Inside the 2016 Honda Civic, the interior hood release is on the driver's side near the floor, and you must also release a secondary latch at the front edge of the hood to fully open it.
Inside the car: locating the interior release
The interior hood-release lever on the Civic sits on the lower-left side of the dash, close to the kick panel. It’s a small lever with a hood icon. Pulling this lever pops the hood slightly, granting access to the engine bay.
To perform the full opening, you’ll need to release a second latch at the front edge of the hood from the outside.
Follow these steps to release both latches and open the hood safely.
- Sit in the driver’s seat and locate the interior hood-release lever on the lower-left side of the dash near the kick panel.
- Pull the lever firmly; you should hear a click and the hood should pop up slightly.
- Move to the front of the car. Stand clear of the path of the hood as you approach it.
- Look for the secondary latch along the front edge of the hood, centered under the grille area. It’s a small lever or catch underneath the edge of the hood.
- Depress or slide the secondary latch to release it, then lift the hood with both hands. The Civic uses hydraulic struts to hold the hood open.
After opening, ensure the hood is held securely by the hydraulic supports and that you can access the engine bay safely. When closing, lower the hood gently until it’s within a few inches of the latch, then press down firmly to engage the primary latch. If it doesn’t latch, stop and recheck both latches before attempting to reopen.
Summary
For quick recall: the 2016 Honda Civic’s interior hood release is on the driver’s side under the dash near the kick panel. Pull that lever to pop the hood, then go to the front and release the front-edge secondary latch to fully open. Always ensure the hood is properly latched when closing.