KnownCarProblems2008 Honda Civic Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 916 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Honda Civic, most often about the engine (23% of complaints, typically around 99,500 miles). It is 5th of 27 Civic model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2008 Honda Civic problems
Engine
207 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 99,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Driving down 270 in columbus ohio doing 67mph when I noticed when I pressed on the gas to pass into the next lane, nothing happened. I down shifted into 4th gear and tried again, nothing. Luckily I was able to cross over 3 lanes of traffic and coast down the off ramp on westbroad. I called aaa and had them tow it to…
The engine on my Honda overheated and got so hot it actually melted some of the components. Faced with a $4000 repair bill, I did some internet research and found that Honda had been aware of engine problems with 2006 through 2008 civics. Honda had issued a bulletin to letting mechanics know there was a problem with…
Air bags
177 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 81,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window, sensor.
The air bag indicator light on the car's dash panel came "on" without any event triggering it. My local repair shop, playa west automotive ([phone]) investigated & received a "32-10" open circuit indication for the passenger side air bag, showing that the passenger side air bag deployment system was de-activated. This…
I was driving to work on 12/18/14 between 5 and 5:30 . The airbags deployed on the passenger side of my car . Sending my car on the curb popping the drivers side front tire and bending both rims on the drivers side.
Visibility and wipers
133 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles. Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system, power window devices and controls.
I owned a 2006 Honda Civic coupe lx. The sun visor on the driver's side split at approximately 48,000 miles. The dealership reluctantly fixed the visor. I sold the vehicle in 2008. I purchased a 2008 Honda Civic sedan. At 44,000 miles the sun visor on the driver's side split. This is obviously a design flaw. You would…
Driver and passenger sun visors split open. The driver's side visor broke first while the car was under warranty, dealer replaced it for free. The passenger side visor is starting to split. Car is no longer under warranty. Dealer will not replace visor then after acknowledging the defect. Problem seems to occur in hot…
Suspension
99 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear, front.
Increasing road noise and vibration as tires were worn irregularly over the first 14 months of operation. Vehicle became increasing unstable at highway speeds, particularly in wet or snowy road conditions or when windy. Vehicle felt as if it was darting from side to side, requiring continuous minor steering…
I have a 2008 Honda Civic 4 door. Has the exact same problems as the 2006 and 2008 civics. Less than 20,000 miles on tires and car. Rear tires are demolished! Tires have excessive wear and road noise. Dealer says that I should rotate the tires more often. This is not wear from failure to rotate this is due to the…
Body and structure
85 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 63,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, interior panels.
The top of my car completely lost paint in two large sections (the size of a desert plate, it went down to the bare metal body of the car as of summer 2014. October 2014 I paid $566. To paint the entire top of the car by a local, reputable body shop. I take very good care of my car and wax it regularly. This is the…
The front of hood and fender area . Paint is chipping away. It is called crow's feet. Lines and chips along with cracks are very visible to the naked eye. Honda has a tsb about it, since a lot of people have the same issue but they only claim to take responsibility of the vehicle that have protection plan. When I…
Other or unspecified
54 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 84,500 miles.
Both sun visors in my car are not able to be pushed up anymore. It seems like they melted and came apart or cracked. I have researched online and this seems to be a common occurrence with my make and model of car.
Air conditioning compressor went at 82,000 miles. The internet says this is a common problem that Honda should make good on. It was a $491.31 repair bill for me.
Transmission
52 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, driveline, axle assembly.
I had an incident with my 2008 Honda Civic. I was pulling into the church parking lot and turned to park in the grass next to another vehicle when I lost the steering and then suddenly the car jumped forward out of control and crashed into a tree about 10 ft in front of me. I thought the gas pedal had stuck but the…
Driving on the expressway and the transmission seized up and the vehicle came to an abrupt stop. The vehicle was towed to the dealership and although the vehicle is under warranty the say that the vehicle was abused therefore they will not cover the transmission. Honda has had numerous complains regarding the manual…
Electrical
51 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 33,500 miles. Parts named most often: horn, software, propulsion system, instrument cluster/panel.
The battery dies without warning after the vehicle sits for only a few days. Dealership replaced the battery with a new OEM battery. Problem still exists. There are many complaints across many forums about this phenomenon on civics.
I had an incident with my 2008 Honda Civic. I was pulling into the church parking lot and turned to park in the grass next to another vehicle when I lost the steering and then suddenly the car jumped forward out of control and crashed into a tree about 10 ft in front of me. I thought the gas pedal had stuck but the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Honda Civic recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began august 12, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are f5f and q5e.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 acura tsx, 2011-2014 tsx sport wagon, 2010-2013 zdx, 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic and civic hybrid, 2008-2010 civic gx ngv, 2012-2015 crosstour, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2013 fit, 2014 fit EV, 2010-2014 insight, and 2009-2015 pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began july 5, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are m4o, p4r, t4q, and w4p.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 acura tsx, 2011-2013 tsx sport wagon, and 2010-2012 zdx and 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, civic hybrid and civic ngv, 2012-2014 crosstour, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2013 fit, 2010-2013 insight, and 2009-2015 pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began june 22, 2018. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are k1p, and m1o.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 honda accord and pilot, 2010 accord crosstour, 2001-2011 civic, 2002-2011 cr-v, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 element, 2007 and 2009-2013 fit, 2010-2012 insight, 2002-2004 odyssey, and 2012 ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began october 30, 2017. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are o07, y0a, n06, g05, m04, y01, and o09.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 accord, 2010-2012 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2012 fit and pilot, 2010-2012 insight, and 2009-2012 acura tsx vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are ke1 and ke2.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 acura tsx, 2011-2012 acura tsx wagon, 2010-2012 acura zdx, 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2012 honda accord crosstour and honda insight, 2009-2012 honda fit, 2009-2012 pilot, 2007-2011 honda cr-v, 2012 honda fcx clarity and 2006-2011 honda civic, civic hybrid, civic ngv vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, if not included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain 2009 acura tsx, honda fit and pilot, 2008-2009 honda accord, 2006-2009 civic, civic hybrid and civic ngv, and 2007-2009 honda cr-v vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, i
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began march 2017. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is ka4, ka5, ka6, and ka7.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 acura tsx, 2011 tsx wagon, 2010-2011 acura zdx, 2008-2011 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, civic hybrid, and civic gx, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2010-2011 fcx clarity and insight, and 2009-2011 fit, and pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless already included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain model year 2008 honda accord, 2006-2008 civic, civic hybrid and civic gx, and 2007-2008 cr-v vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, neb
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: In the event of a crash, the bracket may become loose which could result in damage to the fuel hose connector. A damaged connector could lead to a fuel leak and increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a nut on the fuel feed hose bracket. The recall began on october 13, 2008. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Full defect summary
Honda is recalling 128 my 2008-2009 civic sedans. A bracket that covers the fuel hose connector is secured with a bolt and nut, but during assembly the nut was not installed.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2008 Honda Civic
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda Civic?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (207 complaints, typically around 99,500 miles); air bags (177 complaints, typically around 81,500 miles); visibility and wipers (133 complaints, typically around 44,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Honda Civic have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 27, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Honda Civic?
- It is 5th of 27 Civic model years by number of complaints, with 916 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.