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Reliability report · 2017 Honda Civic · ~$1,950/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

A settling year — check the steering recall and the turbo's coverage, then it's a sound buy.

By Russell, VinCanary founder · How these reports are built · Data updated July 2026

2017 is the second year of the 10th generation and the platform is settling — complaints drop sharply from the loud launch year. The same engine split applies: the 1.5-liter turbo carries the oil-dilution story (with Honda's software update and 6-year powertrain extension behind it), while the 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated engine avoids it.

The item unique to 2017–2018 is a steering recall (18V-663): a torque-sensor magnet can come loose and, in a full-lock turn, apply power steering the wrong way. The fix — a free steering-gearbox replacement — is important to confirm by VIN. Add the halfshaft and fuel-pump recalls, and a 2017 with its recall sheet clean is a sound used Civic.

Evidence: 574 NHTSA complaints · 6 recall campaigns · 6 mechanic & forum sources

The short version

Status
Chirping. Complaints nearly halve from the 2016 launch year (574 vs 1,059), but the 1.5-liter turbo's oil-dilution question carries over and a genuine steering-safety recall lands this year.
Biggest risk
EPS torque-sensor recall — steering assist the wrong way (18V-663)
First check
Run the VIN against 18V-663 (steering) and confirm it shows completed — this is the year's most important recall; a car that steers oddly at full lock has not had it done.

Canary status

Chirping

What that means: Complaints nearly halve from the 2016 launch year (574 vs 1,059), but the 1.5-liter turbo's oil-dilution question carries over and a genuine steering-safety recall lands this year. Everything of substance has a free fix or a coverage lever — the job is confirming they were used.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

574

Federal complaints

6

Recalls

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2017 Honda Civic 4 DR FWD (NHTSA VehicleId 11167)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

EPS torque-sensor recall — steering assist the wrong way (18V-663)

major

This is the safety headline for 2017. On 2017–2018 Civics and CR-Vs, the magnet that controls the electric power steering's torque sensor may not be properly secured; if it dislodges, a full-lock turn can apply steering assist in the opposite direction — an unexpected, potentially dangerous input. Dealers replace the steering gearbox assembly free. It is a different, narrower defect than the gen-11 sticky-steering recall. Confirm 18V-663 shows completed by VIN; a car that still steers oddly at full lock has not had it done.

Recall gearbox replacement

$0

Sources: NHTSA complaint and recall database, 2017 Civic

Oil dilution and the turbo's coverage (1.5L turbo)major

  • 1.5L turbo

The 1.5-liter turbo's oil-dilution pattern carries over from 2016: gasoline thins the oil, worst on cold-climate short trips, and can feed a cold-start misfire and — in the worst cases — head-gasket trouble. Honda's oil-dilution software product update covers 2016–2018 turbo cars, and the powertrain warranty on the camshafts and rocker arms was extended to 6 years/unlimited miles (expired around 2023 on a 2017). There is no head-gasket recall, so an out-of-warranty engine repair is owner-paid. Check the cold-start behavior and the oil condition, and ask whether the software update was performed. The 2.0-liter car does not have this problem.

Sources: NHTSA complaint and recall database, 2017 Civic · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (10th-gen Civic) and Honda manufacturer-communication bulletins (oil-dilution update; powertrain and A/C-condenser warranty extensions)

$0

Oil-dilution software update

thousands

Out-of-warranty engine repair

Right halfshaft recall (Sedan and Coupe) — 17V-706moderate

Recall 17V-706 covers 2017 Civic Sedan and Coupe cars whose right halfshaft — the axle shaft that drives the front wheel — may have been improperly heat-treated, reducing its strength. If it breaks, the engine can no longer move the car, and a roll-away is possible if the parking brake isn't set. Dealers inspect the shaft's serial number, replace it as needed, and realign the front wheels, free. Verify by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint and recall database, 2017 Civic

$0

Recall inspection/replacement

A/C condenser leak — covered to 10 yearsmoderate

As on the rest of the 10th generation, the A/C condenser can develop factory-defect pinhole leaks. Honda's 10-year/unlimited-mile A/C-condenser extension covers 2016–2021 Civics (and 2017–2021 Civic Type R and Hatch), original and subsequent owners — so a 2017 is covered to roughly 2027. Out of pocket the repair runs about $1,800, and mechanics note dealers can push back on used-car owners. Test the A/C hard and, if it's weak, use the extension by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint and recall database, 2017 Civic · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (10th-gen Civic) and Honda manufacturer-communication bulletins (oil-dilution update; powertrain and A/C-condenser warranty extensions)

$0

Under the 10-year condenser extension

~$1,800

Out of pocket if denied

Fuel pump and seat-sensor recallsminor

Two cross-year safety campaigns reach 2017: 23V-858, the 2013–2023 Honda/Acura fuel-pump mega-recall (the in-tank pump can fail and stall the engine; free module replacement), and 26V-332, the front-passenger seat-weight-sensor recall (the sensor can crack and short, risking unintended airbag deployment; free replacement, letters mailed July 2026). Both are free by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint and recall database, 2017 Civic

During a full-lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.
From the manufacturer’s own recall notice or service bulletin, in its words.

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Honda dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 18V-6632017–2018 Civic and CR-V: EPS torque-sensor magnet may dislodge, applying steering assist the wrong way in a full-lock turn. Free steering-gearbox replacement. Honda codes C2N/P2O.VERIFY BY VIN
  2. 17V-706Civic Sedan and Coupe: right halfshaft may be improperly heat-treated and break, losing propulsion. Free inspection/replacement and front-wheel alignment. Honda code K0E.VERIFY BY VIN
  3. 18V-2662017 Civic Hatchback and Type R: replacement-service seatback pads lack the side-airbag slit, interfering with airbag deployment. Free seatback-pad replacement. Honda codes E1D/U1B/X1C.VERIFY BY VIN
  4. 18V-8172017–2018 Civic Hatchback and Type R: owner's guide may be missing required child-restraint-anchor information. Free owner-information kit. Honda code O3A.VERIFY BY VIN
  5. 23V-858Fuel pump inside the tank may fail and stall the engine (2013–2023 mega-recall; expands 20V-314/21V-215). Free fuel-pump module replacement. Honda codes KGC/KGD.VERIFY BY VIN
  6. 26V-332Front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short, risking unintended airbag deployment. Free sensor replacement; letters mailed July 2026 (expands 24V-064).VERIFY BY VIN

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2017 Civic

Three sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

32 MPG combined (28 city / 40 highway) for the FWD, 2.0L on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 38246 (Civic 4Dr).
Other builds EPA lists: FWD, 1.5L turbo 33 MPG.

$1,950/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Theft

Stolen at about the average rate.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2016–18 models, published May 2019 (report WT-18). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Honda Civic.
Other series: Honda Civic hatchback 110 · Honda Civic 2dr 79, where 100 = average.

111 vs 100

11% above average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

Recall gearbox replacement$0
Oil-dilution software update$0
Out-of-warranty engine repairthousands
Recall inspection/replacement$0
Under the 10-year condenser extension$0
Out of pocket if denied~$1,800
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01Run the VIN against 18V-663 (steering) and confirm it shows completed — this is the year's most important recall; a car that steers oddly at full lock has not had it done.
  2. 02Identify the engine by VIN: only the 1.5-liter turbo has the oil-dilution problem; the 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated car sidesteps it.
  3. 03On a turbo car, check the cold-start behavior and oil condition, and ask whether the oil-dilution software update was performed.
  4. 04Confirm 17V-706 (halfshaft, Sedan/Coupe), 23V-858 (fuel pump), and 26V-332 (seat sensor) are done by VIN.
  5. 05Test the A/C on max; if weak, use the 10-year/unlimited condenser extension before it lapses around 2027.

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