FaultScore

2008 Honda Civic body problems

85 of the 1,083 complaints about the 2008 Honda Civic are about the body and structure — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 63,468 miles.

B

85

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Body 69 81.2%
Structure 14 16.5%
Bumpers 1 1.2%
SUN Visor 1 1.2%

Body & Structure across every Honda Civic year

1991 13 1.7%
1995 12 1.5%
1996 19 2.4%
1997 18 2.3%
1998 28 3.6%
1999 19 2.4%
2000 10 1.3%
2001 30 3.9%
2002 20 2.6%
2003 26 3.3%
2004 17 2.2%
2005 25 3.2%
2006 80 10.3%
2007 71 9.1%
2008 85 10.9%
2009 45 5.8%
2010 43 5.5%
2011 10 1.3%
2012 35 4.5%
2013 23 3.0%
2015 18 2.3%
2016 48 6.2%
2017 37 4.7%
2018 21 2.7%
2019 12 1.5%
2022 14 1.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Sunbury, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY

Paint defect should extend it to fix the paint issues. Clear coat as well.

NHTSA complaint #11556889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Auburn Hills, MI

STRUCTURE:BODY

The paint is peeling off from the vehicle, exposing the body to rust and reduce the vehicle lifetime and durability significantly. When I contacted Honda about the issue, they told me it is a Paint defect from the manufacturing plant. They asked me to get a quote from the dealer to fix the issue, after getting the quote they denied the request saying it is outside the warranty period even when they agreed it is an issue occurred at the plant level. Please look into this and issue a recall.

NHTSA complaint #11526654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

San Diego, CA

STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:SUN VISOR

While driving on the freeway the sun visor, from Ezzy (top selling sun visor replacement brand on Amazon) fell out of its holder onto my hands on the steering wheel and then onto my lap which caused me to swerve slightly. Another incident involving the passenger side sun visor happened when my passenger flipped down the visor and the plastic exploded everywhere and the visor split in two.

NHTSA complaint #11480761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hempstead, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY

Air bags:  passive restraint system items and devices that protect occupants in a crash such as front, side, side curtain air bag light stayed on after taken to a recall devices that may present a safety hazard. Body: Windshield panel flew away ,failure or detachment body and frame components flew away all body pain pilled away with no reason, and other structural components like inside of car sieling cover pilling off like that may present a safety hazard. Steering: devices and systems used to control vehicle direction to the driver's intent such steering rack/box leaking, hydraulic power steering pumps problem like alot noise and hoses leaking that may present a safety hazard.

NHTSA complaint #11469921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 112,000 miles Staten Island, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY

I JUST BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC SI MUGEN FIJI BLUE THE CLEAR COAT START FLAKING COMING OUT PAINT STARTS FADING ITS 2008 CAR ITS NOT A 1990 I SEE CARS OLDER THAN MINE WITH BETTER PAINT JOB ITS A CHEAP PAINT JOB HONDA USED IN THE FIRST PLACE THATS NOT FAIR NOW ITS GONNA COST ME 4 TO 5 K AT LEAST

NHTSA complaint #11350591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Birmingham, AL

STRUCTURE:BODY

PAINT JOB PEELING

NHTSA complaint #11299779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,519 miles Glendale, AZ

STRUCTURE:BODY

ONCE PAINT WAS RECALLED BUT NOT FOR THE BODY OF CAR THAT IS DOING THE SAME. PAINT IS PEELING ON TOP OF CAR AND ON BOTH DOORS. ALSO SUN VISORS WERE RECAL YET THEY ARE BROKE AGAIN. ALSO CAR HAS 11633 MILES AND I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES 3 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #11173241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lady Lake, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY ALMOST 11 YEAR OLD CAR. 2008 WITH ONLY 58,000. MILES. I'M A SENIOR WITH LIMITED INCOME,SO I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT PAINTED. LIVING HERE AMONG PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGES THAT HAVE AMPLE FUNDS MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THE ODD PERSON OUT OF PLACE.ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY,[XXX]. NOT IN ACCIDENT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

NHTSA complaint #11170870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95 miles White Plains, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY

MY PAINT HAS BEEN FADING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. EVERY TIME I BRING MY CAR TO HONDA THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. MY CAR IS STILL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, BUT THE FADED PAINT ALL OVER THE BODY OF THE CAR IS A COMPLETE EYE SORE. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THIS CAR FOR MANY MORE YEARS (EVEN WHEN I PURCHASE A NEW ONE)I SEE MANY MANY HONDA CIVICS FROM 2008 THAT LOOK THE SAME. I WANT TO BUY ANOTHER HONDA IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT I DON'T THINK I CAN. IT IS EMBARRASSING FOR ME, AND FOR HONDA.

NHTSA complaint #11124711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

STRUCTURE:BODY

MAP FOR MY CAR, NAVI FOR MY CAR

NHTSA complaint #11081749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Marion, IA

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT NOTICED PREMATURE RUST NEAR THE AREAS OF THE HOOD, ROOF, DRIVER SIDE DOOR, EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRRORS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER BY THE HEADLIGHT, AND ALL ACROSS THE TRUNK. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS EXTENSIVE PAINT PEELING AND CRACKING. THE DEALER (RANDY KUEHL HONDA CARS, 4425 CENTER POINT RD NE, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52402, (319) 393-5700) WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND PICTURES TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA complaint #11058094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Coachella, CA Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

TAKATA RECALL- MY HONDA WAS TOTALED AND MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #11055074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Naples, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

2 THINGS: 1) THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR BROKE FOR NO REASON. IT NOW HANGS IN THE WAY OF MY VISION. IT DOESN'T STAY UP. IT IS A HAZARD. I CAN'T HAVE A PASSENGER SIT THERE BECAUSE IT COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTS THEIR VIEW. 2) THE PAINT IS DAMAGED. SERVER ALL SPOTS ARE "WORN OUT".

NHTSA complaint #11039537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cottekill, NY

STRUCTURE

2008 HONDA CIVIC COUPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PAINT PEELING OFF ON ROOF OF VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT BEGIN TO PEEL UNTIL AFTER TO RECALL EXPIRED. UPDATED 10/23/2017

NHTSA complaint #11035057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hamilton Square, NJ

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE HOOD WAS REPAINTED DURING A RECALL A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. LAST YEAR, WE SAW CLOUDY WHITE PATCHES ON THE TRUNK AND THE PAINT/COATING COMING OFF (THE CAR IS BLACK). NOW THERE ARE LARGE WHITE PATCHES ON THE TRUNK, HOOD, AND THERE IS PAINT PEELING UNDER ONE OF THE DOORS. IT IS SPREADING QUICKLY ACROSS EACH AREA.

NHTSA complaint #11035382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,500 miles Charlotte, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY

MY CAR PAINT AND CLEARCOAT STARTED FEELING OFF ON ROOF AND HOOD AND SPREADING ALL OVER BODY PARTS

NHTSA complaint #11014865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cape Neddick, ME

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE PAINT ON THE ROOF AND THE HOOD OF MY HONDA CIVIC STARTED PEELING OFF LAST WINTER AND IT'S GOTTEN REALLY BAD. I RANDOMLY FOUND OUT ABOUT A PAINT RECALL THAT HONDA HAD A FEW YEARS AGO AND CONTACTED HONDA ABOUT IT. CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THAT THEY CANNOT ASSIST ME BECAUSE THE RECALL IS CLOSED AS OF 2014 AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEM WITH HONDA'S FAULTY PAINT AT MY OLD OR NEW MAILING ADDRESS.

NHTSA complaint #11012017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Spring Valley, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

I MOVED TO CALIFORNIA ALMOST 5 YEARS AGO AND AFTER 2 YEARS THE PAINT ON THE ROOF STARTED TO PEAL AND NOW THERE ARE BIG WHITE PEELING BLOTCHES ON THE ROOF AND ITS STARTING ON THE TRUNK.

NHTSA complaint #11010045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Memphis, TN

STRUCTURE:BODY

AROUND EARLY 2013 I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CLEAR COAT CRACKING AND CLOUDING UP ON SEVERAL AREAS OF THE CAR'S BODY. I ALMOST ALWAYS TAKE THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, AND I ASKED THEM ABOUT THIS A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES. THEY SAID I MIGHT BE WASHING THE CAR TOO MUCH AND THAT I SHOULD TRY NOT TO PARK IT IN THE SUN SO MUCH. THIS PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND WORSE OVER THE NEXT 24 MONTHS AND RIGHT NOW THE CAR LOOKS LIKE IT'S 25 YEARS OLD DUE TO HOW BAD THE PAINT LOOKS. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH THAT HONDA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (CAMPAIGN # 14-034, ENTITLED: PAINT CHALKING, CRACKING, CLOUDING WARRANTY EXTENSION) THAT EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE PAINT. BUT I NEVER GOT ANYTHING IN THE MAIL FROM HONDA, AND THE DEALERSHIP PEOPLE HAD JUST KEPT SAYING THE PAINT PROBLEM WAS MY FAULT. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR THE PAINT, THEY SAID THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND THAT IT WAS TOO BAD FOR ME, SO SORRY.

NHTSA complaint #10995670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Manassas, VA

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND TRUNK ARE PEELING OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10995395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pahoa, HI

STRUCTURE:BODY

WHEN THEY DID THE PAINT RECALL HONDA IN HILO DID NOT DO THE WHOLE CAR JUST THE ROOF NOW MY CAR IS CHIPPING CLEAR COAT ALL OVER AND IT IS A BLACK CAR LOOKING HORRIBLY WRONG AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I COMPLAINED FOR THEM TO FIX IT THEY DID NOT AND AVOIDED ME NOW THERE ANOTHER RECALL I WANT THEM AS A HONDA DEALER TO FIXED ALL OF IT LIKE THEY PROMISED. I DO NOT REQUIRED FOR THEM TO FIX THE WHOLE CAR BUT THEY NEED TO FIX WHEN IT ALL IS IT MIGHT NEED A WHILE PAINT JOB BUT THAT YOUR PROBLEM NOT MINE. AND THEN THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME 4500.00 TO PAINT THE WHOLE CAR.... PLEASE HELP 8084303541, I PURCHASE THE CAR IN JULY AND IT DID NOTICES IT YET. UNTIL THE CAR WAS SHIPPED FROM SICK HANNA HONDA IN VANCOUVER WA TO HILO HI

NHTSA complaint #10970595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ringgold, GA

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF MY CAR. IT STARTED DOING THIS IN THE PAST YEAR. IT LOOKS HORRIBLE IT'S JUST ON THE TRUNK AND THE PANELS ON TOP OF THE SIDE WINDOWS. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ( 14-034) BUT THIS HAS EXPIRED AND HONDA WILL NO LONGER COVER. I CALLED THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE CAR AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM HONDA. MY CAR WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS RECALL AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY CAUSED BY THEIR FAULTY PRIMER/PAINT MIX. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10970612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glenolden, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY

PAINT IS CRACKING AND PEELING OFF ON BODY OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10955209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 145,000 miles Oceanside, CA

STRUCTURE

THE BRACKET THE HOLDS THE ALTERNATOR AND IS CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE BLOCK SNAPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. I LOST POWER STEERING AND THE BELT CAME OFF. THE ALTERNATOR WAS JUST DANGLING. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA complaint #10936587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Bowie, MD

STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA complaint #10896560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashburn, VA

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE PAINT IS CRACKING AND CHIPPING THE OIL BRACKET NUT IS LEAKING AND WEAK (CAN CAUSE FIRE TO BURN FASTER THAN NORMAL) THE AIR BAG ON LEFT IS DEFECTIVE

NHTSA complaint #10895908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Sugar Land, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY

SHEET METAL BENEATH THE REAR WINDOW SPLIT OPEN THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE GLASS RESULTING IN WATER LEAKING INTO THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10888075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Renfrew, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY

PAINT ISSUES - THE FRONT HOOD OF THE CAR, FRONT FENDER, AND FRONT SIDE FENDERS HAD TO BE REPAINTED DUE TO FAULTY CLEAR COAT ISSUES. THE ROOF HAS THE SAME ISSUE, BUT IS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY REPAIR WINDOW, EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUE IS WITH THEIR CLEAR COAT AND NOT MY VEHICLE; MY VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND WELL CARED FOR INCLUDING WASHING AND POLISHING. PICTURES OF THE ROOF ARE PROVIDED WITH NO FILTER OR ALTERATIONS TO THE PHOTOS; THE TRUNK HAS (KNOCK ON WOOD) YET TO SHOW ANY OF THESE ISSUES, BUT WAS ALSO PART OF THIS SAME FAILURE. I DO NOT HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THE HOOD, FRONT/SIDE FENDERS AS THOSE WERE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10885102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Dundee, OR

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR HAS SEVERAL BASEBALL SIZE WHITE SPOTS THAT LOOK LIKE CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10883814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 144,000 miles South Dartmouth, MA

STRUCTURE:BODY

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE PAINT ON MY CAR'S FRONT FENDERS, HOOD AND ROOF HAS SLOWLY BEGUN TO FADE AND PEEL. I NOW HAVE 1/2 A DOZEN FAIRLY LARGE AREAS ON MY CAR WHERE THE PAINT HAS COMPLETELY FADED AWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10883257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2008 Honda Civic problems

← Full 2008 Honda Civic report