Parts for your 2016 Honda Civic-Gas struts

2016 Honda Civic gas struts: what’s fitted and what isn’t

For the 2016 Honda Civic sold in Australia and New Zealand (10th‑gen, primarily Sedan for that model year), gas struts aren’t fitted from factory. The bonnet uses a manual support rod, and the boot uses gooseneck hinges with torsion assistance — no gas dampers. This is confirmed by Honda’s Owner’s Manual for the 2016 Civic Sedan (bonnet support rod procedure), Honda’s service/body manuals (hinge and torsion bar boot design), and the Honda electronic parts catalogue, which lists no hood or boot gas lift supports for the 2016 Sedan. Note: later Civic Hatch models (launched locally for MY17) do use gas struts on the tailgate, that’s a different body style.

Why no gas struts on the 2016 Civic Sedan? It’s a common engineering and cost decision. A prop rod is light, cheap, and reliable, and it frees up packaging space at the front end. The gooseneck-and-torsion setup on the boot keeps parts count low while providing consistent closing effort. While gas struts feel premium, they add cost and can lose pressure over time, so Honda reserved them for body styles that benefit most — like hatchbacks with heavier tailgates.

What should owners do instead? There’s nothing to “service” in terms of gas struts because there aren’t any. It’s worth:

• Bonnet: ensuring the prop rod is straight, seated correctly, and its clips aren’t brittle, lightly lubricate bonnet hinges and latch at service intervals.
• Boot: checking hinge operation and torsion bar security, lubricate hinge pivots and latch to prevent squeaks or binding.
• General: if the bonnet or boot feels unusually heavy or misaligned, have a technician inspect hinge fasteners and latch alignment.

Keen on the convenience of struts? Aftermarket kits exist for the bonnet and, to a lesser extent, for the boot, but they’re a modification. Quality varies, and fitment may alter bonnet load paths and could affect panel alignment if poorly installed. Choose vehicle‑specific kits, stainless or coated hardware, and have them installed by someone who understands bonnet hinge geometry. Routine checks for play, corrosion, and smooth operation are a good idea after any retrofit.

Technical sources referenced: Honda Owner’s Manual (2016 Civic Sedan, AU/NZ), Honda Service/Body Repair Manual (2016–2017), and Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue for the 2016 Civic Sedan (no listing for hood or boot gas lift supports, tailgate struts appear on later Hatch models).

Popular questions

Does the 2016 Honda Civic have gas struts for the bonnet?
No. The 2016 Civic Sedan uses a manual prop rod to hold the bonnet up. This is outlined in the Owner’s Manual and supported by the parts catalogue, which shows no bonnet gas dampers for that model year.

Does the boot on a 2016 Civic use gas struts?
No. The boot uses gooseneck hinges with torsion assistance, not gas struts. Only later Civic Hatch models (launched locally for MY17) use gas struts on the tailgate.

Can gas struts be retrofitted to a 2016 Civic?
Yes, aftermarket bonnet strut kits are available. Choose a model‑specific kit, use quality hardware, and have it fitted properly to avoid stressing hinges or affecting bonnet alignment. Periodically check fasteners and operation after installation.