Honda Civic
2019 Honda Civic
Sedan in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring; coupe in LX, Sport, EX-L and Touring; hatchback in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Sport Touring. The Si adds a 205 hp version of the 1.5L turbo with a 6-speed manual only, and the Type R sits on its own with a 306 hp 2.0L turbo.
Overview
2019 is the facelift year for the tenth-generation Civic, and it is the one to buy in this generation if you can. Honda restyled the front and rear, made Honda Sensing standard on nearly every trim, and — the change owners actually care about — put a physical volume knob back in the dashboard after three years of the widely disliked touch slider.
Mechanically it carries over: a naturally aspirated 2.0L in the LX and Sport, and the 1.5L turbo in EX and above. The 1.5L is the interesting engine and the source of the generation's one significant technical story, which is fuel getting into the crankcase oil on short cold trips.
- Buy the 1.5T if you want the real performance and mileage advantage, and you understand the oil dilution history and how Honda addressed it.
- Buy the 2.0L if you do mostly short trips in a cold climate and want the simplest possible engine — port injection, no turbo, no dilution story.
- Check the A/C condenser on any tenth-generation Civic. It is the most expensive common failure on this car and it is easy to test in five minutes.
Reliability & running costs
Fundamentally sound, with one real and one manageable known problem. The A/C condenser failure on this generation is common enough and expensive enough that it costs the Civic a point. The 1.5L oil dilution issue is real but was addressed by Honda software and, in normal driving, is more of a maintenance-discipline item than a mechanical time bomb. Everything else — the engine, the CVT, the body — holds up well.
- Reliability score
- 4.0 / 5
- Maintenance + repairs, per year
- $420–$780 per year, maintenance and repairs
Recalls
Honda issued multiple campaigns across tenth-generation Civics, including software updates and safety recalls that vary by build date. Look up your specific VIN on the NHTSA recall database, and separately ask a Honda dealer to check for open service bulletins and warranty extensions — those are not listed by NHTSA but are performed free of charge when they apply.
Known issues on the 2019 Honda Civic
Reported by owners of this model year specifically — not generic advice.
- ModerateTypically 30,000–70,000 milesA/C Condenser Refrigerant LeakThe condenser develops pinhole leaks and the system loses refrigerant, leaving you with air that is cool for a few weeks and then not cool at all. The most common expensive failure on this generation of Civic.Typical fix $650–$1,200 condenser replacement and recharge
- ModerateTypically Any mileage; worst in the first winter of ownershipFuel Dilution of Engine Oil (1.5L Turbo)Unburned fuel washes past the rings into the crankcase on short cold trips, raising the oil level and thinning it. Most reported in cold climates on cars used for brief commutes.Typical fix $0–$150 software free; extra oil changes are the ongoing cost
- ModerateTypically 15,000–60,000 milesRepeated Dead Battery from Parasitic DrawThe car will not crank after sitting two or three days. Honda addressed this on tenth-generation Civics with control module software updates.Typical fix $200–$600 battery plus diagnosis
- ModerateTypically 40,000–80,000 milesCVT Shudder at Low SpeedA vibration or judder felt at 15–35 mph under light throttle, usually caused by degraded CVT fluid rather than mechanical damage.Typical fix $150–$400 per fluid service
Engines offered
| Engine | Layout | Output | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| K20C22.0L | Inline-4 | 158 hp | gasoline |
| L15B71.5L turbo | Inline-4 | 174 hp | gasoline |
| K20C12.0L turbo | Inline-4 (Type R) | 306 hp | gasoline |
Service schedule
What this vehicle needs and roughly when.
Per Maintenance Minder (roughly 6,000–8,000 miles)
- Engine oil and filter — 0W-20 full synthetic
- Rotate tires
- Inspect brakes, tie rods, boots and hoses
- Reset the oil life indicator
Minder code 2 (roughly 15,000–30,000 miles)
- Replace engine air filter
- Replace cabin air filter
- Inspect drive belt condition
- Inspect suspension and steering components
Minder code 3 / 30,000–40,000 miles
- CVT fluid drain and fill with genuine Honda HCF-2
- Inspect CVT for external leaks
- Inspect brake pad thickness front and rear
3 years, regardless of mileage
- Replace brake fluid — Honda specifies this by time, not mileage
- Inspect parking brake adjustment
- Inspect brake caliper slide pins and lubricate
Minder code 4 / around 100,000 miles
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect valve clearance and adjust if noisy
- Inspect the timing chain tensioner
- Replace the drive belt if cracked or glazed
Minder code 5 / 10 years or 120,000 miles
- Replace engine coolant with Honda Type 2 (then every 5 years / 60,000 miles)
- Inspect water pump and thermostat
- Pressure test cooling system
Codes this vehicle sets most often
Where the same code has a vehicle-specific root cause.
- P0171
On the 1.5L turbo this points at the PCV system or a leak on the charge-air side rather than the vacuum leaks you would chase on an older Honda. Check the PCV hose and the intercooler piping clamps first — a boost leak downstream of the mass airflow sensor is the classic cause on the L15B7. Read the P0171 guide.
- P0301
A cylinder-1 misfire on a turbo Civic is worth taking seriously because heavily fuel-diluted oil and a fouled plug produce exactly this. Pull the plug and look at it: fuel-wetted plugs alongside a high oil level tie the misfire back to the dilution issue rather than a failed coil. Read the P0301 guide.
- P0420
Less common on this generation than on older Civics. When it does appear, check for the A/C condenser and radiator debris that blocks airflow and pushes underhood temperatures up, and rule out a lazy downstream oxygen sensor before quoting a converter — see catalytic converter replacement cost. Read the P0420 guide.