The 2020 Honda Civic is as close to perfect as you’re going to find in the compact car market right now. It’s not without its issues, including a low pressure fuel pump recall and some electrical hangups, but rate of incidence has been remarkably low thus far.
- The 2020 Honda Civic has only been recalled once, for a low pressure fuel pump failure.
- Clutch slip has been reported in a handful of manual-transmission Si models.
- A whole bunch of disparate electrical problems may point to either software bugs, or rodents chewing through the wiring.
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2020 Civic a Top Safety Pick in their crash test, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the car five stars overall.
- There are 69 complaints on file with the NHTSA in total for the 2020 Civic, and no investigations.
Low Pressure Fuel Pump Failure Results in 2020 Civic’s Sole Recall
A fuel pump recall issued in 2021 covered more than half a million Honda units, including several 2019-2020 Civics. This means that, if you’re driving a Civic made in the last few years, you might as well assume you’re covered in the recall and check your VIN.
The recall was aimed at a failing low-pressure fuel pump. For reference, the low-pressure fuel pump is the one located inside the fuel tank. The low-pressure pump’s job is to move fuel out of the tank and into the engine. The high-pressure pump is then tasked with distributing that fuel into the combustion system.
That being said, the symptoms of one and the other are about the same. Whichever fuel pump is failing, you’re going to be seeing engine stall, sputtering, and loss of locomotive power. It’s not always easy to tell which fuel pump isn’t doing its job.
The fix in this instance was thankfully simple, with dealers simply swapping the fuel pump assembly out with a new one. So far there have been no complaints of parts shortages, so if you’re buying a used Civic that was included in the recall this shouldn’t be a problem.
Clutch Slip May Occur in Manual Si Models
Most Honda Civic drivers will go with the one-speed CVT, and this issue will never come up. But, if you’re attracted to the Civic for its sporty feel and you go with a manual transmission Si model, there’s a chance that you’re going to experience some clutch-slippage.
This means that your clutch is simply not catching as it should, leaving your car feeling underpowered and floaty as it’s not getting the full transfer of power to the wheels because it’s not shifting correctly. There are 15 powertrain complaints on file right now, with clutch-slip being the recurring theme.
All but two of these complaints were registered in 2021 or later, with a third of them having been reported in the last year. This means that the clutch-slip problem might not develop right away. It could be something that doesn’t pop up until the car’s been on the road for several years.
The vehicle is still under warranty, but there are no investigations or recalls underway for clutch-slippage, meaning that you might not be able to count on Honda to foot the repair bill. A new clutch will typically cost around $1,500 with parts and labor, so keep that expense in mind when buying a manual Si.
Random Assortment of Electrical Issues May Point to Software Glitches and Bad Wiring
A whole range of electrical issues have been reported, with few clear patterns emerging besides a general trend of unpredictability. One driver reports that their airbags deployed while driving slowly through a residential area. Another driver reports the brakes engaging on their own and the trunk popping open for no reason.
In total there are 13 electrical complaints on file with the NHTSA, plus one for electronic stability control, two for lane departure, and five for service brakes. Because the symptoms are so varied, it is difficult to nail this down to any one single cause.
Two contributing factors, however, may be the soy-based wire coating, which attracts rodents, and plain ol’ software glitches. Cars are more dependent on their onboard computers now than ever, and no software is ever perfect on release.
All we can do when it comes to software bugs is wait for the updates to roll out. As for the soy-based wire coating, most auto shops sell a repellent that you can spray on the wiring to keep mice and rats from chewing through your electrical system.
No Car is Perfect, but the 2020 Honda Civic Comes Pretty Close
With just one recall, 69 NHTSA complaints, a five-star crash test rating and a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, the 2020 Honda Civic is one of the safest vehicles on the road today, and one of the most reliable, and that’s in any class.
Your biggest concern is going to be how the previous driver treated the car. This is doubly true if you’re buying a used Si with a manual transmission, as hard shifting and bad driving habits can take years off of the powertrain’s life expectancy.
But, if it passes inspection, if it handles inclines and highway speeds just fine, you won’t have much to worry about behind the wheel of any 2020 Civic.
