Are Hondas not as reliable as they used to be? What changed?

Posted by phtphongg@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 101 comments

I’ve always heard that Honda used to be one of the most reliable brands out there, but lately I’ve been seeing more mixed opinions and experiences. I’m trying to figure out what actually changed.

For example:
- There’s been a lot of talk about the 1.5T engine (Civic, CR-V, Accord) having issues like head gasket failures, oil dilution, etc.
- I’ve seen some cases where problems show up around 50k–100k miles, which feels early for a Honda
- I have a friend with a 2023 HR-V and the AC already went out
- Another friend had an older Civic with a CVT transmission failure

From what I know, Honda CVTs are generally decent now, but they’ve had issues in certain years/models too.

Also, from recent rankings, it seems like Mazda and Subaru have already passed Honda in reliability (like on Consumer Reports). So it’s not like Honda is #1 anymore like it used to be.

So I’m wondering:
- Are Hondas actually less reliable now, or is it just because modern cars are more complex (turbo engines, direct injection, CVTs, etc.)?
- Is the 1.5T engine a big reason for the change in reputation?
- Or is it more that other brands improved and caught up/passed Honda?

Curious what you guys think, especially from owners with newer Hondas or high-mileage experience.