FaultScore

2008 Honda Civic equipment problems

19 of the 1,083 complaints about the 2008 Honda Civic are about the equipment — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 16,150 miles.

A

19

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Equipment 9 47.4%
AIR Conditioner 7 36.8%
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 3 15.8%

Equipment & Accessories across every Honda Civic year

1995 15 10.2%
1996 10 6.8%
1998 10 6.8%
2001 14 9.5%
2003 12 8.2%
2006 33 22.4%
2007 17 11.6%
2008 19 12.9%
2016 17 11.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 91,300 miles Jericho, NY

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO INITIATE THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BUT IT FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,300.

NHTSA complaint #10744256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Owasso, OK

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

I HAVE A 2008 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN. SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW THE AIR CONDITIONER NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE SYMPTOM THAT I NOTICED WAS A LACK OF WATER DRIPPING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR (FROM THE EVAPORATOR COIL). I ASKED HONDA ABOUT IT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR A ROUTINE VISIT AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE AND THE AIR TEMPERATURE FROM THE VENT WAS IN SPEC. THE CAR WAS COOLING SO I NEVER WORRIED ABOUT IT MUCH. AT 75K MILES THE A/C COMPRESSOR JUST STOPPED WORKING. THE A/C SYSTEM HAD A FULL CHARGE BUT THE COMPRESSOR WOULDN'T COMPRESS THE GAS TO ALLOW THE REFRIGERANT TO FLASH COOL. I HAD A TAKE IT TO LOCAL CAR REPAIR PLACE TO HAVE THE A/C COMPRESSOR, EXPANSION VALVE, AND DRIER REPLACED. NOW AFTER SPENDING $$$$, THE A/C WORKS GREAT AND WATER DRIPS FROM CAR WHEN THE A/C IS ON. THE A/C SYSTEM FROM THE FACTORY SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE AND NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. THERE SHOULD BE SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10630389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Titusville, FL

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TWO YEARS AGO WE WENT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN COCOA FLORIDA BECAUSE OUR AIR CONDITIONER WAS CUTTING OUT AND THEN COMING BACK ON, AND THEN CUTTING OUT. WE PURCHASED A $5 RELAY SWITCH AND PROBLEM STOPPED. A YEAR LATER IT STARTED AGAIN, WE GOT ANOTHER RELAY SWITCH AND PROBLEM STOPPED AGAIN, NOW A YEAR LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WE GOT A NEW RELAY AND IT DID NOT CORRECT ISSUE. TODAY I CAME ONLINE AND FIND OUT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE HOWEVER THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A RECALL. WHY NOT? THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN AWFUL WITH THIS CAR. WE HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR FOR A WEEK BECAUSE HONDA PAINTED MOST OF THE CAR BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL. WE STILL HAVE PLACES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAINTED BUT HONDA REFUSED. THEN WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE CAR STARTED OVERHEATING, WE FOUND OUT IT WAS ANOTHER KNOWN ISSUE, THE BLOCK CRACKED AND AGAIN WE HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WORK AND OUR CIVIC IS OUR ONLY TRANSPORTATION. WE BOUGHT IT BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN TOLD HONDA CIVICS ARE AWESOME RELIABLE ETC. NOW, THE AIR ISSUE. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.

NHTSA complaint #10616720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Hawthorne, NJ

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NO LONGER BLOWING ANY COLD AIR. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE COILS, AND A/C CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT FOR THE AIR COMPRESSOR. VEHICLE IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND THERE IS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE AIR COMPRESSOR. DISCUSSED WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS IN MY AREA AND HAVE SEEN FORUM DISCUSSIONS POSTED THAT HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES AND HAVE LISTED IT AS A "KNOWN ISSUE" BUT HONDA HAS NOT FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGED. PREVIOUSLY I HAVE OWNED A 1997 HONDA CIVIC WITH ALL ORIGINAL PARTS AND IT DID NOT HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED A DIRECT COMPLAINT TO HONDA REGARDING MY DEFECTIVE AIR COMPRESSOR.

NHTSA complaint #10583491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wooster, OH

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

2008 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE BLOCK FAILURE . *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE BLOCK PROBLEM SHOULD BE TREATED AS A RECALL DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND STALLED, HE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. AT THAT POINT, THE STEERING AND BRAKES BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THE CONSUMER STOPPED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY SHOWED HIM THE 4 PROBLEM AREAS OF THE ENGINE WHERE THE LEAKAGE OCCURRED. ALSO, THE BEARING ON THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR PULLEY STARTED MAKING A NOISE. THE ENTIRE COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND AFTER 10 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD START. ON OCCASION, HE HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT, AND HE HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND START IN FIRST GEAR. *JB UPDATED 04/10/14

NHTSA complaint #10575589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Maspeth, NY

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

I HAVE ALSO OWNED A 2006 CIVIC EX WHICH HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DID MAKE A RECALL FOR THE SUN VISOR. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FINE SUCH A RECALL IN THE MODEL I OWNED NOW (2008 CIVIC SI SEDAN) BUT I HAVE FOND MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE THE VISOR CAN COME DOWN ALL OF THE SUDDEN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10476928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Monrovia, CA

EQUIPMENT

SUN VISORS DRIVER SIDE VISOR DETACHMENT AT 4 MONTHS OF NEW OWNERSHIP. REPLACED BY HONDA DEALER UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10412217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Monrovia, CA

EQUIPMENT

A/C BLOWER AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER FAILURE AT 8 MONTHS OF NEW OWNERSHIP. LOW TO VERY LITTLE AIR BLOWING AND WORKS HALF THE TIME. REPLACED BY HONDA DEALER UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10412218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Billerica, MA

EQUIPMENT

CABIN BLOWER MOTOR FAN MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE BEARINGS DEFECTIVE ALL SPEED SETTINGS.

NHTSA complaint #10408486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Folsom, CA

EQUIPMENT

DRIVER SIDE VISOR FAILED WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK ON 2008 HONDA CIVIC COUPE EX, THEREBY OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP. THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR FAILED DUE TO THE VISOR COMING APART AT THE HING POINT. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR FAILED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR, THUS OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING UNTIL I MADE IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #10379864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Germantown, WI

EQUIPMENT

I HAVE 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL AUGUST 2010 WHEN THEY SENT A LETTER TO HAVE A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR THE IMA INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST BATTERY AFTER HAVING THE UPGRADE I HAD LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATION THE IMA SEEMS TOWORK 50-75 PERCENT LESS THEN WHAT IT USE TOO ALSO MY BATTERY INDICATOR HAD NEVER BEEN DOWN TO 4 BARS BEFORE THE UPGRADE BUT AFTER IT WAS DONE SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO STAY RIGHT AT 4 MOST OF THE TIME SO INTURN THE IMA DOESN'T USE THE BATTERY I HAVE LOSE 10+ MPG I USE TO GET 45-48 NOW I GET 32-35 SO NOW ITS LIKE DRIVING A UNDER POWERED CIVIC THE WORST IS WHEN YOU TRY TO TAKE OFF OR IF YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE ON THE FREEWAY YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME IMA OR NOT YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

NHTSA complaint #10369983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,500 miles Glendale, CA

EQUIPMENT

IN AUGUST 2010 I TOOK MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A PURPORTED SOFTWARE UPDATE ON THE BATTERY SYSTEM WITHOUT NOTIFYING ME UNTIL AFTERWARDS. IMMEDIATELY UPON LEAVING THE DEALER, I NOTICED A PROFOUND REDUCTION IN POWER AND ACCELERATION. ON THE FREEWAY PORTION OF THE DRIVE HOME, I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED TWICE AS I DROVE IN THE SLOW LANE UP A MINOR GRADE WHERE THE VEHICLE COULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR (WITH THE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED IN THE PASSING GEAR)-- PRIOR TO THIS DATE I HAD DRIVEN MY VEHICLE FOR ITS PRIOR 20 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP UP THAT SAME GRADE AT 70MPH. ADDITIONALLY, PRIOR TO THIS DATE I HAD NEVER EVEN UTILIZED THE "S" GEAR ON MY TRANSMISSION. EVER SINCE HONDA'S SOFTWARE UPDATE MY CAR HAS BECOME A SEVERELY UNDERPOWERED ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I AM REDUCED TO DRIVING IN THE SLOW LANE ON THE FREEWAY WITH VEHICLES FLASHING ME AS THEY APPROACH A 40-45 MPH VEHICLE AT 60-70 MPH FROM BEHIND. I HAVE CALLED THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT SEVERAL LOCAL DEALERS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, AND GET A UNIVERSAL RESPONSE- "WAIT FOR YOUR SYSTEM TO ADJUST TO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE" OR "YOU NEED TO ADJUST YOUR DRIVING". WHAT THE HECK DOES THIS MEAN? I DROVE THE VEHICLE FINE FOR 20 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE AND NOW IT DRIVES LIKE A 20 YEAR OLD 4 CYLINDER ENGINE WITH 2 BAD PISTONS. THE DECREASED POWER AND ACCELERATION ARE A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT IN THE MAKING. I AM FEARFUL OF BEING REAR ENDED. THIS IS AN EVERY DAY PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY THIS "SOFTWARE UPDATE" AND I SUSPECT THAT IT IS HAPPENING TO EVERY 2006-2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID THAT GOES TO THE DEALER FOR THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE. AN ADDITIONAL CONSEQUENCE OF THIS ALLEGED "SOFTWARE UPDATE" IS A PROFOUND DROP IN GAS MILEAGE FROM APPROXIMATELY 37 COMBINED MPG PRIOR TO "UPDATE" TO 29-30 POST "UPDATE". I HAVE NEVER LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH ANY ORGANIZATION BEFORE, BUT LIKE I'VE PREVIOUSLY STATED, THIS "UPDATE" IS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.

NHTSA complaint #10354345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lucinda, PA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE AIR QUIT WORKING ON MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC-TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE CONDENSER AND WAS NOT COVERED ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY SAID IT WAS A "SMALL PEBBLE" THAT CAUSED IT AND THAT TO FIX IT WOULD COST OVER $600.00. I WENT ONLINE AND SAW THAT TONS OF PEOPLE W/HONDAS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM-HONDA ADMITS IT. PEOPLE HAVE FOUND A GRILL SCREEN TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN-WHICH HONDA SHOULD SUPPLY AND ATTACH ALONG WITH FIXING MY AIR CONDITIONING.

NHTSA complaint #10278220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles LAS Vegas, NV

EQUIPMENT

I HAVE HAD 3 PREVIOUS SUN VISORS REPLACED, WHEN THEY BRAKE THEY SPLIT AND THEN FALL AND HANG IN YOUR VIEWING AREA. THIS TIME (#4) IT WAS THE DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN IT SPLIT (BROKE) THIS TIME IT FELL AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD WHILE I WAS ON THE FREE WAY, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE SLIGHTLY INTO THE NEXT LANE.

NHTSA complaint #10269970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Hewitt, TX

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID IN AUGUST 2008. IN JAN-FEB 2009, MY A/C STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE CONDENSER THAT WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS/ ROCK. I DO NOT RECALL RUNNING INTO ANY ROAD DEBRIS. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IT WOULD BE AROUND $900 TO FIX. MY A/C HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET SINCE I'M WANTING TO SEE IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE.

NHTSA complaint #10260152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

2008 HONDA CIVIC HAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE AIR CONDENSER. *NJ THE CONSUMER HAD A PROTECTIVE MESH SCREEN INSTALLED BEHIND THE GRILLE TO KEEP THE CONDENSER FROM BEING DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS.

NHTSA complaint #10250288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Union, IL

EQUIPMENT

APPARENTLY A ROCK HIT MY A/C CONDENSER AFTER OWNING MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID FOR LESS THAN TWO MONTHS. IT CREATED A HOLE IN THE CONDENSER AND NOW THE A/C DOESN'T WORK. HONDA WANTS ~$600 TO FIX AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS DESPITE THE EXTREMELY NEW NATURE OF THE CAR AND HOW INCREDIBLY EASY IT WAS TO LOCATE MANY HONDA OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10243908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,150 miles Chattanooga, TN

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

MY 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS A DAMAGED A/C CONDENSER. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP A PEBBLE PUNCTURED THE CONDENSER WHILE DRIVING, SO ALL THE FREON LEAKED OUT AND MY AC DOESN'T WORK. THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS $582. I WENT ONLINE AND "GOGGLED" THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND IT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY HONDA CARS AND HAS TO DO WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE CONDENSER AND THE FACT THAT HONDA DOES NOTHING TO PROTECT OR SHIELD IT FROM DAMAGE. I WANT MY $582 BACK!

NHTSA complaint #10223351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,150 miles Chattanooga, TN

EQUIPMENT

MY 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS A DAMAGED A/C CONDENSER. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP A PEBBLE PUNCTURED THE CONDENSER WHILE DRIVING, SO ALL THE FREON LEAKED OUT AND MY AC DOESN'T WORK. THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS $582. I WENT ONLINE AND "GOGGLED" THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND IT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY HONDA CARS AND HAS TO DO WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE CONDENSER AND THE FACT THAT HONDA DOES NOTHING TO PROTECT OR SHIELD IT FROM DAMAGE. I WANT MY $582 BACK!

NHTSA complaint #10223351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2008 Honda Civic problems

← Full 2008 Honda Civic report