2014 Honda Civic Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Civic report transmission trouble more than anything else, most often a CVT that loses power or quits entirely, sometimes with no warning at all. Airbag and tire-pressure warning lights that come on and stay on are the next most common themes, along with occasional no-start electrical faults.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT transmission loses power or fails

   • 87 complaints (30%)
   • median 57,622 mi at 5.3 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Complaints describe the car suddenly losing speed or refusing to move while in gear, often accompanied by a whine, jerk or all warning lights coming on at once. Several owners say a dealer diagnosed a failed transmission or a broken pulley shaft and quoted a replacement costing several thousand dollars; some say they were told the repair was not covered. A few mention the CVT fill plug popping out and fluid spilling out, which they link to later shifting problems. Reported from around 40,000 to past 200,000 miles, with many cases between roughly 50,000 and 130,000 miles.

   Recall 15V5740003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the transmission software recall 15V574000 was performed, and check for fluid weeping or a loose fill plug near the CVT. A slow test drive with stop-and-go acceleration can reveal shuddering or delayed engagement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and it felt like a tugging on the passenger front wheel. When I would turn the tugging was worse. Then I turned around to go home and the car wouldn't move at all. All the gears were gone. The gear will go in the gear every gear but it wont go forward or backward. I don't think it's the transmission but it's possible the passenger axle or something in there or I could be wrong and it's the tranny.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323945, filed 2020-05, 15 miles

   “While I was driving down a busy interstate with numerous cars around me, my car gave a small jerk. After this, my car motor was still running, but had no power. When I pressed the gas, no power behind it. I was coasting and slowing down. After almost getting run over by the vehicle behind me, I was able to coast to the side of the road. There are multiple similar complaints with the transmission for this year model.”

   NHTSA complaint #11364379, filed 2020-10, 150,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light stays on / module issue

   • 43 complaints (15%)
   • median 65,500 mi at 6.1 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe a check airbag system message or SRS light that flashes intermittently and then stays lit. In several complaints a dealer traced it to the driver airbag module, inflator or cable reel, and some say the repair was not covered by warranty. A few owners describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision and are unsure whether their vehicle was included in a recall. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 130,000 miles, with a few at lower mileage.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the key and confirm the airbag light goes through its self-check and then goes out. Ask whether any airbag module, inflator or cable reel work has been done, and check the VIN against open airbag recalls.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Yesterday the check airbag system light was illuminated on my 2014 Honda. After having a mechanic check the error code, he confirmed there is an issue with my airbag inflator. My vehicle has approximately 75,000 miles and is driven approximately once a week. The issue occurred when I turned my vehicle on and started driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11389537, filed 2021-01, 75,000 miles

   “My 2014 Honda Civic ex just started having problems with the airbag warning notification going off sporadically. I took it to the Honda dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong with the car after running it through the computer. It went off for a little bit and now it goes on and off with or without people sitting in the passenger sit. I happen only once I start driving and it doesn't matter if I'm sitting at a light to moving. I've noticed that other Honda's have had similiar problems when searching the net. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11309447, filed 2020-02, 43,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Intermittent hesitation or no response from accelerator

   • 61 complaints (21%)
   • median 5,400 mi at 1.6 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners report moments where pressing the gas produces no response, a flat spot, or a brief stumble, sometimes shortly after a stop or while turning. Some say the dealer could not reproduce the problem, or that software was outdated; others mention stalling and a shudder. A separate group describes hard jerking when lifting off the throttle. Reported from very low mileage (under 1,000 miles) up to about 150,000 miles.

   What to check: During the test drive, try a few rolling starts and a firm part-throttle acceleration from a stop to see whether power delivery feels delayed. Ask whether any engine or transmission control software updates have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Had to apply brake with left foot and then apply gas peddle with right foot for immediate acceleration to avoid accident. Upon applying brake and then the gas car bogged as if to stall almost causing another accident. This has happened several times since initial incident. I took car to fox Honda, michigan (dealer where car was leased from) and they indicated that I shouldn't break with left and then give it gas with right. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10615956, filed 2014-07, 3,500 miles

   “This has happened countless times since the day I purchased my car and drove it off the lot. It doesn't matter how fast or slow I am driving, when I take my foot off of the gas pedal, my whole car jars forward like it is my transmission and it missed a gear. It has done this since I drove it home from purchasing it. It makes me nervous because my son is in the back seat and he can tell every time it happens because his head jolts forward.”

   NHTSA complaint #11326138, filed 2020-05, 30 miles
4. 4
   Tires

   Tire pressure warning light comes on when pressures are fine

   • 30 complaints (10%)
   • median 21,500 mi at 2.1 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the TPMS light or check tire pressure message illuminating even though pressures measure correct, sometimes repeatedly or at highway speed. Some owners report slow air loss on one or more tires, and a few report tire separation or a blowout; dealers in some cases could not resolve the warning. Reported from near-new mileage up to about 90,000 miles, including very early failures under a few thousand miles.

   Recall 14V109000

   What to check: Ask whether the TPMS sensors have been replaced or recalibrated, verify all four pressures cold, and check tire manufacture dates and sidewalls for cracking or separation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On al sr149 green springs highway, southbound, less than 500 feet from the oxmoor rd intersection, in the right lane, I hit a pothole with my front passenger tire. I did not notice the pothole while driving, but that didn't stop it from knocking the wheel out of allignment and bursting the tire. I had to use the emergency tools to change the tire on the side of I-65 after my TPMS sensor went off. If I had not decided to buy a spare tire months ago, I would be set back at least $150 dollars. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11360130, filed 2020-09, 83,000 miles

   “The tires are constantly losing air pressure. The tmps sensor goes off about once or twice a month and one of the tires will be about 5+ PSI low and one or more of the others will be 1-2 PSI low. It is never the same tire and every time it goes off I check all of them and re-inflate all to the correct PSI. There was a recall on some 2014 Honda civics for this issue (caused by an issue with the tire attaching to the wheel), but not all of them. I think that all 2014 Honda civics need to be recalled for this issue and fixed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10795015, filed 2015-11, 5,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Ignition key will not turn / no-start

   • 14 complaints (5%)
   • median 62,128 mi at 5.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the key going in but not turning, or the car failing to start even with multiple keys, with no warning lights. Dealers in these cases diagnosed the ignition lock cylinder and, in some reports, parts were on backorder. Others describe a battery drain after a battery replacement. Reported between about 75,000 and 90,000 miles.

   What to check: Try starting the car several times on the test drive and check that the key turns smoothly without excessive steering-wheel force. Ask about battery age and any history of repeat no-start complaints.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After replacing the battery, car develops a electrical drain to battery. Battery will slowly discharge until dead over 2-4 days. Nothing about this or how to prevent this in manual. Nothing in manual on how to correct.”

   NHTSA complaint #11402823, filed 2021-03, 90,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Honda Civic. The contact stated that all three keys failed to turn over and start the vehicle after multiple attempts. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had spoken to several unknown dealers who all provided estimates to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11480923, filed 2022-08, 88,000 miles

Buying note. The transmission is the item worth the most attention: ask for proof that recall 15V574000 was completed, look for fluid leaks around the CVT, and drive the car through stop-and-go conditions. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a scan for stored airbag, TPMS and transmission codes is worthwhile on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.