Honda Civic, Accord and CR-V head-gasket warranty extension: 10 years or 150,000 miles

© A. Krivonosov

American Honda has turned years of head-gasket complaints into an official warranty program. For selected Civic, Accord and CR-V vehicles, head-gasket coverage has been extended to 10 years or 150,000 miles (about 241,000 km), while Honda’s standard U.S. powertrain warranty ends after five years or 60,000 miles (about 96,500 km).

Dealer documents dated August 26 cover various versions of the 2018–2026 Accord, 2016–2026 Civic and 2017–2026 CR-V, including several hybrids. Separate bulletins were issued for the 2023–2026 Acura Integra and 2025–2026 ADX. Eligibility is checked by VIN: not every vehicle from the listed model years is automatically included.

This is a significant development. Earlier complaints about the Honda 1.5 Turbo head gasket included coolant entering the cylinders. Honda now officially lists possible symptoms including coolant loss, overheating, misfires and diagnostic trouble codes P0300–P0304. The new program also extends beyond the 1.5-liter turbo engine: it includes hybrid Accord, Civic and CR-V variants as well as some Civic 2.0 model years.

However, this is not a recall. A functioning gasket will not be replaced pre-emptively: a fault must first appear and the vehicle must undergo dealer diagnosis. If coolant intrusion into a combustion chamber is confirmed, the head gasket can be replaced; if warping is found, the cylinder head and even the short block may also need replacement. Honda plans to begin sending owner notifications in October 2026. Some of the oldest eligible vehicles receive a six-month grace period.

Honda has not disclosed the exact number of vehicles involved. Claims that “millions of vehicles” are affected therefore remain unconfirmed. What matters more to owners is that a failure which might previously have appeared after the standard warranty expired can now be covered on eligible vehicles for up to 10 years or 150,000 miles (about 241,000 km).