While Honda built its reputation in America on exceptional reliability, the past few years haven’t exactly been smooth sailing. Owners of cars with some of the company’s most popular modern four-cylinder engines have reported premature head gasket failure, often resulting in a steep bill if an affected vehicle is just out of the factory warranty period. Thankfully, relief is here. Honda just rolled out a special warranty extension covering head gasket issues on select 1.5T and two-liter models, and this looks like it’s going to be huge.
First, a little background: some of Honda’s recent four-cylinder engines have been dogged by reports of premature head gasket failure. The 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four used in many Accords, CR-Vs, and Civics was the first to show its hand because Honda’s been using it for the better part of a decade, but the two-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine used in the Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid, and Civic Hybrid has also produced reports of premature head gasket failure in recent years.
Head gasket issues in the former engine are prominent enough that in 2024, a lawsuit named Bissell v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. et al. was filed alleging the existence of a defect on 1.5-liter turbocharged engines that can result in premature head gasket failure. In July 2025, another filing joined the fray, this one titled Alcantara, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co. Inc., et al. and also alleging premature head gasket failure.
It’s not particularly difficult to find reports of 1.5T head gasket failure, but many go like this complaint from the driveaccord.net forum. It usually starts being noticeable with the engine shaking and misfiring, and many technicians initially arrive at the same first diagnosis as this owner: “I put my scanner on it and it stated #2 cyl misfire Injector failure. I was about to purchase 4 new injectors.” Unfortunately, new fuel injectors don’t fix a blown head gasket, the problem generally returns quickly, and the result is usually a big bill if the car’s out of warranty. This claim of “$4,000” sounds about right given the labor required to teardown the engine and fix the actual issue.
While the aforementioned legal filings over the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine were happening, complaints regarding head gasket failure on the two-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine found in several hybrid models started building. I’ve previously covered this issue in greater depth, but the majority of owner complaints play out like this one from the CR-V Owners Club forum. After going through a misfire and having the dealer replace spark plugs, the owner experienced further symptoms and was in for a bit of a shock once the dealership found out what had actually happened:
The next day the diagnoses was a blown head gasket and possible bad cylinders. They wanted me to authorize the head teardown of 19hrs. A cost of $4000. Which I declined. I told then I’m going to call Honda of America. I’m waiting for a response. My question is: Am I the only person with a 2023 CRV hybrid, 17 months old with 66k miles with a blown head gasket?
Honda did issue a product improvement campaign in July for the hybrid powertrain stating that “To better manage engine temperatures, a PGM-FI update has been developed to optimize electric water pump operation.” However, that’s not quite the same thing as extra head gasket coverage. It also doesn’t cover the 1.5-liter turbocharged engines, but it didn’t take long after the posting of this bulletin for some proper relief to arrive.
On Wednesday, we received a tip from a reader that a warranty extension had allegedly been issued for select Honda and Acura models with the 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four and the two-liter hybrid powertrain. Naturally, I reached out to Honda to verify the existence of said extension, and the response is both thorough and pleasing to see.
American Honda is committed to our customers and the quality of our products. After detailed analysis of warranty claims and dealer service records, the company has determined that certain Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, CR-V Hybrid and Acura Integra and ADX vehicles may experience reduced effectiveness of the original cylinder head gasket under certain driving conditions.
In the interest of customer satisfaction, American Honda is providing an extended warranty on the original cylinder head gasket, related to this condition, for 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. The original limited powertrain warranty is 5 years or 60,000 miles for Honda vehicles and 6 years or 70,000 miles for Acura vehicles.
Models included in this warranty extension:2018-2026 Honda Accord equipped with 1.5L turbo engines2018-2026 Honda Accord Hybrid2016-2024 Honda Civic equipped with 1.5L turbo engines2025-2026 Honda Civic equipped with 2.0L engines (non-hybrid)2025-2026 Honda Civic Hybrid2017-2020 Honda Civic Si2022-2026 Honda Civic Si2017-2026 Honda CR-V equipped with 1.5L turbo engines2020-2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid2025-2026 Acura ADX2023-2026 Acura Integra equipped with 1.5L turbo engines
If you’re doing the math in your head right now, that’s head gasket coverage for double the time and more than double the mileage of Honda’s standard powertrain warranty, and four extra years or more than double the mileage of Acura’s standard powertrain warranty. The list of covered vehicles is particularly interesting as well, as it includes the standard, non-turbocharged, non-hybrid trims of the 2025-and-newer Civic. Those cars use a K20C9 engine that’s unrelated to the L15 1.5T engine or the LFC hybrid engine, but Honda’s clearly identified a risk here.
If you own an affected Honda or Acura that now falls within the extended warranty period of ten years or 150,000 miles, you can breathe a sigh of relief. On the chance your head gasket does pop, you shouldn’t have to pay thousands out of pocket for a proper repair. While word of this extended coverage comes a bit late for owners who’ve been through the head gasket wringer already, it’s better for Honda to have stepped up and done the right thing late than sweep it under the rug.
[Hat-tip to Brian Becker!]
Top graphic image: Honda
*Premature* head gasket failure? That makes it sounds like the head gasket is expected to fail eventually.
Everything is expected to fail eventually.
Everything will fail eventually. This includes headgaskets. Do you expect shocks, water pumps, AC compressors, or any other high pressure seal to never break either?
Word will get around when these start hitting the used car market sans factory warranties.
I’m starting to understand the reason why so many people are ordering new Toyotas from the factory sight unseen at the dealer’s asking price.
Another reason to go with Mitsubishi… the other, other, other white meat. : )
https://youtu.be/YfFUbwMXaeg?si=nk-BwkO7LyeXxARX
This one’s going to be expensive for Honda, but their reputation is worth more.
I just got my 2020 Civic’s broken AC fixed under an extended 10 year warranty for free at the dealership. I’m not happy it broke, but I am glad that it’s fixed.
Really got spoiled all these years buying cheap high mileage Hondas. Sometimes I stop at the dealership for parts and dream of taking a new car home. Ughh, I guess the oil drips and periodic maintenance of these beaters that, for some reason, don’t lose value isn’t so bad.
I feel lucky now, I had a ’17 Civic 1.5T with a 6 speed manual that was tuned and drove the pee out of it for 90k miles and had zero problems whatsoever. Replace it with my GTI which mechanically has been fine but has had some electrical gremlins that have been annoying but not horrible. I’ve been thinking about just getting an older non turbo non GDI non tracking your every move car and saving money as well.