, including the manufacturing date. Owners, dealers, and repair shops use that date with the VIN to confirm whether a recall or service instruction applies to the exact car. The label is supposed to print the manufacturing date clearly and consistently.
In recall 18V421, the problem is not a broken mechanical part. Honda found that the printer software used for replacement certification labels had incorrect settings. On affected Civics, the replacement label printed random characters where the manufacturing date belonged. That wrong printout can make it harder for an owner or service desk to confirm recall coverage from the label alone.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is visible only when someone reads the certification label and sees characters in the manufacturing date area instead of a proper date.
Who's affected?
| 2018 Honda Civic | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 13 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2018 Honda Civic is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
An incorrect certification label can make it harder to confirm whether this Civic is included in a safety recall. That gap can delay a needed recall repair and increase the risk of injury or a crash. Check the VIN, then schedule the label replacement if included. Repair is free at any franchised Honda dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Honda Civic is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Honda dealer to schedule the free certification-label replacement that fixes the unreadable manufacturing-date area used for recall checks.
- Bring the recall notice if Honda sent one. If not, reference recall number 18V421 when you call.
- Keep the dealer paperwork after the repair so the corrected certification label is documented.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Honda technician replaces the certification label so the manufacturing date information is readable and usable for recall identification. The replacement label and labor are free under the recall. Honda has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who paid for the related label repair before the notice. Bring repair paperwork or contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138 to ask how documented expenses are handled.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 15, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| June 20, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
| August 7, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| August 9, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V421?
Recall 18V421 covers 13 2018 Honda Civic vehicles with certification labels that can show random characters in the manufacturing date area. That can make it harder to confirm whether another safety recall applies. Honda dealers will replace the certification label for free.
What should I do if my 2018 Honda Civic is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Civic is included in recall 18V421. If it is, contact a franchised Honda dealer to schedule the certification-label replacement. Reference recall number 18V421 or Honda recall U23 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair recall defects at no cost, and Honda's remedy says dealers will replace the certification label free of charge. Any franchised Honda dealer can perform the recall repair.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that the incorrect label can interfere with recall verification. If an owner cannot confirm whether the Civic is included in another safety recall, the delay can increase the risk of injury or crash. Check your VIN and ask Honda to replace the label.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V421000 |
|---|---|
| Honda customer service | 1-888-234-2138 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V421 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V421000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →