--- title: "How to Reset Oil Life on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic" description: "Reset the oil life or maintenance reminder on the 2016-2021 Honda Civic in 4 steps, using only the controls already in the car. No scan tool needed." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/oil-reset" updated: "2026-08-20" --- # How to Reset the Oil Life Indicator on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic Reset the oil life or maintenance reminder on the 2016-2021 Honda Civic in 4 steps, using only the controls already in the car. No scan tool needed. ## Reset procedure, 2016-2021 Honda Civic (High confidence) 1. Press the START button twice without touching the brake (ignition ON, engine off). 2. Use the left steering-wheel controls: press MENU/Home and select the Maintenance (wrench) screen, on 2016-2017 audio-display cars scroll to 'Maintenance Info' in the driver display. 3. Highlight 'Oil Life' and press and hold ENTER until the Maintenance Reset screen appears. 4. Select 'Item A' (or 'All due items'), then press and hold ENTER again, oil life returns to 100%. Note: Exact button labels vary slightly between the 2016-2017 and 2018-2021 clusters, but the pattern is the same: reach the Maintenance/Oil Life screen, then press-and-hold to enter reset mode. ## Which Honda Civic model years does this cover? These oil life reset specifications apply to every Honda Civic built from 2016 through 2021, the 10th generation (FC/FK), compact sedan, coupe, and hatchback. Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. - [2016 Civic](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016) - [2017 Civic](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2017) - [2018 Civic](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2018) - [2019 Civic](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2019) - [2020 Civic](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2020) - [2021 Civic](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2021) ## What changed during the 2016-2021 Honda Civic | Years | What changed | | --- | --- | | 2016 | Generation launch (sedan/coupe, 2.0L and 1.5T). Two recalls hit the first year: piston pin snap rings (16V-074) and the electric parking brake software (16V-725). | | 2017 | Hatchback, Si (205 hp), and Type R (306 hp) join the lineup | | 2019 | Facelift: revised fascias, standard Honda Sensing, volume knob returns, new Sport sedan/coupe trim | | 2021 | Final year; sedan/hatch only (coupe dropped after 2020, no 2021 Si) | ## 2016-2021 Honda Civic oil life reset: common questions ### How do you reset the oil life on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic? 4 steps, using only the controls in the car, the full sequence is above. ### Do you need a scan tool to reset the oil light on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic? No. The procedure above uses the vehicle's own controls. A scan tool is only necessary if the reset does not take, which usually points at a different fault. ### Why won't the oil light reset on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic? Almost always a timing problem in the sequence, a step held too briefly, or the ignition in the wrong position. Repeat it exactly, with the engine off and the key in accessory rather than run, unless the steps say otherwise. Exact button labels vary slightly between the 2016-2017 and 2018-2021 clusters, but the pattern is the same: reach the Maintenance/Oil Life screen, then press-and-hold to enter reset mode. ## Sources - [Motivx Tools, 2016-2018 Civic oil change guide (capacities by engine)](https://www.motivxtools.com/pages/2016-2017-2018-honda-civic-oil-change-guide) - [AMSOIL product application guide, 2017 Civic 1.5L L15B7](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2017/honda/civic/1-5l-4-cyl-engine-code-l15b7-8-turbo/) - [Honda parts, 17220-5AA-A00 (1.5T) and 17220-5BA-A00 (2.0L) air filters](https://honda.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/honda-air-filter-172205aaa00) - [Honda parts, 12290-59B-003 spark plug (NGK ILZKAR8H8S), 2016-2021 Civic 1.5T](https://honda.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/honda-spark-plug-1229059b003) - [Honda parts, 15400-PLM-A02 oil filter](https://honda.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/honda-oil-filter-15400plma02) - [NHTSA recall 20V-314, Denso fuel pump (Part 573 report)](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2020/RCLRPT-20V314-4001.PDF) - [NHTSA recall 23V-858, expanded fuel pump recall (Part 573 report)](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V858-1287.PDF) - [NHTSA, 2016 Civic piston pin snap ring recall 16V-074 / SB 16-017](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2016/RCMN-16V074-0449.pdf) - [Honda TSB 19-091, AC condenser 10-year warranty extension (NHTSA copy)](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10163799-0001.pdf) - [WardsAuto, Honda extends warranty for 1.5L oil dilution (Civic/CR-V)](https://www.wardsauto.com/news/archive-wards-honda-extends-warranty-to-address-1-5l-gas-oil-dilution-problem/793295/) - [TirePressure.org, 2017 Honda Civic placard pressures by trim](https://tirepressure.org/honda/civic/2017) - [fueleconomy.gov, 2017 Honda Civic EPA ratings](https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2017_Honda_Civic.shtml) - [CivicX forum, brake rotor/caliper dimensions by trim](https://www.civicx.com/forum/threads/brake-info-thread.62520/) - [Interstate Batteries, 2017/2019 Civic Group 51R fitment](https://www.interstatebatteries.com/products/m-51r/2017-honda-civic-l415l-standard) ## Other Honda Civic generations - [2022-2025 Honda Civic oil life reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2022-2025/oil-reset) - [2012-2015 Honda Civic oil life reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/oil-reset) Or [compare all generations](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/oil-reset). ## More for the 2016-2021 Honda Civic - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/bulbs) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/brakes) - [Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/fluids) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/service-schedule) - [Problems & reliability](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/common-problems) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.