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2008 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Civic years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Honda Civic are substantially higher than the model-year median of 183.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

688 reports with mileage · 228 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 177 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 156 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 112 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

62 crash reports6 fire reports38 injury reports

Service Brakes, Electric complaints

4 reports
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10,500 miles · Mar 17, 2010
Service Brakes, Electric

AT 10,000 MILES MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC DEVELOPED LOUD SQUEALING IN THE FRONT BRAKES. THEY WOULD MAKE THIS NOISE AT ANY SPEED. AFTER MUCH BACK AND FORTH WITH NEAREST DEALERSHIP THEY FINALLY REPLACED THEM FOR FREE. THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS DIRT IN THEM, OR, ALTERNATIVELY, I RODE THE BRAKES TOO HARD. NEITHER WAS THE CASE. ABOUT 6 W…

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AT 10,000 MILES MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC DEVELOPED LOUD SQUEALING IN THE FRONT BRAKES. THEY WOULD MAKE THIS NOISE AT ANY SPEED. AFTER MUCH BACK AND FORTH WITH NEAREST DEALERSHIP THEY FINALLY REPLACED THEM FOR FREE. THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS DIRT IN THEM, OR, ALTERNATIVELY, I RODE THE BRAKES TOO HARD. NEITHER WAS THE CASE. ABOUT 6 WEEKS LATER THE BRAKES SQUEALED SO LOUD PEOPLE BLOCKS AWAY STOPPED TO LOOK FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES ON A TRIP HOME AFTER A HOLIDAY VISIT. THAT STOPPED AFTER THE CAR GARAGED OVERNIGHT. CALLED HONDA CORPORATE TO REPORT PROBLEM, WAS TREATED BADLY, ALL MY FAULT, WHAT COULD THEY DO? THEY ACTUALLY ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED THEM TO DO LIKE THEY COULDN'T SEE THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULD INVESTIGATE IT AS A PROBLEM! NOW I SEE ONLINE THAT 2008 HONDA ACCORDS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. FEEL THAT ANYTHING THAT CAUSES BRAKES TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. SO FAR THE REPLACEMENT PADS HAVE HELD UP. WE HAD OUR LOCAL MECHANIC CHECK THEM OUT AFTER THAT SCREECHING LONG TRIP AND HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG, NO WEAR, CALIPERS NOT STUCK, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320428

18,000 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Air BagsParking BrakeService Brakes, Electric

I OWN A 2008 HONDA CIVIC (PURCHASED NEW) WITH UNDER 25, 000 MILES. I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO HAVE TO ROTORS RESURFACED WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE...AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, I COULD FEEL THE BRAKES PULSATING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD TO RESURFACE THE ROTORS THEN. AFTER THAT, THE FIRST …

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I OWN A 2008 HONDA CIVIC (PURCHASED NEW) WITH UNDER 25, 000 MILES. I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO HAVE TO ROTORS RESURFACED WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE...AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, I COULD FEEL THE BRAKES PULSATING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD TO RESURFACE THE ROTORS THEN. AFTER THAT, THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAD WAS WITH THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE LEFT REAR BRAKES (PADS, CALIPER, ROTOR). AT APPROXIMATELY 18K BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE LEFT REAR CALIPER WAS FROZEN, THE PADS WERE WORN DUE TO THAT AND THE ROTOR NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND NO EXPLANATION COULD BE GIVEN AS TO A REASON FOR THE PREMATURE WEAR. AT APPROXIMATELY 20K, I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT ROTORS RESURFACED (BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT) DUE TO PREMATURE/UNEVEN WEAR). UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS DONE BY MY OWN MECHANIC DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND IS NOT DOCUMENTED BY HONDA (I SPOKE TO HONDA AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO "DRIVER/ROAD CONDITIONS AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO TELL SINCE IT WAS NOT REPAIRED BY A DEALER). RECENTLY, I NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE STICKING/FREEZING AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. THE BRAKE PADS ON THE RIGHT REAR, WERE UNEVENLY/PREMATURELY WORN AND THE CALIPER WAS FROZEN. BOTH REAR ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED AGAIN! THESE REPAIRS WERE ALSO COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT AGAIN, NO EXPLANATION COULD BE GIVEN AS TO WHAT KEEPS CAUSING THIS PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKES. ALSO, THIS MORNING, THE "SIDE AIR BAG OFF" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW NEEDS TO GO BACK FOR SERVICE AGAIN (2ND TIME IN A WEEK). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313571

150,000 miles · Jan 20, 2010
Service Brakes, Electric

SUBJECT:REGENERATIVE BRAKING POSSIBLE PROBLEM COMMENTS: I AM A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID OWNER THAT IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS STATED IN THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE. PROBLEM WITH SURGING OF THE CAR WHILE BRAKING OR A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN STOPPING POWER. HTTP://WWW.LEFTLANENEWS.COM/NHTSA-REVIEWING-THIRD-GENERATION-TOYOTA-PRIUS-BRAKIN…

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SUBJECT:REGENERATIVE BRAKING POSSIBLE PROBLEM COMMENTS: I AM A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID OWNER THAT IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS STATED IN THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE. PROBLEM WITH SURGING OF THE CAR WHILE BRAKING OR A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN STOPPING POWER. HTTP://WWW.LEFTLANENEWS.COM/NHTSA-REVIEWING-THIRD-GENERATION-TOYOTA-PRIUS-BRAKING.HTML WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS THAT IT IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST FEW MINUTES WHEN DRIVING, AFTER SUCH TIME IT DISAPPEARS. ALSO, IT DOES NOT ONLY HAPPEN AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD, IT IS ON A SMOOTH ROAD. THIS IS NOT AN ACCELERATION ISSUE, AS THE TACH DOES NOT SURGE OR THE CAR DOES NOT JUMP FORWARD, JUST THE LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE AS I DON'T HEAR THE NOISE COMMON TO WHEN ACTIVATION OF THE ABS OCCURS. AND IT WILL HAPPEN REGARDS OF HOW HARD THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM DOES GO AWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND A FEW STOP SIGNS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10300447

3,500 miles · Aug 27, 2009
Electrical SystemService Brakes, ElectricCrash

WHEN COMING TO A LOW SPEED STOP THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AT ABOUT 6 MPH AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM GOES MANUAL REDUCING BRAKING EFFECT BY OVER 60%. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT BUMPER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282033

Official recalls

7

19V502000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 27, 2019

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 & remedy

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.

19V378000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

May 16, 2019

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 & remedy

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.

18V268000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Apr 26, 2018

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 & remedy

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.

17V545000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Aug 31, 2017

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 & remedy

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.

17V030000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 10, 2017

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 & remedy

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.

16V346000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

May 24, 2016

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 & remedy

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.

08V535000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Oct 14, 2008

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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