2008 Honda Civic problems
The Honda Civic (Japanese: ホンダ・シビック, Hepburn: Honda Shibikku) is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1972. As of 2023, the Civic is positioned between the Honda Fit/City and Honda Accord in Honda's global car line-up.
The first-generation Civic was introduced in July 1972 as a two-door fastback sedan, followed by a three-door hatchback that September. With a 1,169 cc transverse engine and front-wheel drive like the British Mini, the car provided good interior space despite overall small dimensions. Initially gaining a reputation for being fuel-efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly, later iterations have become known for performance and sportiness, especially the Civic Type R, Civic VTi, Civic GTi and Civic SiR/Si.
The Civic has been repeatedly rebadged for international markets, and served as the basis for the Honda CR-X, the Honda CR-X del Sol, the Concerto, the first generation Prelude, the Civic Shuttle (later to become the Orthia) and the CR-V (which, by extension, was used as the basis for the Honda FR-V).
The Civic is one of the all-time best-selling automobiles in the world, with over 27 million units sold since 1972 as of 2021.
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Common 2008 Honda Civic problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Honda Civic 2008, several common problems have been reported:
- Handbrake Release: Some Honda Civic 2008 models experienced problems with the handbrake mechanism, leading to instances where the handbrake could release while the car was unattended. This issue prompted a recall by Honda to replace the faulty handbrake mechanism.
- Brake Pedal Problem: Certain 2008 Honda Civic cars had a recall due to a brake pedal issue. A missing pin that links the brake pedal to the braking system caused the brake pedal to depress further than normal, affecting the stopping distance. Honda addressed this problem by fitting the missing pin to rectify the issue.
- Power Steering: Early models of the Honda Civic 2008 faced a power steering problem where affected cars could lose power steering without warning. Honda conducted recalls to address this issue by testing and rectifying the power steering system in the affected vehicles.
- Sunvisor Cracks: Complaints about broken or cracked sun visors have been reported in the Honda Civic 2008. This issue can be resolved by replacing the sun visor, which is held in place by a couple of screws. Aftermarket and OEM parts are available for this repair.
- Uneven Tire Wear: Some owners have experienced uneven tire wear on the rear tires of the Honda Civic 2008, leading to cupped tires and causing vibrations and rumbling noises. This issue can be corrected by installing a new rear upper control arm kit, replacing flange bolts, and performing a four-wheel alignment to new specifications.
- Clearcoat Peeling: Clearcoat peeling has been reported in some Honda Civic 2008 models. To prevent or address this issue, applying car wax at least once a year can help protect the clearcoat and maintain its appearance.
- Thermostat Failure: A failed thermostat in the Honda Civic 2008 can trigger the Check Engine light, especially in colder weather. Replacing the thermostat and its seal is necessary to resolve this issue, with parts being relatively inexpensive and the repair requiring 1.1-1.5 hours of labor.
- Transmission Issues: Problems with the transmission fluid pressure switch (3rd clutch) can cause the Check Engine light to illuminate with the code P0847. Replacing this part can address the issue, and it is not overly complex to replace.
These common problems reported by owners of the Honda Civic 2008 highlight various issues that have been encountered with this particular model, ranging from paint and brake problems to issues with components like the power steering, sun visors, and transmission.
Is the 2008 Honda Civic engine reliable?
Reliability ratings are average and a 2008 Civic can last over 200,000 miles. There are some reports of cracking engine blocks, but there are fewer failures than the 2007 model. Two engine choices are available. Both have 4-cylinders and the one in the Si model has good power for the class.
How long does a 2008 Honda Civic transmission last?
So long as you don't abuse them, most Honda automatics can break 300,000 miles easily. CVT's probably won't make it as far simply because they use the same parts for all driving speeds. And their Manual transmissions depend mostly on the driver, no real limit.
What is the common problem of Honda Civic?
Brakes. Some Civic owners have complained of squealing brakes; Honda is said to be aware of the problem and working on a fix, though it's worth keeping in mind that any Civic you test drive with noisy brakes may not be easy to fix.
What were the bad years for Honda Civic?
Models of the Honda Civic from 2001 to 2005, 2007 to 2009, and 2011 are the worst because of the multiple complaints and recall record. The 2001 model had close to 1,228 user complaints just in that year.
2008 Honda Civic car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Honda Civic problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Air bags problems
- Engine problems
- Visibility problems
- Suspension problems
- Structure problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2008 Honda Civic vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2008 Honda Civic
The NHTSA has received 906 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2008 Honda Civic. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2008 Honda Civic vehicles.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-27
- VIN: 2HGFG12668H
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Oil is leaking and now coolant is leaking. Did not buy the car brand new bought it from a pre owned vehicle dealership
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-10-20
- VIN: 1HGFA16588L
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Engine block crack over heat during driving
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-06-15
- VIN: 2HGFA55578H
- Components: STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Paint defect should extend it to fix the paint issues. Clear coat as well.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-08-31
- VIN: 1HGFA16508L
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: As I was driving my car home on 8/31, I looked at the temperature gauge and saw my car was overheating. I make sure to check my temperature gauge periodically while driving so I am positive it’s the first time it’s popped up. I tried to pull over ASAP, but was in nonstop traffic and the car stopped moving. No lights were shown on the dashboard. I had recently gotten an oil change end of July when I purchased the car. Car was inspected by the state, 7/17/23 and passed. Car had a complete vehicle inspection the end of July as well and passed with flying colors. Car was diagnosed to have a cracked engine block by Conrad’s. My oil and coolant mixed. It has not been seen by a Honda manufacturer. No inspection done by insurance.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-10-12
- VIN: 1HGFA16518L
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started overheating. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road, where she noticed that coolant was leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to Firestone, where it was diagnosed that there was a crack in the engine block, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that she would be charged a fee for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-08-23
- VIN: 1HGFA15558L
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: No warning except temp Guage rising extremely fast pulled over no coolant no obvious leaks took to shop cracked block along with all the other 2008 Honda civics with the same factory defect My car is late to show signs and I missed the warranty extention 130000 miles Expected to run at minimum 200000 unacceptable business practice
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-01
- VIN: JHMFA36278S
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: These hybrids have defective brake system. The problem is with the part Accumulator Set - Honda (57019-SNC-A02)
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-31
- VIN: 2HGFG12688H
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while entering the vehicle, the contact discovered a coolant leak underneath the vehicle onto the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a crack in the engine block. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-08
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 2HGFG12618H
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The contact owned a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while in the right land, making a right turn, a bicyclist was coming towards the front passenger side of the vehicle however, to avoid injuring the bicyclist, the contact merged over the lane divider and hit the ground with force. The contact then stated that all the driver’s side air bags failed to properly deploy. The contact stated that the steering wheel cracked, and air bag inflator deployed from the steering wheel and the airbag deflated. As a result, the contact sustained injury to the chest and her lower back. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence then towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-14
- VIN: 2HGFA16518H
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Driver Inflator Module Has a crack line in it. honking horn /excessive heat.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-10
- VIN: 2HGFG12658H
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood, and the vehicle was overheating. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled into a gas station, where her son added coolant to the vehicle. The contact was able to drive to her destination. Additionally, the contact stated that upon parking the vehicle, she noticed a trail of coolant in the driveway and there was no coolant in the reservoir. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine block was cracked, and coolant was leaking through the crack. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to another independent mechanic, for second opinion, and the same determination was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under Honda Campaign Number: 10-048 because the campaign had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-01-05
- VIN: 2HGFA16858H
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: 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.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-24
- VIN: 2HGFG12888H
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The vehicle started dripping coolant at a pretty consistent rate, and it is a cracked engine block. Honda has issued a service bulletin regarding the issue, but most of these vehicles (2006-2009 Civics) are now out of warranty and have to replace the engine at their own expense.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-03
- VIN: 2HGFG129X8H
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: All of a sudden, with out warning, something was leaking from the car. Took it to a shop, and was surprised that they told me that it was leaking engine coolant and that the block was cracked and that the engine needed to be fixed replaced. No warning lights or anything, other than noticing that it was leaking something.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-03-23
- VIN: 1HGFA16538L
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, he noticed a strong coolant odor and that the temperature gauge was showing that the engine was overheating. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that coolant was leaking into the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine block was fractured, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer sent a diagnostic report to the manufacturer; however, the manufacturer declined to cover the repair and informed the dealer that an extended warranty coverage notice for the engine, was previously sent to the contact. The contact stated that he had not received the notice. The contact followed up with the manufacturer, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 272,906.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-04-10
- Number Of Injuries: 3
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1HGFA15538L
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, depressing on the brake pedal to the floorboard but failed to bring the vehicle to a stop. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he lost control of the vehicle, bounced off the retaining wall, and crash into another vehicle. The contact did not sustain any injuries but his front passenger sustain injuries on her right foot and discomfort in her back/neck. The front passenger sought medical attention at a near ER. The contact stated the other vehicle had two people injured but was unaware of the details or if they sought any medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to two different towing lots. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-02-02
- VIN: 1HGFA16858L
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Coolant leaking from cylinder block. i was driving with my family in the car and the vehicle begin overheating from loosing all my coolant. There were no warnings before it happened
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-11-14
- VIN: 2HGFA16568H
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated that coolant was leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact examined the vehicle and noticed that the engine block was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 114,000.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-09-27
- VIN: 1hgfa16548l
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: My cruise control just stopped working all of a sudden. It was working this morning but I got in the vehicle to go to work and it just wasn't working anymore.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-09-21
- VIN: 1HGFA168X8L
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: My daughter was driving Honda 2008 4DR Civic and it stopped acceleration on highway. Fumes were coming out of the car. Got it towed to Auto Centers. Their diagnostic stated that due to over heating of engine, one of the cylinder was not generating compression. The car is regularly serviced at Honda Civic dealer.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-08-22
- VIN: 1HGFA16598L
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle started to overheat. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled into the gas station and allowed the vehicle to cool down. The contact then refilled coolant in the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the part of the engine block located between with the alternator and the exhaust had fractured. The contact then contacted the dealer who informed him that the engine needed to be replaced per the instructions on Honda Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10-048. However, the dealer advised the contact that the 10 year extended warranty had expired and he had to pay out-of-pocket for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-08-15
- VIN: 1HGFA16518L
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: 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.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-17
- VIN: 1HGFA16868L
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: cae is well maintained but recall expired last 2018 but the problem which is a cracked engine happened just recently and honda USA and dealer will not honor the warranty already i really feel that honda has the responsibility but it just happened only after the warranty expired it is a cracked engine hope you can help me and others who have the same problem
ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-08-13
- VIN: 2HGFG12618H
- Components: ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, after driving ½ mile, the vehicle stalled again. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the head gasket was blown and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the contact was informed that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-01
- VIN: 2hgfg12868h
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated that she had noticed fluid leaking from her engine after her daughter parked the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a crack on the engine block. The manufacturer was initially notified about the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The dealer then gave the contact an estimate for a diagnostic to repair the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
2008 Honda Civic recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 7 recalls for different components of the 2008 Honda Civic.
- Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- 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.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: 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.
- Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- 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.
- Consequence: 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.
- Remedy: 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.
- Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- 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.
- Consequence: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: 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.
- Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- 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.
- Consequence: 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.
- Remedy: 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.
- Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- 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, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: 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.
- Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- 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, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: 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.
- Manufacturer: HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
- 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.
- Consequence: 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.
- Remedy: 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.
Negative 2008 Honda Civic car reviews
Positive 2008 Honda Civic car reviews
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My wife and I were in the market for a new car and decided to stick with Honda due to their quality, reliability, and resale value. However, we also wanted to improve our fuel economy from our previous car, a 2002 Accord EX, which only got 25 MPG on the highway. After doing some research, we decided on the red Civic EX and have been thrilled with our purchase for the past 2 weeks. This car has a sleek appearance with a sunroof, alloy wheels, and anti-lock brakes. The ride on the highway is smooth and relatively quiet, although we did experience some bumps on bridges along I-89 in Vermont. During a recent trip from Boston to northern Vermont and halfway back, which included a mix of city, highway, and country driving, we were able to achieve an impressive 36.5 MPG on only our 3rd tank of gas.
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Hi there! I wanted to share an update on my car's performance. After driving 8K miles, I wrote a post below, and now I'm at 26K miles. I'm happy to report that the MPG for this car has steadily improved over time, despite seasonal variations (better in summer, worse in winter). I've kept detailed mileage records, and this car has achieved an impressive 45.9 MPG (calculated) for the life of the vehicle. I've noticed that the calculated MPG is always ~2 mpg more than the dashboard reading. Here's the breakdown: 48.4 MPG in the summer and 42.5 MPG in the winter. For the statisticians out there, the overall sample size (tankfuls) is 61, and the overall mean is 45.9 MPG, with a 95% confidence interval between 45.0 and 46.8. The standard deviation is 3.56. I'm excited to share that the MPG is still improving, and I'm expecting to hit an average of 50 MPG per tank once the spring warm-up arrives!
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The Honda is a great investment during these tough times of rising gas prices. It's fun to drive and surprisingly comfortable for a small car. The quality is great and it has nice features. The exterior design by Honda is very appealing. After test driving both the Prius and Honda, it was a tough decision, but I ended up purchasing the Honda.
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I purchased the Hybrid almost a year ago and have driven 26,000 miles to date. It runs fantastic! Last summer, I was averaging around 50 mpg since I do all highway driving. When winter came, it dropped off about 5 mpg, but it still beats my pickup truck that I traded in. The navigation was my wife's idea, and I am so glad she talked me into it. This is the greatest nav I have ever used. I have had several handhelds and a Lexus, but this one takes the cake. The only issue I have found is with the tires. I just replaced the stock tires since they were shot at 25,000 miles. When I replaced them, the tire guy told me I would lose about 2-3 mpg, and he was right. I recommend buying hybrid tires.
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I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying your new Civic EX-L Coupe! It sounds like it's been a great choice for you, especially with the concerns you had about gas prices and reliability. I appreciate your honest feedback about the car's styling, leather, and acceleration. As for the blind spot, I completely agree that proper mirror adjustment can make all the difference. Overall, it seems like this car is a great option for anyone looking for a fun and economical ride. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2008 Honda Civic problems:
What are the common problem of Honda Civic 2008? : r/Honda
Apr 7, 2023 ... What are the common problem of Honda Civic 2008? · Paint issues because of the switch to water based paint. · The lower area below the door ...
2008 Honda Civic Problems and Complaints - 41 Issues
Top 2008 Honda Civic Problems · Airbag Light Due to Failed Occupant Position Sensor · Bad Engine Mounts May Cause Vibration, Roughness, and Rattle · Power ...
[PSA] Do not touch 06-09 Honda Civics. A Reminder. : r ...
Aug 15, 2017 ... A reminder to everyone looking for a car - 06-09 Civics had a mass recall for an engine casting problem. The engine cast itself (the main ...
2008 Honda Civic Review, Problems, Reliability, Value, Life ...
Jan 21, 2022 ... Reliability ratings are average and a 2008 Civic can last over 200,000 miles. There are some reports of cracking engine blocks, but there are ...
On the hunt for an 8th gen Si. What should I watch out for? | 8th ...
Feb 22, 2021 ... 06-08 Si's are known for 3rd gear grind as said, and ALL 8th gen Civics suffer from clear coat fade due to Honda's pathetic paint quality ...
Other years of Honda Civic
Are you having problems with your 2008 Honda Civic?
Lucius Mitchell 2024-11-02
undefinedI returned to Toyota products, as I have always found them to be more reliable and of higher quality than other brands. I have been a loyal Toyota customer since 1992, and have never experienced the issues that I have had with this Honda. When it came time to replace my vehicle, I chose to purchase a Lexus from the Toyota family, confident that it will continue to provide the same level of reliability and quality that I have come to expect from Toyota products over the past 25 years.
Deondre Marks 2024-09-23
I've had this car for five years now and while it's been a reliable ride, there are a few issues that I've noticed. Like others have mentioned, the driver's side visor is unfortunately broken. I've also noticed this same issue in other 2008 Civic Coupes. Additionally, the rear tires have become cupped, which happened within the first year of owning the car despite it only having 30,000 miles on it. Two years ago, the automatic locks started to work intermittently, which can be frustrating. I often have to manually unlock the doors and reach over to unlock the passenger side. The dashboard is digital and while the gas gauge works sometimes, it's often flickering on and off. The A/C can also be a bit temperamental, especially on very hot days. Lastly, I've noticed that the car vibrates when in reverse or park. Despite these issues, I still enjoy driving my car and appreciate its reliability.
Ludwig Turcotte 2024-08-17
Although the first year of ownership was great, the car has unfortunately experienced a steady decline since then. Despite being purchased based on reputation, the vehicle has had several issues including failing door locks, window motors, visors, blower fan electrical components, and A/C compressor failure. However, it is worth noting that Honda has already mailed extended warranties on paint and visors. While I expect eventual class action or warranty extension on the AC/blower issues, it is important to acknowledge that these problems are very common on this model. It is also worth mentioning that my dealer does not even charge me diagnostic fees on the AC or fan anymore. Despite these issues, the car was babied and often garaged, and has only 62,000 miles. Overall, it is clear that this car has had some challenges, but it is important to remember that these issues are not indicative of Honda's overall reliability and high build quality.
Monserrat Little 2024-08-09
I have been a loyal Honda owner for over 25 years. While my 2008 Civic has good gas mileage, I have experienced some issues with interior noise and the headrest position. Additionally, after only 22,000 miles, I had to replace all four tires. Unfortunately, the passenger side automatic door lock also stopped working and required replacement. In contrast, my previous Honda, a 1990 Acura Legend, was a fantastic car that is still running smoothly. I had no issues with the interior and only a few with the engine. While I may not purchase another Civic, I remain a fan of Honda and their vehicles.
Damian Hayes 2024-07-11
We bought our 2008 Civic EX brand new about 9 years ago and we are huge fans of Honda cars. We want to share our ownership experience with you regarding this car. Unfortunately, owning this car has not been without its challenges. We experienced some re-occurring maintenance issues that have been mentioned in most of the other reviews. The major ones were paint defects and defective engine mounts. Our car is black, and we understand that the 2008 and 2009 Civics and Accords had many paint issues. Our Civic was repainted three times (three different sections) due to paint defects. All of this was covered by Honda, but only after many hours on the phone with them. This was a major headache and if Honda did not cover the costs, it would have been very expensive for us. The second big issue is the faulty engine mounts. We replaced our engine mounts about 12,000 miles ago and the problem seems to be coming back. If you are considering purchasing this car, please keep in mind the costs associated with replacing the engine mounts. Regarding everyday driving, this car is perfect for your short distance drives to the store and back, returning great fuel economy. However, you may regret driving it on long multi-hour drives. It is loud and the seats aren't very comfortable. We are in our 30s and very fit, however after a single road trip in the Civic, we decided not to take it out for another road trip. We will keep this car until it has 180 or 200k miles on it before selling it. This could be a great car for a college kid, but we think you could buy a slightly newer Civic and avoid all the above mentioned problems. This is an update to our original review. We sold the car after owning it for 10 years. We purchased a Mazda CX-5 and we could not be happier.