Honda Civic (10th Gen) Rear Trunk Emblem Replacement
Introduction
This guide covers swapping the rear 'H' emblem on a 10th-generation Honda Civic sedan, for example trading the factory chrome badge for a blacked-out version. The emblem is mounted on the outer rear garnish of the trunk lid, and the same garnish also carries the reverse camera and the number-plate LED light, so the same removal sequence applies if you ever need to service either of those components. Because the garnish is secured by hidden clips and a bolt reached from behind, the job is more involved than it first appears: you must drop the inner trim panel on the underside of the trunk lid to release the fasteners and disconnect the wiring before the garnish will come free. No cutting of the car is required, only careful handling of plastic clips. Expect roughly ten to fifteen minutes once you are familiar with the layout, and a bit longer on the first attempt. Adapted from a community writeup by Mike42dk on Civinfo (https://www.civinfo.com/threads/how-to-change-rear-honda-logo-4-door.422462/), including corrections from the follow-up discussion.
Reference
Tools Required
- Plastic trim pry tool (angled tip works best)
- 8mm socket wrench
- Small flat-blade screwdriver
- Side cutters (flush cutters)
Parts Required
-
Replacement rear Honda 'H' emblem (aftermarket black emblem listed for 2016-2018 Civic used here)
-
Small amount of silicone or liquid grease for clip lubrication
Safety Warnings
- ⚠ Pry only beside the clip locations, never on the flat of the garnish, to avoid cracking the plastic trim.
- ⚠ Do not pull the garnish off before disconnecting the camera and LED wiring, or you may tear the connectors or wire.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1 Gather tools and confirm badge fitment
Lay out a plastic pry tool, an 8mm socket wrench, a small flat-blade screwdriver, and a pair of side cutters. Confirm your replacement emblem is sized for your car: the aftermarket black badge used here was listed for the 2016-2018 Civic. Members reported the front emblem is largely interchangeable across body styles, while the rear emblem fit on the hatchback versus the sedan was less certain, so verify dimensions against your existing badge before starting.
2 Release the lower clips on the outer garnish
At the bottom edge of the exterior rear garnish (the trim strip carrying the emblem) you will find small push clips. Slip the pry tool behind each one and ease it straight out. These lower clips are what hold the bottom of the garnish against the lid; releasing them lets the panel begin to move but does not free it yet.
3 Loosen the garnish without fully pulling it
With the bottom clips out, gently draw the garnish away from the lid. A further clip along the top inside edge still holds it, and the panel remains bolted and wired from behind, so do not force or yank it. Leave it loosely seated while you gain access from the inside of the trunk lid.
4 Drop the inner trim panel
Open the trunk and look at the underside of the lid, where a fabric-covered trim panel is held by nine plastic push clips arranged around its edge. Each clip has a small slot; insert the flat-blade screwdriver into the slot to spring the clip open, then pull it out. Once all nine are removed, the inner panel comes down to expose the back of the garnish.
5 Remove the retaining bolt behind the emblem
Behind the section of garnish that carries the 'H' emblem, a single bolt secures the panel to the lid from the inside. Remove it with the 8mm socket wrench. This is the main mechanical fastener holding the garnish; the remaining resistance is only from the concealed clips.
6 Work the garnish free from behind
Note where the internal clips sit before applying force. Using the pry tool, lift the garnish carefully right next to each clip position rather than pulling on the middle of the panel. Worked this way the clips release with a snap and can be reused undamaged. Avoid dragging on the panel body, which risks cracking it.
7 Disconnect the camera and LED wiring
With the garnish loose, unplug the two connectors on the back: one feeds the reverse camera and the other the number-plate LED light. Detach the LED wire as well. Once both connectors and the wire are released, the garnish separates completely from the trunk lid and can be taken to the bench.
8 Transfer the emblem to the new badge
The factory emblem is held by two small plastic locating pins plus metal retaining clips. Cut through the two plastic pins with the side cutters to release the old badge. The metal clips can be salvaged and reused, so transfer them onto the replacement emblem to secure it in the garnish.
9 Reassemble in reverse
Refit the garnish by reversing the removal: reconnect the camera and LED wiring, seat the garnish clips and reinstall the 8mm bolt, then push the nine inner-panel clips back into place. Smearing a little grease into the clip holes beforehand makes the panel seat far more easily and speeds up the final assembly.
Pro Tips
- 💡 Apply a small amount of grease to the clip holes before reassembly; the panel reseats quickly and with much less effort.
- 💡 The same teardown gives access to the reverse camera and the number-plate LED, so use it for those repairs too.
- 💡 Once you know the clip layout the whole job takes only about ten to fifteen minutes; budget more the first time.
- 💡 Front-emblem swaps are simpler than the rear; confirm the rear badge's fit for your specific body style before ordering.
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