YearToAvoid

2015 Honda Civic Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2015 Honda Civic has a Complaint Index of 30 and ranks 15th worst out of 21 model years, earning a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 380 complaints, 1 recall, and Transmission & Powertrain as the top problem area with 176 complaints (46%).

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
30/100
#15 of 21 Civic years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
380
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
37
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
23
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2014
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
31.5
28.5 city / 37 hwy
Injuries / deaths
23 / 0

Top 2015 Honda Civic problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain176 (46%)
  2. Airbags58 (15%)
  3. Other58 (15%)
  4. Engine48 (13%)
  5. Electrical System28 (7%)
  6. Structure & Body26 (7%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (6%)
  8. Steering21 (6%)
  9. Brakes18 (5%)
  10. Fuel System11 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while slowly pulling into parking spaces, with the engine revving and the vehicle failing to respond to the brake.
  • Some report the transmission acting up on the highway, with strange sounds, a feeling of being in the wrong gear, and dashboard warnings before the car decelerated on its own.
  • Several describe airbags deploying unexpectedly during low-speed events, including one case while parking, causing a crash into another vehicle.
  • Steering complaints include the vehicle veering to the side and warning lights illuminating right before loss of control.
  • One owner reported a front axle failure and a wheel coming loose after braking hard to avoid an obstacle.
2015 Honda Civic complaints: complaints filed per quarter162015 Q12016 Q32018 Q22019 Q42021 Q22022 Q42024 Q22025 Q4
380 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q1 (16).

2015 Honda Civic recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V574000Sep 15, 2015Transmission & Powertrain143,676 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Civic vehicles manufactured January 16, 2014, to November 6, 2014 and 2015 Fit vehicles manufactured March 12, 2014, to May 12, 2015. The software settings that control the transmission operation may result in damage to the transmission drive pulley shaft.

    Risk: If the transmission drive pulley shaft is damaged, it may break, and the vehicle may lose acceleration or the front wheels may lock up while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the transmission, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 30, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU2 (Civic) and JU3(Fit).

2015 Honda Civic fuel economy and fuel cost

City
28.5 MPG
Highway
37 MPG
Combined
31.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,000
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other Civic years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Best10319031
2014Best15291231.5
2015Good30380131.5
2016Avoid851,080534
2017Good45593634

All Honda Civic years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Honda Civic reliable?
Compared to other Civic model years, 2015 rates Good, with a Complaint Index of 30 and a rank of 15th worst out of 21 years covered by NHTSA data.
What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Honda Civic?
Transmission & Powertrain issues are the top problem area, accounting for 176 of 380 complaints (46%), with a median failure mileage of 84,500 miles.
Does the 2015 Honda Civic have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for the 2015 Civic, covering a software issue tied to the Transmission & Powertrain system, with a free dealer software update as the remedy.
How does the 2015 Civic compare to other bad years like 2006 or 2007?
The 2015 Civic's Complaint Index of 30 is far lower than the 2006 (90) and 2007 (95) model years, which both carry Avoid verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Honda Civic?
EPA rates the 2015 Civic at 31.5 mpg combined (28.5 city / 37 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.